Counselling Contract

LIFE-FORCE

School of Counselling

Counselling Contract

Template

This template aims to help the student translate the requirements contained in the ‘Client Therapy Contract Guidelines’ (REF Student Handbook p.131) and the BACP Information Sheet PII ‘Making the Contract for Counselling & Psychotherapy’, into their own counselling contract. Whilst the School wishes to encourage students to develop their own individual style of client therapy contract, it is important that all the stipulated aspects are incorporated within their own version of the counselling contract.

With this in mind, this following document is presented as follows:

©  The headings indicate sections that must be covered

©  The wording in ‘quote marks’ give examples of how the different sections might be written.

©  Guidance notes to the student are written in italics.

The student should commence this task by creating their own letter headed paper, which can then be used for the contract and also for other practice management letters. The following template has been written as if the client were attending counselling at LIFE-FORCE Centre, however the student should adapt the content to suit their individual placement requirements. The contract can be 1 or 2 pages long depending on the needs of the placement agency. Ideally students should present their finished contract to their supervisor for feedback and development prior to incorporation into the placement assignment portfolio.

NB. This document can be downloaded as a Microsoft Word document from the LIFE-FORCE Website Student Area Level 4 Year 1 Session 5.

May 2014

Contract Format

Counselling Contract

Welcome to LIFE-FORCE

‘My name is ______, and I am a student counsellor at the LIFE-FORCE School of Counselling who is currently studying for a Diploma in Integrative Counselling. I am currently on clinical placement at ______. I also hold Student Membership of BACP and as such am bound by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy upon which this counselling contract is based.

©  The BACP Guidelines identify two sections to the contract part 1 and part 2 – see below, however the student may combine these into one if they wish.

Part 1 – The Therapeutic Contract

What is Counselling?

‘Counselling is the opportunity for you to talk about ………………………………………………’

©  The student should provide a brief description of what counselling is, what the client can bring and what will be provided in terms of the space, safety, theoretical approach, respect etc.

Initial Session and Type of Contract(s)

‘Our first 3 sessions together will be assessment sessions, where we will decide if we feel we can work together. Should this be agreed and provided a ‘GP Client Suitability Form’ has been completed as suitable by your GP within this time period, then an initial contract of 5 sessions would usually be offered, followed by a review of our work together. If considered appropriate the option of an open-time contract will then be offered. This means wherever possible we will both commit to on-going therapy until you feel the work is complete’.

©  How is the initial assessment carried out and by whom, are there any time limitations on the contract and if so what happens to the client at the end of short term contracts?

Reasons for Coming

‘Whilst I am happy to work with what you choose to bring to the sessions, it can be helpful to know your reason for coming including any areas you would especially like to work on, plus any specific aims or goals you may have in mind so that these can be taken into account’.

Identified Areas for the Counselling Work:

Specific Goals and Hopes for the Outcome of the Counselling Work:

‘The above areas may change as the therapy progresses, so I will regularly review our work together……………………………………………………………………………………………..…’

©  The frequency of reviews may need to change for work that becomes longer term

©  Clients with adoption issues are restricted to ASA Registered Counsellors, are there any other limitations regarding client issues that may need to be considered?

Complaints

‘In such circumstances that you are unhappy with the therapy or service provided, you are whenever possible, encouraged in the first instance to talk your concerns through with me, your counsellor. If unresolved, you can discuss it with the placement manager (provide their name and phone number). Should you have a complaint about my professional conduct you can raise this with Nicole Joyce, Director LIFE-FORCE School of Counselling 01206 791661. Finally, should you still be unsatisfied you can contact BACP as I am subject to their professional misconduct procedure’.

Part 2 – The Business Contract

Contact Details

Counsellors Contact Details

©  The student counsellor should make it clear how they can be contacted in between sessions e.g. by letter – provide an address, by phone – provide a number and for what purpose e.g. only to cancel/rearrangement appointment and not to offer counselling sessions on the phone etc.

Clients Contact Details

‘Name

Address (may already be provided / or not be needed)

Phone Numbers: Home______Mobile______

I agree you can contact me by home phone / mobile phone / letter (please circle to confirm), but would prefer to be contacted by ______’.

Clients GP Details

©  If the clients GP details have been provided or are requested then the student counsellor should make it clear to the client the circumstances under which the GP would be contacted e.g. GP referrals, letter writing and potential disclosure situations.

Counselling Sessions

‘We have agreed to meet weekly on (day of the week) at (time) for an initial contract of (number) sessions, which will last for 50 minutes each.

The cost per session is £_____ , and this will need to be paid at the start / end of each session. If you are unable to attend then please give ____ hours cancellation notice, without which the full session fee will be charged to cover the room hire costs’.

©  Students may require the client to initially pay for 2 sessions so that 1 fee can be held to cover late cancellations.

©  Students may also need to include a statement detailing the payment of fees requirement for illness, emergencies etc.

©  Students may need to clarify how many times a client can DNA before the contract is closed, especially when no room hire fees are being charged.

‘Unless you have cancelled a session by leaving a message on my mobile number ______then I will usually remain on LIFE-FORCE premises for 20/30 minutes or for the whole of your allocated appointment time???’

Confidentiality & Supervision

‘As a student counsellor I will provide the highest level of confidentiality possible according to the law and the Codes of Ethics of BACP and LIFE-FORCE Training Organisation. However some situations could result in disclosure and these are as follows:

• If you are considered to be a serious risk to yourself or to other people, then further professional advice could be beneficial.

©  The student should ascertain with the client to whom they would disclose e.g. GP, and make sure they take the relevant details.

• Any illegal activities and acts of terrorism, where not to disclose would break the law.
• Any child protection issues where a child could be at risk of harm or neglect must be reported to the appropriate authorities as required by The Children Act 1989.

Depending on the particular circumstances, I would always aim to discuss this with you before taking any action wherever possible.

In order to support any medical or physical disability needs you may have, it could be necessary to conduct a risk assessment together’.

©  The student also needs to consider other limitations such as any feedback that may be required by the placement agency, by the GP (if GP referred), employers etc.

©  Regarding disclosure the student needs to be aware that for illegal acts and acts of terrorism and some children protection situations then they would be required to take disclosure action without informing the client and/or seeking consent.

‘All professional counsellors including trainees are required by BACP to have regular supervision to support professional practice. I may also be required to use some information to fulfil my training requirement. However in both instances all cases are discussed using a pseudonym and as no identifying details are used, your privacy would therefore always be maintained.

I will make brief case notes at the end of all counselling sessions in order to monitor my work and these are always non-identifiable and are kept in a locked, secure location and are destroyed after 7 years’.

Closure of Counselling Contract and Referrals

‘You may choose to end our work together whenever you wish, alternatively you may find the work draws to a natural ending. In either case it is important to have a closing session(s) to say goodbye, as this is an integral part of the therapeutic process.

Occasionally it may be necessary for me to refer you back to the placement agency for referral onward to another health care professional, this could be for a number of reasons such as:

• We don’t seem to have gelled and are therefore not working well together.
• Your needs could be better met elsewhere.

• Our situation changes making the contract untenable’.

©  Students should be aware that they can also refer clients back to the placement, if they feel out of their depth and/or unable to work with a particular client’s issues.

‘This contract will come to an end on the completion of my training course on ______, at which time we can review your options for further counselling support’.

©  If working short term then this is obviously not relevant. For long term work it is important to be clear from the start of the contract what will happen at the end of your training e.g. will they be able to continue working with you, or would they have the option of seeing another trainee etc.

‘As the client, I have read and agree to the contents of this contract, and confirm I am not attending counselling elsewhere.

Client’s Signature ______Print Name ______

Counsellor’s Signature ______Print Name ______

Date of Contract Commencement ______