Location​

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Dovetail Counselling Service is at 6 Stafford Road, NP26 5DE. There is street parking. Entry is via the door on the garage (there is a sign saying 'Dovetail Counselling Service' and a bell for you to ring). 

The counselling room is located on the ground floor, with a ramp going from the garage into the house.

It is all on the flat with no steps.

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There is no waiting area so please arrive at your appointment time.

 

Counselling Sessions

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The first counselling session is a taster, for you to see if counselling is for you, and if we feel we can work together. After the first session if you decide you would like to continue with counselling then I ask you make a commitment to attend regularly, in order for you to get the most from your therapy. This might be weekly, or fortnightly. The average number of sessions needed is six, although it could be shorter or longer, depending on your needs and issues.

 

Counselling Contract

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At the beginning of the first session we will both sign a counselling contract with the following on it-

I aim to give the best possible service to my clients.  The contract below sets out my commitment to you, and in return what I would consider to be your responsibility. 

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I will:

• Work to the BACP Ethical Framework for Counsellors. 

• Be clinically supervised to ensure safe practice at all times.

• Treat you with respect and without judgement.

• Treat the work with confidentiality. Confidentiality will only be broken, with or without your permission, in the event of disclosure of abuse of children, other vulnerable people, serious criminal offences, or harm to self or others. There is also a duty to disclose acts of terrorism, under the terrorism act.

• Not keep anything confidential between me and each individual in the couple. If one partner discloses information to me when not in the presence of the other partner, I may share that information during your counselling sessions.

• Make a commitment to you to attend every session, and to advise you in good time if this is not possible, for unforeseen reasons.

• Meet with you at a time, day and venue agreed. 

• Ensure the venue will be a safe place for us to discuss your issues

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You will:

• After the first session if you decide you would like to continue with counselling then I ask you make a commitment to attend regularly, in order for you to get the most from your therapy. This might be weekly, or fortnightly.

• Inform me if you are unable to attend (less than 48 hours notice full fees apply).

• Agree to engage in the process, being open and honest.

• Agree a planned ending to the work with myself.  If you take the decision to end counselling prematurely I will respect your wishes, but would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you.

• Agree not to be under the influence of substances.

 

Fees

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Each session is booked for 50 minutes and at present costs £55. Once you have booked an appointment with me I ask that payment is made within 24 hours to secure that booking for you. Payment can be made by direct bank transfer (I will email you my bank details). By card via my booking system when an appointment is booked here or via this website here.

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If you cancel or rearrange your appointment more than 48 hours of the appointment I will refund your money. If another appointment is booked I ask that payment is made in cash or card at the present appointment or direct bank payment within 24 hours of the booking being made.

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My fees are reviewed annually and I will give you four weeks’ notice in advance if I am increasing them. 

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Severe Weather Conditions

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If you are unable to attend my premises due to severe weather conditions like snow I am able to offer the alternative of telephone or Skype counselling. If you feel this is not suitable for you, and cancel with less than 48 hours' notice, then half of the usual fee will be refunded to you.

 

Privacy Notice

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You will have been given a privacy notice with this contract at our first session. This sets out how I manage and safeguard your data and the notes I take.

 

Please contact me beforehand if you have any questions or ask me when we meet up for our first session.