Counselling agreements and contract for clients

Bright Light aims to ensure online material and communication (e.g. telephone, e-mail, social media, and video appointments hosted via a secure online platform) are accessible to all service users. However, we cannot guarantee that the services will always operate correctly, will necessarily be compatible with all clients’ hardware and software, or will be secure over your internet connection. Bright Light will not be held responsible for any loss of data, damage to data, unlawful interception of data, viruses or interruption of access.

This contract outlines what you can expect for digital, telephone and face-to-face counselling. Should you have any questions, please get in touch.

What you can expect

  • Appointments will last for 50 mins.

  • Prior to your appointment if receiving online counselling you will receive an automated
    invitation to your appointment.

  • If the session is taking place in person these will be held in Bright Light premises

  • Your counsellor will receive your email address or telephone contact details in order
    to communicate any disruptions to your services at appointment times.

  • All appointments whether digital, telephone or face to face are subject to
    our 48-hour cancellation policy.

  • Your confidentiality is key to us. Our therapists will be using a venue that adheres to the same confidentiality boundaries if you are in face-to-face, telephone or digital counselling.

What we expect

  • You will be asked to pay the contribution for your appointment in at least 48 hours in advance
    unless sessions are being fully funded.

  • If your appointment is via zoom or telephone , we ask you find a space that offers confidential conditions such as a room in your house where people know not to walk in on your sessions

  • If your appointment is face-to-face we ask that you arrive on time, if you are over 10 minutes late this will void the appointment and still be chargeable.

  • Recordings of sessions is not allowed and only people receiving counselling
    are present in the room during sessions.

Complaints and concerns
If you have questions about this agreement, please speak with your counsellor. If you have a complaint or concern please contact our Counselling Practice Manager: claire@bright-light.org.uk or 07713355460

Client confidentiality agreement and privacy statement

Bright Light only asks for and holds personal information, that enables us to provide you with a service.* Everyone who works at Bright Light Relationship Counselling is required to abide by its codes of conduct about confidentiality and access to records.

What do we do with your information?
Any information that you provide us with will be kept confidential within our organisation.**

Who will we share it with?
We will not disclose this information to other individuals or external agencies without your permission
unless we are legally obliged to do so.

We will only break confidentiality if:

  • We have concerns about the safety of a child or a vulnerable adult

  • Something is said that suggests either you or your (ex) partner have benefitted from the proceeds of crime (Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and/or relevant money laundering regulations)

  • There is violence or threat of violence before, during or after a session where the counsellor, you or other party feels it is necessary to call the police, or where a counsellor or staff member is a witness to an incident which results in criminal proceedings against you

  • A disclosure is made relating to a serious crime, or we have serious concerns about your safety and we may have a duty to report this to the appropriate authorities

We will endeavour to speak to you prior to breaking any confidentiality.

Working with couples
Therapeutically we know that holding secrets creates a conflict of interest for the counsellor. We have a ‘no secrets’ policy – this means the counsellor will not hold any secrets for either partner.

Sometimes during the counselling process, it is agreed that there will be individual sessions, these are considered as part of the couple’s counselling relationship. As such, any information disclosed during the individual session may be relevant or essential to the work with you as a couple. The counsellor will offer you every chance to share it with your partner and will provide guidance around that. If, however, you choose not to share this information, the counsellor will have to discuss with you the implications for the work with
you as a couple including ending the contract.

How long do we keep client records?
Counsellors keep minimal notes about their sessions with you. We keep records for a minimum of 7 years, after this time, your data will be disposed of securely. (If there is a child protection issue related to your case we are legally required to keep the notes about this until the child is 25 years old).

What are your rights?
You have a right to access the personal data that we hold about you. To access your case file you need to contact our Counselling Practice Manager. Where a file contains information about more than one client, then you can only access your own notes. Access to full notes requires the consent of both parties

We do not allow any sessions to be recorded

  • We ask you for feedback before and after your counselling, this information is
    used anonymously to improve our service

If you have a concern about the way we hold your data, please contact our Counselling Practice Manager: claire@bright-light.org.uk. If you are unhappy with our response you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office: www.ico.org.uk