Terms AND CONDITIONS
Introduction
My therapeutic practice is regulated by the standards of my accrediting body (British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy; BABCP), my membership with EMDR Association UK, and my indemnity insurance with Balens.
Please review these professional standards before commencing treatment. For more information about these regulatory bodies, please visit their respective websites.
1. Confidentiality
General Confidentiality
The aim is to ensure that therapy sessions are kept confidential. However, with your consent, personal information may be shared with other professionals involved in your care when deemed appropriate, such as: your NHS provider, social care, private care providers, and occupational services.
Clinical Supervision
I am required to carry out continuing professional development and to engage in regular ongoing clinical supervision. This ensures an ethical and professional service to clients. Your case may be discussed in supervision but identifying details would not be disclosed.
Exceptions to Confidentiality
There may be occasions where it is necessary to breach confidentiality and share information with designated professionals or local authorities, as appropriate, without your consent. This will be in exceptional circumstances where there is concern for your wellbeing or that of others, such as:
Safeguarding concerns
Vulnerable adult or child protection issues
Where I am required by law and my code of ethics to share information appropriately (such as acts of terrorism, drug trafficking, criminal behaviour)
In such circumstances, confidentiality will be breached and such disclosures will be passed onto the relevant authority without delay. I will ensure that you are informed of such incidents.
Criminal Matters
Consideration should be exercised before disclosing anything of a previously unreported criminal nature, as I am obligated to contact relevant authorities.
Legal Proceedings
If you have been referred by an outside agency (for example, a solicitor or insurance company) and there is a pending civil court case (e.g., if you have been injured as a result of a road accident), I may be obliged to supply copies of our therapy records as required under the Data Protection Act (2018).
2. Risk & Safety
It can be common for people who are experiencing difficulty with their mental health to experience thoughts of self-harming or ending their life. We will consider your safety to engage in a therapeutic process.
Due to the remote nature of the service, therapy will only be considered for individuals who have been assessed as minimal risk to either themselves or others. This will be closely monitored and reviewed throughout therapy.
Should an individual's risk escalate and there are welfare concerns, treatment will pause or end and alternative, more appropriate options of support will be considered. In some circumstances, you may be referred to NHS or local authority services as appropriate.
If you are in immediate crisis, please contact (UK based clients):
Emergency Services: 999
Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7)
NHS 111
For overseas clients, you will need to contact your representative emergency services.
3. Payment
Fees for Self-Referrals
Initial Assessment: £100 per hour (60 minutes)
Ongoing CBT Therapy: £105 per hour (50 minutes)
Ongoing EMDR Therapy: £120 per hour (60-90 minutes where appropriate)
Intensive EMDR Programme: £2,800 (complete 14-hour programme)
Payment Terms
Payment is required at the time of booking via the secure online booking system. This confirms your attendance and reserves your appointment slot.
Invoices will be provided for all sessions.
Private Health Insurance
If a private health care plan is being used to fund your treatment, therapy will not commence until approval in writing has been received from the private health care organisation, or you are able to provide the relevant authorisation code.
Intoxication Policy
Sessions will not take place if you are under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed medication. If sessions are attended where it is clear that you are intoxicated, the appointment will be cancelled immediately and no refunds will be made.
4. Cancellation Policy
Commitment to Therapy
Life is busy and I appreciate that accessing therapy can be a juggle. However, it is important that you are able to commit to engaging in regular sessions in order to get the most benefit from therapy. The 'right time for therapy' will be considered as part of your initial assessment and throughout therapy as needed.
Rescheduling Appointments
It is understood that sometimes sudden events, such as emergencies, happen that may make it necessary for you to cancel your appointment. If you need to reschedule a booked session, please contact me as soon as possible so we can rebook to a suitable time and the session can be offered to another individual. I will be as flexible as possible.
Therapist Cancellations
You will be notified of any holidays to be taken by myself in advance. However, there may also be occasions where sessions may be cancelled because of illness or emergencies, or rearranged because of other circumstances. As much notice as possible will be provided and you will be offered an alternative time.
I will not suddenly, or without warning, terminate our contract, except in exceptional circumstances, which would become clear in the course of our work together. This would be fully discussed at that time and written termination will be provided.
Cancellation Fees
24 hours or more notice: No charge - appointment can be rescheduled
Less than 24 hours notice: Full session fee applies
Missed sessions (no notification): Full session fee applies
Please note: A minimum of 24 hours cancellation notice is required to avoid paying the session fee in full. This ensures the appointment can be offered to another individual requiring therapy.
Non-Payment
If payments for therapy are not being made, I reserve the right to terminate therapy.
5. Ending Therapy
Planned Endings
In the usual course of treatment, endings are planned, prepared for, and worked towards in order to manage a successful ending of the therapeutic relationship and treatment.
Early Termination
EMDR and CBT therapy can at times be emotional and demanding, which may lead individuals to decide to terminate therapy. If you feel unhappy with any aspects of the treatment being offered, please communicate this verbally to provide us both the chance to address and resolve engagement issues.
If for whatever reason you wish to terminate therapy during treatment, one session's notice is required to cancel the booking. This is to support a therapeutic ending.
Non-Response to Contact
If you have not replied to any correspondence regarding scheduling your appointments, I will email you requesting contact is made within a week of the email. If you do not reply within the timeframe stated, your care will be closed and no further contact will be made until you initiate contact again.
6. Between-Session Contact
Email Contact
You are welcome to contact me by email for brief questions:
Email: hello@katcuthbertpsychotherapy.com
Extended Discussions
If you need a more in-depth discussion, a full session will be required to allow sufficient time to discuss the matter.
Professional Boundaries
Our relationship is professional and it is not appropriate or ethical for me to have a non-professional relationship with you. This would be a breach of my professional ethical code.
7. Data Protection & Privacy
Record Keeping
To support your therapy, brief notes will be taken during and after each session, which will be kept in accordance with the Data Protection Act (2018), my accrediting body BABCP, and my insurance requirements with Balens. The purpose of this is to support formulation and treatment progress.
Withholding information is your right but may impair formulation and treatment progress.
Secure Storage
Your confidential notes will be stored electronically and securely and are fully encrypted with industry-standard file encryption software. Notes are kept in line with my insurance provider's recommendations.
Information Sharing
Information will only be disclosed to my clinical supervisor, unless required under a court of law subpoena or as part of safeguarding requirements (as detailed in Section 1: Confidentiality).
Your Rights
You have the right to:
Inspect your records (this will be fulfilled during a therapy session)
Withdraw consent of personal information at any time
Request deletion of your data (subject to legal and professional requirements)
For full details, please see the Privacy Policy.
Session Recording
In some circumstances, the session may be recorded to support the therapeutic process or for supervision purposes to ensure your therapy is effective and safe. This will always be discussed and your consent obtained before recording takes place. I will destroy recordings of our treatment sessions after supervision is accessed.
International Data Transfer
Under GDPR, I am not able to share any information, even with your consent, to external bodies operating outside the UK or UK territories.
Data Retention
Therapy notes will be securely stored for 7 years after treatment has ended, after which they will be permanently deleted, in line with my insurance requirements.
ICO Registration
I am a member of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), adhering to the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) obligations. Please refer to the ICO website for further information regarding your data protection rights.
8. Complaints Procedure
If you are unhappy with the service I provide, please discuss this with me in the first instance so we can work together to rectify this.
If you feel unable to do so, or you are not satisfied by my response, you have the right to complain to my professional body, the BABCP.
BABCP Contact:
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Website: www.babcp.com
9. Unexpected Therapist Absence
In the event of my unplanned absence from practice, whether due to injury, illness, death, or any other reason, I maintain a detailed Professional Will with instructions for an Executor to inform you of my status and ensure your continued care in accordance with your needs.
The Executor of my Professional Will is Jennifer Tay. The Executor is authorized to access your treatment records only in accordance with the terms of my Professional Will, and only in the event that I experience an event that has caused or is likely to cause a significant unplanned absence from practice.
10. Refunds & Cooling-Off Period
14-Day Cooling-Off Period
You have the right to cancel this Agreement within fourteen (14) days from the date of booking your first appointment (the "Cooling-Off Period") by providing written notice of cancellation to hello@katcuthbertpsychotherapy.com.
Refund Terms
If you cancel within the Cooling-Off Period and no services have commenced, any sums paid shall be refunded in full within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the cancellation notice.
Where you have expressly requested that services commence during the Cooling-Off Period, you shall remain liable for payment for the proportion of the services performed up to the date of cancellation. Any balance of sums paid shall be refunded within fourteen (14) days of such cancellation.
If the services are completed in full within the Cooling-Off Period at your express request, you acknowledge that the right to cancel shall be waived, and no refund shall be due.
11. Limitation of Liability
Exclusion of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Kat Cuthbert Psychotherapy shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental, or special loss or damage (including, without limitation, loss of income, loss of opportunity, emotional distress, or reputational damage) arising out of or in connection with the provision of services.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Kat Cuthbert Psychotherapy maintains appropriate professional indemnity insurance with Balens Insurance to cover liabilities arising from the provision of therapeutic services. Details of such insurance, including the insurer's name and the level of cover, are available upon reasonable request.
No Guarantee of Outcome
You acknowledge that therapy is a collaborative process and that outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Kat Cuthbert Psychotherapy makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the results or effectiveness of any therapy provided.
Statutory Rights
Nothing in this Agreement shall exclude or limit liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under the laws of England and Wales.
Remote and Online Service
As services are delivered remotely (by video or telephone), Kat Cuthbert Psychotherapy shall not be liable for any interruption, delay, data breach, or technical failure beyond its reasonable control, provided that all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure secure and reliable communication.
12. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
This Agreement, and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, its subject matter, or formation.
For clients based outside the United Kingdom, this Agreement and the services provided are governed by UK law, and any matters arising will be handled under the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
13. Consent to Treatment
By booking an appointment and completing the intake form, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms & Conditions.
If you have any questions about these terms, please contact me before booking your appointment.