Everything you share with me, including your contact details, are confidential and will not be disclosed to another party without your consent, unless I am concerned that you or another person are at immediate risk of serious harm, in which case I would contact your GP. I would normally discuss this with you and obtain your consent before contacting your GP, but if there is an imminent risk of serious harm to yourself or others then I may need to contact the GP immediately before obtaining your consent.
Your therapy sessions take place at fixed regular times every week. Unless we have agreed to work together for a time-limited period, your sessions are available on an on-going basis, which means that I am keeping your space for you, even if you are unable to attend that particular session. There are usually 10 weeks per year of planned breaks for which you will not be charged. You will also not be charged if I have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. Hence, even if you need to miss a session for any reason, you will still be charged for the missed session. However, if you give me enough notice I will try to reschedule your session if possible.
For those people attending my groups, the group continues to meet regardless of whether a group member is able to attend. The fees are calculated on the basis of 42 sessions per year, taking account of planned breaks. This is then spread across twelve monthly instalments.
This depends entirely on the nature and severity of the issues you are seeking help with, what you are hoping to achieve and your response to the therapy. Mostly you will be offered an open-ended contract with a view to attending your therapy sessions for at least one year. At some point either or both of us will recognise that you have come as far in your recovery as is possible for the time being and we will then discuss and plan an ending.
I will need you to give me your name, address, phone number and GP contact details, all of which will be kept confidential, according to GDPR. I will hold on to your details for the duration of the therapy. This information is also shared with my professional executors. In the unlikely circumstances that I am unable to work, they will contact you to inform you. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and am compliant with Data Protection legislation (GDPR).
I abide by the British Psychoanalytic Council Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines. If you have concerns about your therapy, you should speak with me in the first instance. If that does not work, or if you have concerns about my fitness to practice in general, you can raise your concerns with the British Psychoanalytic Council directly.