Terms and Conditions

Prior to working together I will require you to read and confirm that you have understood the following terms and conditions:

Code of ethics

I endeavour to adhere to the guidelines set out by the governing bodies to which I belong, which include the Code of Conduct and Ethics of the British Psychological Society and the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.

Duration of sessions

We will discuss and agree the frequency and number of your sessions in your first appointment and revisit this as necessary as therapy progresses. Individual psychotherapy sessions last for 50 minutes.

Fees

If you are self-funding or paying for someone else, we will agree payment terms before therapy begins. Fees are payable via cash, cheque or bank transfer and I will provide you with the payment details. Please note that I do not accept card payments. If your therapy is being funded by someone other than yourself I will require their contact details along with signed confirmation that they accept responsibility for all of your fees prior to your first session.

You are invited to pay prior to or on the day of your session, or I can issue an invoice to either yourself or the person paying your fees. Payment is due within 10 days of the invoice date.

Cancellation of sessions

At least 48 hours notice is required if you need to cancel a session. This is to allow me time to offer the session to someone who may be waiting for an appointment. No-shows and sessions cancelled within 48 hours of the appointment time will incur the full fee.

Social Media

In order to respect the privacy of my clients I do not Google nor follow clients on any social media platform (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.).

Email contact

My email address (info@charlotteord.com) is intended for enquiries, administrative purposes and appointment scheduling only. If you need to cancel an appointment, please call, email or text me to ensure that I receive your request in a timely manner. I do not provide email counselling and will not always be able to respond to emails sent in a crisis situation.

Sharing of information

In some instances it may be helpful to liaise with your General Practitioner (GP) or other party regarding your care. I will discuss this with you during our initial appointment. I will, however, need to communicate with your GP in instances of perceived risk to either yourself or others, and I have elaborated on this below.

Confidentiality

Details of and information shared within sessions will be kept confidential, though may be discussed (omitting identifying information) in peer supervision or where specifically agreed with you (ie. with your GP or other healthcare provider). There are some limits to confidentiality which include:

Risk of serious harm to yourself or others.
Child abuse has been disclosed.
A court subpoena is received for your records.
Information is disclosed regarding an act of terrorism.
A miscarriage of justice may occur.

In such instances where confidentiality may need to be compromised, I will always endeavour to discuss this with you first.

Record keeping and data protection

I process all client data in line with the guidelines set out by the Data Protection Act 2018. This means that:

I have registered my practice with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
I will obtain your permission to contact you via telephone, email and/or SMS.
When taking notes during sessions I do not include identifying information such as your name, initials or date of your appointment.
All electronic client records and/or the devices on which they are kept are encrypted and/or password protected.
You can request a copy of all data that I hold about you. I will respond within 40 days of the request.
I take measures to ensure your data remains secure and that no one can access it without your specific consent. In the unlikely event of a data breach, I will contact you and inform the Information Commissioner’s Office within 48 hours.
On completion of our work together, I will hold your records for 7 years in line with professional practice guidelines. After this your data and all electronic communications will be destroyed/erased.

Telephone contact

My mobile phone is secured with a passcode and fingerprint lock. Clients are recorded in my address book under PC followed by their initials. Please note that I may not be able to respond to telephone calls made in a crisis situation.

Crisis

Outside of scheduled appointments I can only offer limited support in the event of a crisis. If you are at risk of self-harm or in need of immediate help, the following alternatives are available to you:

Contact your GP (general practitioner)
Go to your nearest A&E department
Call the Samaritans (116 123)
For urgent medical advice call NHS 111.