Therapeutic Contract with Tina Chummun | Care2Counsel

I usually work Monday to Friday from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. You may contact me on my mobile number 07971 386903 or by email at tinachummun@hotmail.com or tina@care2counsel.com. If I am unavailable, please feel free to leave a message, and I will call you back or respond as soon as I am available. It's important to remember that client responsibilities in therapy include limiting contact outside of therapy sessions to booking, rescheduling, or cancelling appointments. Any personal or therapeutic material should only be discussed during your scheduled therapy sessions, unless we have verbally agreed otherwise, as outlined in our online therapy agreement or psychotherapy contract.

I am an accredited member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). The UKCP is the UK's leading professional body for the education, training, and accreditation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. My UKCP membership ensures that I adhere to a professional code of conduct, which includes understanding client responsibilities in therapy, maintaining confidentiality, and ensuring safety for your mental health and wellbeing while working with you. Additionally, I provide an online therapy agreement that outlines our psychotherapy contract, ensuring clarity and mutual understanding throughout our sessions.

The details discussed during therapy sessions are kept confidential, with the exception of my participation in ongoing clinical supervision. This clinical supervision is essential for me to uphold the highest standards in my psychotherapy work, ensuring that I operate ethically and effectively for you. As part of our online therapy agreement, I will regularly review and discuss my work with my clinical supervisor, but rest assured that your name or any identifying information will not be disclosed. This aligns with our psychotherapy contract and underscores the importance of client responsibilities in therapy.

I am committed to maintaining the highest level of confidentiality where possible, as outlined in the online therapy agreement. However, confidentiality does not cover the following exceptions related to client responsibilities in therapy:  

1. Safeguarding and child protection: If I believe a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm.  

2. Serious risk of harm: If I believe you are at serious risk of harming yourself or others, or if I believe you are at risk of harm from others, I reserve the right to contact your GP or the appropriate safeguarding authorities.  

3. Wellbeing concerns: If I have serious concerns about your psychological or physical wellbeing, I may contact your GP if I believe it is in your best interest to do so.  

4. Legal obligations: Disclosure of terrorist acts, drug trafficking, money laundering or other activities where I am legally obliged to disclose information.  

5. Court orders: If I am summoned by the Court of Law.  

In such circumstances, my commitment is to always discuss the situation with you first wherever possible, as per the psychotherapy contract, and consult with you on the next steps forward. I am dedicated to empowering you to take effective steps to resolve any difficulty. However, where I believe that delaying action could place you or others at further risk, I may need to act without prior discussion.

All therapy sessions with Care2Counsel are conducted online via MS Teams, primarily. In the event of IT issues with MS Teams, FaceTime and WhatsApp may also be utilized. As part of the online therapy agreement, it is important to understand the client responsibilities in therapy. Therapy sessions are delivered remotely, allowing you to access psychotherapy from anywhere with a stable internet connection, ensuring a flexible and convenient experience.

Private space: As part of your client responsibilities in therapy, you must ensure that you attend therapy sessions from a private, confidential space where you will not be interrupted or overheard. Appropriate environment: It is important that you are appropriately dressed and in a suitable setting for therapy. No recording: You must not record the therapy session in any format (audio or video) without my prior written consent. Connection: You are responsible for ensuring you have a reliable internet connection and a functioning device. Timeliness: Please connect to the MS Teams meeting at our agreed time using the meeting weblink provided to you. By attending online therapy sessions, you acknowledge and agree to the online therapy agreement, including the terms related to privacy and confidentiality as per the psychotherapy contract.

Counselling sessions typically last 60 minutes unless otherwise agreed in our online therapy agreement. We have decided to conduct our sessions via MS Teams (or FaceTime/WhatsApp video or audio call) on a weekly or fortnightly basis, depending on what works best for you. Please remember that as part of your client responsibilities in therapy, it is important to connect with me on MS Teams using the meeting invitation weblink at our agreed time (or as otherwise advised). This aligns with our psychotherapy contract and ensures a smooth therapeutic process.

If for any reason you are late for a therapy session, I will wait for you for up to 15 minutes from the appointment start time. This aligns with client responsibilities in therapy, as outlined in our online therapy agreement. If you arrive during this time, I will see you for the remainder of your therapy session, but I may be unable to work beyond the allotted finish time to avoid disrupting the schedule for other clients awaiting their sessions. If you have not joined the therapy session within 15 minutes of the start time, the appointment will be cancelled, and the full therapy session fee will still be due, as specified in the psychotherapy contract.

There is no set time limit to the duration of counselling sessions, as this will be negotiated between us based on your needs and progress. It's important to consider client responsibilities in therapy, including providing notice about ending sessions. I would like to have at least two weeks' notice when you are looking to conclude therapy so that we can work together towards an appropriate ending, aligning with our online therapy agreement and ensuring that we adhere to the provisions outlined in our psychotherapy contract.

The agreed fee for our online therapy sessions is £80 per session (or as otherwise agreed at the start of our work together), which aligns with our psychotherapy contract. This fee will be paid in full prior to each therapy session by bank transfer, unless we establish a different payment arrangement at the beginning of counselling. It is important to remember the client responsibilities in therapy, including timely payment. Bank details can be provided to you upon request.

If your therapy is funded by your health insurance provider, the fee will be billed directly to your insurer at the rate agreed upon in your online therapy agreement. 

Important: As part of your client responsibilities in therapy, if your insurance policy includes an excess, you are responsible for paying this amount directly to me. By commencing therapy, you agree to settle any excess payments within 7 calendar days of receiving an invoice. Please ensure you are aware of any excess applicable to your policy, as it may become due during the course of therapy. 

In the event that your health insurance ceases, or your health insurer withdraws or declines to fund your therapy sessions at any point during our work together, you agree to assume responsibility for payment at the standard therapy session rate of £80, should you wish to continue our psychotherapy contract. You will be notified as soon as I become aware of any changes to your insurance coverage or funding arrangements.

Increases of therapy fees may occur where necessary, but not more than once annually. As part of our online therapy agreement, I will notify you at least three months in advance. This notice will ensure you are aware of any changes, aligning with client responsibilities in therapy as outlined in the psychotherapy contract.

If there is an outstanding therapy fee payment due, no further therapy sessions can be booked or take place until the balance has been settled. This is part of the client responsibilities in therapy, which are outlined in the online therapy agreement or psychotherapy contract, unless we've verbally agreed otherwise.

The cost of therapy sessions includes any written materials I may supply as part of our online therapy agreement, but it excludes the cost of any books that I might suggest you read, which are considered client responsibilities in therapy as outlined in the psychotherapy contract.

Both the psychotherapist (Tina) and the client (you) will give notice as soon as possible when we are unable to attend a therapy session due to illness, emergency, or booked holidays, as outlined in the online therapy agreement. This is part of the client responsibilities in therapy, which also includes adhering to the terms of the psychotherapy contract.

If for any reason you have to cancel a therapy session, please provide at least 72 hours' notice (3 working days). If notice is not given, that therapy session will be charged at the full fee, in accordance with our online therapy agreement. This cancellation policy is in place to ensure that I am compensated for the time and expertise I set aside for scheduled therapy sessions. To help manage client responsibilities in therapy, I typically request payment at least 72 hours in advance, which serves as confirmation of your therapy space. 

I fully understand that life can present unfortunate and unexpected circumstances; however, we have agreed upon a specific date and time for your therapy session, which I have reserved exclusively for you. Otherwise, that therapy slot could have been allocated to another client. 

Once payment for the missed therapy session has been made, along with advance payment for the rescheduled session, I’d be happy to confirm a new date and time. These measures, outlined in our psychotherapy contract, are designed to ensure fairness and sustainability for the psychotherapy services I provide as a business owner in private practice.

In line with our online therapy agreement, if I need to cancel your therapy session due to illness or an emergency, I will not expect any payment. I will also make every effort to provide you with an alternative time, respecting the client responsibilities in therapy outlined in our psychotherapy contract.

You have the right to end this online therapy agreement or take a break from therapy at any time. Please note that the cancellation notice period of 72 hours still applies for your final session. 

Additionally, as part of your client responsibilities in therapy, I reserve the right to terminate our work together if I believe that continuing therapy is no longer in your best interest, or if there is a significant breach of our psychotherapy contract (e.g. persistent non-payment, inappropriate behavior, abusive or threatening conduct, or a breakdown of the therapeutic relationship). 

In such cases, I will make reasonable efforts to provide you with information about alternative sources of support or therapists who may be better suited to meet your needs, and I will offer you a final therapy session to appropriately conclude our work.

Our therapeutic relationship will always remain a professional one. Establishing clear boundaries is crucial for effective therapy and aligns with the client responsibilities in therapy. This understanding is also outlined in our online therapy agreement, which serves as a psychotherapy contract to ensure a productive and respectful environment.

Contact outside of your therapy sessions primarily pertains to client responsibilities in therapy, such as booking, rescheduling, or canceling appointments via email or text/WhatsApp message, and this must be done within reason. Any personal or therapeutic material should, at all times, only be discussed during your scheduled therapeutic appointment, unless we’ve verbally agreed on a different approach within the therapeutic boundaries outlined in your online therapy agreement. 

Professional documentation, such as psycho-education content or professional letters (from or to third parties), may also be exchanged through email communication in accordance with the terms of the psychotherapy contract.

If we meet outside of the therapy sessions, I will wait for you to acknowledge me first, respecting the client responsibilities in therapy. If you are comfortable with acknowledging me, then I will be happy to greet you. If this isn't the case, I will honor your need for privacy and confidentiality as outlined in our online therapy agreement. Should any contact outside of the therapy sessions cause you concern or distress, I encourage you to bring this up in our next immediate therapy session so we can explore and discuss it, ensuring we adhere to the terms of our psychotherapy contract.

As a digital marketing consultant by full-time profession, I maintain professional business pages for Care2Counsel on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You are welcome to follow Care2Counsel's social media accounts if you wish to access mental health content, resources, and information that I share. 

However, please be aware of the following important boundaries regarding client responsibilities in therapy: 

I will not communicate with you or respond to any comments you make about our therapeutic work or our therapeutic relationship on social media platforms. I will not acknowledge our therapeutic relationship publicly on social media in any way. 

This is to protect your confidentiality and privacy, which is essential in our online therapy agreement. 

Please do not send me personal messages via social media regarding therapeutic matters, appointment bookings, or personal content. All communication about your therapy sessions should take place via the contact methods outlined in this psychotherapy contract (phone or email). 

Please also do not send me friend requests or connection requests on personal social media accounts. I choose not to connect with clients on personal social media under my strict professional codes of ethics and conduct, and refusal can cause offense where none is intended.

AI tools may be utilized in the operation of this clinical practice for reflective or drafting purposes and for the creation of marketing communications. It is important to clarify that AI tools are not employed to store, input, or process any identifiable client or clinical information, in full compliance with professional ethical standards and data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR.

Any content generated with AI assistance that relates to clinical practice is entirely fictional, hypothetical, or anonymised. This means it does not represent, reference, or draw upon any named or identifiable client, thus ensuring adherence to client responsibilities in therapy. My use of AI tools remains fully aligned with my professional obligations regarding privacy, confidentiality, and the UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, particularly in relation to the online therapy agreement and the psychotherapy contract.

Abusive or threatening behaviour by either the psychotherapist (Tina) or client (yourself) is not acceptable as outlined in the online therapy agreement. It is important to understand the client responsibilities in therapy; therefore, I reserve the right to withdraw services and/or terminate a therapy session immediately if either of us becomes abusive or threatening. In the event a therapy session is so terminated, as stated in the psychotherapy contract, the full fee will still be payable.

To ensure your full participation in the therapy session, please refrain from taking any substances that alter your mental functioning, except for prescribed medication, for at least twelve hours prior to your appointment. This is part of the client responsibilities in therapy outlined in our online therapy agreement.  

I understand that the use of drugs and alcohol can sometimes serve as a coping mechanism. In these situations, I will aim to explore more effective and compassionate ways for you to cope. If you are currently using any mind-altering substances, please inform me so we can address this during your psychotherapy contract discussions.  

Please note that I may conclude any therapy session early if I determine that you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the degree that meaningful participation is not possible. In such cases, the full fee will still be required.

Psychotherapy can be very demanding, frustrating, emotional, painful, and difficult at times, leading to a real reluctance to make a firm commitment to attending regularly. This reluctance is a normal part of the therapeutic process and relates to client responsibilities in therapy. Growth and change often involve discomfort before improvements can be seen. If you experience difficulties during or between therapy sessions, I encourage you to bring these feelings into our next session, as outlined in our online therapy agreement, so we can work through them together in accordance with our psychotherapy contract.

I do not offer emergency appointments outside of our agreed therapy hours as outlined in our online therapy agreement. For any emergency mental health support, you may consider your client responsibilities in therapy and take the following actions: 

Call Samaritans at 116 123 (available 24/7).

Call NHS 111 for urgent medical advice.

Contact your GP surgery.

Attend your nearest A&E department if you are in crisis, as per the psychotherapy contract guidelines.

By agreeing to these terms and conditions, you are also acknowledging your client responsibilities in therapy. I (Tina) may share your name and mobile number with a trusted colleague, who is a qualified and accredited psychotherapist, as part of our online therapy agreement. This arrangement ensures your safety and continuity of care in the unfortunate event of my serious illness or death.

If you do not hear from me within 24 hours after your scheduled therapy session, and I have not contacted you to cancel or reschedule, my trusted colleague may reach out to you to:

- Advise you of the situation.

- Provide you with appropriate support and guidance.

- Help you access alternative therapeutic services if needed.

- Ensure you are not left without support during a vulnerable time.

This provision is included in our psychotherapy contract to protect your mental health and wellbeing, ensuring that you receive uninterrupted care during life's unexpected events. Rest assured, my trusted colleague will only be contacted in genuine emergency circumstances, and your confidentiality will be maintained at all times.

It is important to note that any discussion, conversation, or words shared by the psychotherapist (Tina) during a therapy session fall under the online therapy agreement. If the client (you) chooses to relay this information outside of the session, the psychotherapist (Tina) will not be held responsible for any misinterpretations. This highlights the client responsibilities in therapy, as you are accountable for how you choose to infer, share, or use information discussed in psychotherapy sessions with others.

By receipt and agreeing to the terms stated on this page, I, the client, confirm that: 

I have read and understood this psychotherapy contract. 

I agree to all the terms and conditions listed on this page. 

I consent to online therapy via MS Teams (primarily), with Tina, the psychotherapist. 

I understand the limits to confidentiality as explained above. 

I commit to fulfilling my client responsibilities in therapy by working collaboratively in the therapeutic relationship.

Tina Chummun MSc MUKCP, PG Dip CIM, BSc (Hons)

Director; Person Centred Trauma Specialist Psychotherapist,

Wellness Coach & Digital Marketing Consultant

Care2Counsel

www.care2counsel.com

Email: tina@care2counsel.com | tinachummun@hotmail.com

Mobile: 07971 386903

As part of the online therapy agreement, I emphasize the importance of client responsibilities in therapy, ensuring that all clients understand their role in the psychotherapy contract to foster a productive therapeutic relationship.