Cancellation Policy

I require 48 hours’ notice of a cancellation via a text or email to avoid an invoice being produced and a fee charged. Unattended appointments without the requested cancellation notice will be charged in full.

If you arrive late unfortunately I will not be able to extend the session, as this will affect my other appointments.

I require 2 weeks- notice of any holiday arrangements. I will provide you with at least 2 weeks-notice of my holidays. My normal working hours are Monday - Friday. I only see clients by appointment, and I am unable to correspond with clients between sessions.

Informed Consent for Counselling 

Practitioner Name: Emma McLeary MBACP 00956889

Name of Practice: E.M Therapy

Contact Details: 07858733915

Email address: emma@em-therapy.uk

Please read the information below carefully as it forms an agreement as to how we will work together and outlines my professional obligations regarding confidentiality. At our first session I will set some time aside for us to discuss this agreement and answer any queries that you may have. I will ask you to sign the agreement to show that you understand its contents.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Counselling (First Class)

• Foundation Degree in Counselling

• Counselling Children and Young People

• Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner

• Safeguarding Adults and Children

• Emotional Freedom Technique

• Certificate in Domestic Violence Training

• RSPH Level 2 in Understanding Alcohol Misuse

• RSPH Level 2 in Understanding the Misuse of Substances

• Certificate in Advanced Trauma Care

• Certificate in Understanding Autism

• PTTLS Qualification (Level 3 Award in Education and Training)

• Certificate in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills

I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and as such abide by their Ethical Framework.

Please see - www.bacp.co.uk/ethical-framework for more information.

Anti-discriminatory practice

I am committed to providing an anti-discriminatory service. I strive to ensure that this practice is present in all our work together.

The way that I work

There are a variety of approaches to the way practitioners work with their clients. I have been trained in a therapeutic approach called Integrative Counselling. An integrative counsellor believes there isn’t just one therapeutic approach that can help a client in all situations. Instead, they take into account you as an individual and your circumstances, and use elements of different approaches to help you explore and cope with your problems. I recognise that it may not be easy to seek help from a mental health professional; I hope that with my help you will be better able to understand your situation and feelings and will be able to move toward resolving your difficulties. As a therapist, I will strive to help you grow toward greater health and wholeness by providing an integrative counselling service. I work within the context of each individual’s beliefs, and no attempt is made to impose a personal theology.

Please see - https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy for more information on different therapeutic approaches

Duration and notice of termination

I provide both short and long-term therapy and we can discuss the planned duration of our work together during our initial session.

We will review your progress at every 6 session and I require 1 if you wish to terminate your therapy with me.

Holidays

I require 2 weeks-notice of any holiday arrangements. I will provide you with at least 2 weeks-notice of my holidays.

Contact between sessions

I normally work Monday -Friday between (adhoc hours) and I can only see you by prior appointment.

If you require my urgent professional services between sessions, I can be contacted during my normal working hours by email or text. I will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible, but there may be a delay.

If you are unable to wait for me to reply, or require emergency or urgent professional assistance outside my normal working hours, please contact NHS direct telephone 111, your GP, the emergency services or the Samaritans free-phone 116 123.

Fees

I charge a fee of £65 per 50 minutes.

I review my fees on an annual basis in April and will give you 1 calendar months’ notice of any proposed increase.

Bank details

You can pay by BACS or cash payable prior to, or by the end of each session.

The name of my account is Emma McLeary. My bank details are, sort code 09-01-26 and my bank account number is 39402038

Letters and reports

I am willing to write any relevant letters and reports but will require your written permission for me to do this.

I charge a fee for writing letters or reports, and this is based on the time it takes me to write the document.

Supervision

All members of BACP are required to have regular supervision. My work continues to be supervised to ensure that it is safe, ethical and effective. Aspects of our work may be discussed during these sessions, but no full name will be used and identifiable details removed. My supervisor is bound by the same confidentiality rules as myself.

In keeping with the requirements of BACP’s Ethical Framework I have appointed a trusted colleague to take over the administration of my practice in the event of my death or incapacity, and to deal with my appointments and destroy my notes in a confidential manner. This colleague is also a member of BACP and is bound by the same professional confidentiality rules as set out in their Ethical Framework.

Confidentiality

As a member of BACP I am bound by their Ethical Framework to protect a client’s confidentiality. Therefore, everything that we discuss is confidential except in certain circumstances, which are listed below.

Record keeping confidentiality

As a member of BACP I am required to keep accurate and appropriate notes of our work together. I record my session notes securely on a laptop that is only used by me, and this is password protected at both the level of the individual document and the laptop itself.

Any paper documents are locked in a robust non-portable cabinet to which only I have access.

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and any information that I keep is subject to the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 18) and United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation UK-GDPR see Information Commissioner’s Office: https://ico.org.uk and BACP’s Privacy notice. https://www.bacp.co.uk/privacy-notice.

Harm to self or others

I reserve the right to break confidentiality if I think that you have become a danger to yourself or other people. I will attempt to discuss this with you and my supervisor first, but this may not always be possible.

For legal and ethical reasons

I am not bound by confidentiality if in good faith I feel that I can assist in the prevention or detection of a serious crime, this includes safeguarding issues regarding children or vulnerable adults, crimes regarding substantial financial gains and losses, and acts of terrorism.

Keep safe policy

In certain cases where you may have declared a clear and definite intention to end your life, or if I have reason to believe this to be true, we may after a careful discussion agree to put in place a ’keep safe policy’ where you will agree to take certain measures, such as get in touch with your GP, mental health crisis team, or talk to the Samaritans as a way of safeguarding and ensuring your safety.

Attending under the influence

I am unable to deliver effective therapy to clients who try to attend sessions under the influence of non-prescribed medication or alcohol. In such a case I would discuss the issue with you and we would agree a period of abstinence prior to the session from the non-prescribed medication or alcohol, and add this period to the contract.

Working with Domestic Violence

I do not work with live cases of Domestic Violence and reserve the right to terminate an agreement should this present in sessions. A referral to the Blue Door can be supported should you require.

Complaint

If there is anything that you don’t understand about this agreement, or if you would prefer it in a different format, please let me know.

Similarly, if you are not happy with any of our sessions or the standard of my work, I hope that you would feel able to talk to me about this.

If you feel unable to talk to me or in the event of a serious complaint, please contact BACP’s Get help with counselling concerns service (formerly Ask Kathleen), which provides confidential telephone and email guidance on what to do if you have concerns about your therapy or therapist. Phone 01455 883300 or 07811 762114 or 07811 762256. Please leave a message or email gethelp@bacp.co.uk, or write to BACP, 15 St John’s Business Park, Lutterworth LE17 4HB.