Welcome to FCS Talking Therapies.

This treatment agreement is designed to help you understand how we can work together successfully.

1. Getting the best from your therapy

   Your first session will be to understand what your current needs are and how we can best  work together. During your sessions, we want you to get the very best from your time with us so it is important for you to consider what you would like to gain from your sessions each week. To support your therapy, your therapist will work with you at every level to assist you in achieving this aim. Your therapy sessions will be reviewed throughout the process to ensure that you are getting the best from the sessions. You may be offered up to 18 therapy sessions if there is a clinical need.

   Communication between both you and your therapist is vital throughout your therapy. You should endeavor to keep your therapist up to date with any changes in details or situations. Should your therapist need to contact you, they will use the contact details you have provided and only leave messages if we have received your consent to do so.

   Please do not attend sessions if you are under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. We have the right to terminate the session if you arrive to any session under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.  We ask that you abstain from alcohol and illegal substances for 48 hours before your therapy session takes place.  If you are unable to maintain this agreement, please contact your therapist who will assist you with a referral to a more suitable service.  

   If you require any further clarification about this treatment agreement prior to committing to attending therapy, please raise this with your therapist at your first session, who will be happy to discuss this with you.

   Commitment and attendance

   Consistent and regular attendance is essential to achieving your therapy goals. We expect you to attend all sessions which have been mutually agreed unless you have given 48 hours’ notice to cancel your session.

   Each therapy session will last a therapeutic hour being approx.  50 minutes. 

   Punctuality is important as we are unable to extend your session beyond your scheduled therapy slot.

2. Confidentiality

Your therapy sessions will be handled confidentially and in accordance with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy: BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions

Any information shared by you is kept confidential and secure on our client management system. Any records which are kept about your therapy will be handled, stored, and processed securely in line with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018).

If you are at risk of serious harm to either yourself or someone else and your therapist believes that you are not safe, then they may contact your GP or other professionals.  This may be done without your consent.

Therapist supervision: Supervision is a mandatory requirement for our therapists, counsellors and trainee therapists and promotes both personal and professional development to ensure clients receive the best possible care.  Individual identities are anonymised during these sessions and supervision itself is confidential between the therapist and supervisor.

GP or health professional contact: There are occasions where it may be helpful or necessary for your therapist to contact or consult your GP or health professional during treatment.

It is also good practice to inform your GP of the outcomes of your counselling.  This will be discussed with you to confirm your consent.

For more information about how we process your personal data, you can refer to our Privacy Policy which can be obtained on request.

3. Telephone and Online Therapy

As we may operate remotely via video or telephone, ( if this is your preferred choice), it is important you have access to a safe, private, and confidential space, a room free of distractions and interruptions.

FCS Talking Therapies is not responsible for any data breaches on your end of the video or call (i.e. someone listening through the door). Therefore, it is vital that you do your best to mitigate any potential breach to confidentiality during your sessions (i.e., go to a private room) and ensure your device has a secure setup and stable internet connection.

If there is a technological breakdown which prevents you both meeting online or over the phone, your therapist will discuss with you how to re-arrange your session. Persistent technological interruption from your end will result in the session being cancelled and charged at the full session rate agreed.

Important note: We are unable to offer therapy sessions online or via telephone to anyone who travels outside of the United Kingdom and wants to continue their sessions whilst travelling abroad.  Therapy can only be carried out in the United Kingdom.

4. Late attendance and cancellations

Late attendance: If you arrive late for your appointment by 15 minutes or more, your therapist reserves the right to treat the session as a late cancellation.

It is important to notify your therapist as soon as you are aware of any potential delays. 

Cancellations: Non-attendance, late cancellations, session amendments (less than 48 hours) or arriving late for your appointment by 15 minutes or more will count as a session within your therapy allocation and will be charged at the full session rate agreed. 

Two missed appointments without notification and/or last-minute cancellations will be charged at the full session rate agreed and you may be discharged from therapy with us.

Payment will be required of the cancelled/amended/late arrival session before your next appointment is made.  

If you wish to reschedule an appointment, please contact your therapist or our Administration team on 01795 591 019 at least 48 hours before the session.

5.  Charges and payment of sessions

Counselling therapy charges: The assessment appointment confirmation will confirm the rate that has been agreed. This is based on the following bands.

Those earning below £21,000 per annum, the fee per session is £35.

Those earning between £21,000 - £40,000 per annum, the fee per session is £45.

Those earning more than £40,000 per annum, the fee per session is £60.

Payment: Payment is due on the day of your appointment after the therapy session. If you do not pay for your session your therapy may be put on hold or you may be discharged from our service.   

Preferred method of payment: The easiest method of payment for us is a bank transfer.  Our bank account details are given on the assessment appointment confirmation as well as any invoice or statement sent. 

Invoices: Invoices are usually raised the next working day after a session.  No invoice is sent out by accounts if payment can be allocated at the time it is created.

Cash and card payments: We do also accept cash and card payments at our offices, directly after face-to-face therapy has taken place.  A receipt will be issued at the point of receiving your payment. You will not usually receive an invoice if payment has been made via this method.

Communications: Please note that your contact details are used by our Accounts team for invoicing purposes and for the collection of any outstanding amounts.  Most communication is via email, but they may also call you on any number provided or write to you via post.

6. Complaints

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our therapy service, you are encouraged in the first instance to talk through your concerns with your therapist.

A copy of our Complaints Policy can be obtained upon request from the Administration team.

7. Your Rights

The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) gives individuals certain rights regarding information held about them. Any requests for individual information are subject to our Subject Access Request (SAR) procedure. Once we have received the SAR we will respond within one month of the request.

It may be necessary to share your information with another qualified provider if, for any reason, FCS Talking Therapies is unable to continue to facilitate your treatment.