General Terms and Conditions
Preconditions
You must be over 18 years of age to enter into this agreement
If you are under 18 years of age you still have certain rights but I may need the permission of a parent or guardian to enter into a financial contract. Please write to me via the contact section of the website.
Description of services
I am offering the service of on line counselling to clients that have specifically written to me through my website or contacted me by some other means and requested this service. At present the only on line services I offer is email counselling and video counselling (available 2009). The important point is that your needs are met within any arrangement that we make and also it fits within my working structure. I will advise you if it does not. I undertake to keep my records in a confidential manner (see privacy section of website) and I employ the code of ethics as laid down by my regulatory body The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This ethical structure can be viewed on line at www.bacp.co.uk.
Email counselling
Email counselling involves answering a prepared statement by my client up to a maximum of 500 words. I undertake to respond to this within 3 days or we may decide to vary this by mutual consent. I could also agree that I respond on a particular day of the week. email counselling can be purchased in single sessions or by block purchase and details of these can be found on my website. I suggest that responses should be once a week but it may be that you are eager to cover much more ground and feel the need to contact more often. I can quote for alternatives if you desire.
Video Counselling (2009)
This service offers many of the benefits of face to face counselling with the added benefit of receiving the service anywhere in the world. The service can be with or without web-cam depending on your choice. The sevice uses Skype technolgy which is renound as safe and secure. In the same way as face to face counselling an appointment time would have to be agreed in advance.
Referral
It is not always possible to know at the outset if working online is the most appropriate way for you to get your needs met. If I believed that face to face counselling would be a better way to help you I would suggest that either we hold face to face sessions or if this were not possible I would help you to find a counsellor near to you and support you whilst you made the change to face to face counselling. Alternatively if I felt that another online counsellor might be better placed to help you than I am (because they had specialised skill or experience) I would suggest a change and support you whilst you made it.
Emergency Contact
It is possible with the problems encountered with online services and equipment that technology can fail one or both of us and an alternative contact arrangement would need to be found. I suggest we each send a text message to our mobile phones and use the same system to let the other know when they are back online. Or perhaps continue with text meesages if previously arranged. If this arrangement is suitable to you we can exchange contact numbers early in the therapy process.
Your Obligations
Payment:
The charges for my counselling services are set out in my online websitein my on line counselling website and viewed via the website therapy charges page. They are also listed in the Counselling products section of this shop. If there is a package of services that you would like me to consider please email me and ask. Payment can be made using the credit card and pay pal option in my on line shop which is accessible following the acceptance of the completed on line pre e counselling form. Payment by cheque is also possible by arrangement. I will confirm payment and respond to you after I receive notification of payment. Please refer to the returns policy section of this website for details of refunding unused counselling fees.