Below is a copy the contract. These are the terms and conditions that you must agree and sign before I will start working with you. A copy will be sent to you via email for you to sign electronically. It will be stored electronically on DocuSign for legal reason for 3 years after we stop working.
Contract between a client and Allister Murdoch.
Beginning.
Agreeing to work together means that we have contracted to meet at an arranged time usually for fifty minutes, and in a safe setting, in order for you to examine any issues or problems you care to discuss. My role is to facilitate your process, and help you move towards change if appropriate.
Confidentiality.
Anything you choose to say to me within sessions remains confidential with the following exceptions
My fee is reviews on a six monthly basis, except in exceptional national circumstances. Any increase will take place on the 1st March or the 1st September. I will give you at least 4 weeks notice beforehand.
Payments
I will send you and invoice at least 72 hours in advance of our arranged session.
Fees must be paid electronically by PayPal at least 48 hours in advance. Only in exceptional circumstances will other payment method be accepted.
Failure to do this will result in your session being cancelled by me. I will send you and email confirming the cancellation.
All payments made to me electronically come via a third party. I cannot control what they do with your information.
Cancellation/Lateness of Client.
If you cancel a session with less than 48 hours notice, you will be charged the full fee. If you arrive late for a session, the session will not be extended. It will finish at the time originally agreed.
Contact between Sessions.
This is restricted to short messages relating to practical issues such as timing of sessions. If we meet in the street or any other setting I will not acknowledge you. If you choose to say hello to me I will return the greeting. I will not stop to have a conversation.
Social Media
Once we have commenced working together I not look at any form of your social media. I will not accept friend requests or reply to any messages sent to me via social media including any of my business social media.
Covid-19
I will work with you in a way that meets both the requirements of the Scottish/UK legal requirements and professional requirements of my professional body. I will be abiding by the requirements of any venue that I use including for the purposes of Track and Trace as decide by the venue owners.
Code of Ethics
I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I abide by their Ethical Framework. If you are not familiar with this, please look at their website at www.bacp.co.uk
Session Notes/Records
I am registered as required by law with the Information Commissioners Office, to meet the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Normally, I take brief notes on paper during or after each session.In our first session I will take notes that will include your history, any relevant medical. Medication history, reasons for coming along and anything that I feel may be relevant. In subsequent sessions my notes are normally restricted to 4 or 5 bullet points. My notes are stored in a locked filling cabinet. This allows me to reflect on the work we have done. All emails, text messages sent to me are also kept as part of your record. A brief note is kept of any telephone conversation.
Supervision.
I may sometimes feel it would be beneficial to discuss you sessions with my supervisor, or with other professional colleagues. These discussions will also be in confidence, and the purpose is always to enable me to be more effective in our work together.
Ending.
When you are ready to stop. I ask for at least one final sessions notice, so that we both have time to reflect on the therapeutic work carried out, next steps and how best to end our time together. If for any reason I decide to end our relationship or I am not able to continue working with you due to illness of retirement or death I will give you as much notice where possible.
I agree to all of the above terms and agreements.
Therapist Name (Printed)……………………………………….
Therapist Signature……………………………………………….
Clients Name (Printed)………………………………………….
Clients Signature………………………………………………….
Date of clients signature………………………………………….
Beginning.
Agreeing to work together means that we have contracted to meet at an arranged time usually for fifty minutes, and in a safe setting, in order for you to examine any issues or problems you care to discuss. My role is to facilitate your process, and help you move towards change if appropriate.
Confidentiality.
Anything you choose to say to me within sessions remains confidential with the following exceptions
- if I believe you or other people are in danger.
- if I am required to do so by law.
- when discussing my work with my therapeutic supervisor (this is standard practice).
- Internet or electronic communications including payments. Nothing sent by email, any other electronic service or electronic equipment can be guaranteed by anyone to be 100% secure.
My fee is reviews on a six monthly basis, except in exceptional national circumstances. Any increase will take place on the 1st March or the 1st September. I will give you at least 4 weeks notice beforehand.
Payments
I will send you and invoice at least 72 hours in advance of our arranged session.
Fees must be paid electronically by PayPal at least 48 hours in advance. Only in exceptional circumstances will other payment method be accepted.
Failure to do this will result in your session being cancelled by me. I will send you and email confirming the cancellation.
All payments made to me electronically come via a third party. I cannot control what they do with your information.
Cancellation/Lateness of Client.
If you cancel a session with less than 48 hours notice, you will be charged the full fee. If you arrive late for a session, the session will not be extended. It will finish at the time originally agreed.
Contact between Sessions.
This is restricted to short messages relating to practical issues such as timing of sessions. If we meet in the street or any other setting I will not acknowledge you. If you choose to say hello to me I will return the greeting. I will not stop to have a conversation.
Social Media
Once we have commenced working together I not look at any form of your social media. I will not accept friend requests or reply to any messages sent to me via social media including any of my business social media.
Covid-19
I will work with you in a way that meets both the requirements of the Scottish/UK legal requirements and professional requirements of my professional body. I will be abiding by the requirements of any venue that I use including for the purposes of Track and Trace as decide by the venue owners.
Code of Ethics
I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I abide by their Ethical Framework. If you are not familiar with this, please look at their website at www.bacp.co.uk
Session Notes/Records
I am registered as required by law with the Information Commissioners Office, to meet the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Normally, I take brief notes on paper during or after each session.In our first session I will take notes that will include your history, any relevant medical. Medication history, reasons for coming along and anything that I feel may be relevant. In subsequent sessions my notes are normally restricted to 4 or 5 bullet points. My notes are stored in a locked filling cabinet. This allows me to reflect on the work we have done. All emails, text messages sent to me are also kept as part of your record. A brief note is kept of any telephone conversation.
Supervision.
I may sometimes feel it would be beneficial to discuss you sessions with my supervisor, or with other professional colleagues. These discussions will also be in confidence, and the purpose is always to enable me to be more effective in our work together.
Ending.
When you are ready to stop. I ask for at least one final sessions notice, so that we both have time to reflect on the therapeutic work carried out, next steps and how best to end our time together. If for any reason I decide to end our relationship or I am not able to continue working with you due to illness of retirement or death I will give you as much notice where possible.
I agree to all of the above terms and agreements.
Therapist Name (Printed)……………………………………….
Therapist Signature……………………………………………….
Clients Name (Printed)………………………………………….
Clients Signature………………………………………………….
Date of clients signature………………………………………….