Counselling provides a supportive, confidential space to explore emotional wellbeing, life experiences, challenges, and coping strategies. The aims of counselling include: *Supporting emotional understanding and regulation *Encouraging healing and personal growth *Strengthening coping strategies *Enhancing wellbeing and stability *Supporting safer, healthier relationships Counselling is a collaborative process and works best when both client and therapist engage openly and respectfully.

Your therapist works using a trauma-informed, person-centred approach that is: *Respectful and non-judgemental *Boundaried and professional *Focused on emotional safety *Supportive of autonomy and empowerment The therapist does not replace medical, legal, or social care services, but may work alongside other professionals where appropriate.

The safety and wellbeing of clients, children, vulnerable people, and the wider community is a priority. This means: *Counselling will always prioritise harm prevention and safety *Behaviour that places yourself or others at risk will not be supported or encouraged *Safeguarding procedures will be followed when required Safeguarding is about protection, care, and prevention - not punishment.

What you share in counselling is treated with respect and confidentiality within legal and ethical boundaries. Confidentiality may be broken if: *There is serious risk of harm to you or others *There is risk to a child or vulnerable person *There is a legal requirement to disclose information. Where possible, this will be discussed with you openly and transparently.

The counselling space is built on mutual respect. You agree to: *Treat the therapist and therapy space respectfully *Avoid abusive, threatening, discriminatory or inappropriate behaviour *Engage in sessions in a way that supports emotional safety. Strong emotions are welcome. Harmful behaviour is not.

To maintain safety and professionalism: *Contact outside sessions will follow agreed professional boundaries *The counselling relationship is not social or personal *Therapy is limited to scheduled session times This supports clarity, safety, and healthy independence.

This service operates on a fair-access slide scale model to balance sustainability and accessibility. Please select the option that best reflects your circumstances:

Payment is due at or before each session unless otherwise agreed. Please inform your therapist in advance of session if your financial circumstances change. Fees may be reviewed periodically by mutual agreement. Open communication supports transparency and sustainability.

The session fee covers the counselling time only. Attendance at external meetings (such as case conferences, multi-agency meetings and reviews) and the preparation of written reports, summaries or professional correspondence are not included in the session price, and are charged at £65 per hour in 15-minute increments. This will be discussed and agreed in advance wherever possible. Where additional professional input is requested or required: *This will be discussed in advance wherever possible. *time will be charged separately at an agreed rate *Consent will be sought before information is shared This ensures transparency, fairness, and appropriate recognition of the additional time and responsibility involved.

A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to cancel or reschedule appointments. *Cancellations with less that 24 hours, notice or missed appointments may be charged at the agreed session rate. *Exceptions may be considered in genuine emergencies. *Please communicate as early as possible if you are struggling to attend This policy protects the therapist time and allows appointments to be offered to others.

You may choose to allow your therapist to share relevant information with selected professionals or trusted individuals involved in your care. This may support: *Joined-up care *Emotional and practical support *Risk management and safeguarding *Coordination of services You remain in control of this choice.

Information will be shared: *Respectfully and professionally *With your awareness where possible *In line with safeguarding responsibilities *Only when relevant and appropriate

There may be circumstances where information must be shared without consent if there is: *Serious risk of harm to you or others *Risk to a child or vulnerable person *A legal requirement to disclose information This is done to protect safety and wellbeing.