Talkthru Counselling Agreement Form

Counselling

Counselling is a confidential process to help you understand yourself and cope with personal or interpersonal issues. Counselling may bring up distressing emotions, and your counsellor is available to support you throughout. Sessions last 50–55 minutes.

Fees & Donations

We suggest a voluntary contribution per session to help maintain our service. Suggested amounts:

  • Under £10,000 annual income → £5

  • Under £15,000 → £10

  • Under £20,000 → £15

  • Under £25,000 → £20

  • Over £25,000 → £25

Donations can be made by cash, cheque, or PayPal at the end of each session.

Appointments

  • Please contact your counsellor or the office in advance if you need to cancel your appointment. Missed appointments without notice are not automatically rebooked.

  • Your counsellor will not engage with you via social media.

  • Video and telephone sessions may be rearranged in case of technical issues.

Session Notes & Contact Information

  • Brief factual notes are taken for each session and stored securely under an identifying code.

  • Notes are used to support your counselling and may be shared anonymously in supervision to maintain professional standards.

  • Client contact details (name and telephone number) are stored on the Talkthru mobile phone until the counselling relationship ends, after which they are deleted from the contact list.

  • If we agree to communicate by text or email, these records may be kept for the same duration as your counselling notes.

  • The mobile phone is a smartphone and password protected.

Confidentiality

  • All counselling sessions, records, and personal information are confidential.

  • Exceptions occur only if there is clear and imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, or as required by law.

Sharing Information with Third Parties

Information from session notes may be made available to legitimate third parties only under the following conditions:

  • At your request (or your representative), if releasing the notes is not likely to cause you or another person significant harm.

  • Where legally required, for example by a court or official body.

  • Where there is an ethical duty, such as to prevent serious harm to yourself or others, including safeguarding children or vulnerable adults.

In any of these circumstances, where appropriate, you will be notified before information is shared.

Data & GDPR

  • Personal information (name, contact details, GP, relevant history, and session notes) will be stored securely and confidentially for seven years after counselling ends, except where there is a mutually agreed decision to retain for longer or where it is in the therapist’s professional interests.

  • You have the right to access any information held about you. To do this, please submit a request in writing.

  • You have the right to request corrections to any information you believe is inaccurate. Information requested will normally be provided within 30 days.

  • If we become aware that your personal information may have been accidentally or maliciously obtained by a third party, we will notify you as soon as is reasonably practicable.

  • If you are concerned about the way your information is being held, please discuss this with us. If you remain unhappy, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at casework@ico.org.uk or via their website ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.

  • We will never sell or share your personal details with third parties for marketing purposes. If you choose to receive updates from us, your information will only be used by Talkthru.