Frequently asked questions
What is the UKCP?
The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a professional association of psychotherapy organisations and practitioners in the United Kingdom. The UKCP promotes and maintains the profession of psychotherapy and the highest standards in the practice of psychotherapy throughout the United Kingdom, for the benefit of the public. Only psychotherapists or psycho-therapeutic counsellors who meet UKCP's training requirements and abide by its ethical guidelines are included in its online "Register of Psychotherapists".
What is BACP?
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK. It is a large organisation that many psychotherapist and counsellors around the UK are registered with. It is a charity and accrediting body that set certain standards and codes of ethics for counsellors and psychotherapists to adhere to. If someone is accredited by the BACP it means they have completed a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association. BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. In 2013 the BACP Register was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status with the Professional Standards Authority.
What is the Professional Standards Authority?
The Professional Standards Authority helps protect the public through its work with organisations that register and regulate people working in health and social care. It is an independent organisation that is accountable to the UK Parliament. The Health Committee uses the Professional Standards Authority’s performance review reports to question the regulators it oversees about their work.
What is your privacy policy?
Your privacy is taken very seriously and I follow the strict code and conduct of ethics set out by the UKCP and BACP. After each therapy session, I will take notes which will include personal details about your life. These notes are used solely for the delivery of a therapy service to you. Your therapy and personal information are stored securely in locked cabinets and encrypted electronic devices. Information but no identifying information will be shared with my supervisor who also adheres to the strict code and conduct of ethics of an accrediting body. Your information will not be discussed or released to a third party without your explicit, written consent, unless required by law. I will explain the parameters of confidentiality in full before we begin our work together and ask you to sign a form to confirm you understand.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?
In the event that you are unable to keep an appointment, I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice. A cancelled appointment with less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged at £40. A missed appointment without notice will be charged at £85. As a therapy space will be retained for you during a course of therapy, 2 cancelled sessions for holiday requirements are offered at no fee. Any further sessions missed will be charged as outlined above.
What if I need urgent help or support?
I am unable to provide you with emergency help. If you are concerned about your safety or have any other urgent concern, you can contact your GP or the out-of-hours NHS service on 111. There are also a number of cafés called Safe Haven across Surrey, which you can access for emotional and crisis support during the evenings and weekends for further information and where to find them https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/our-services/mental-health/safe-havens Alternatively, if you need between-session support, you can contact a Freephone support line such as the Samaritans (116 123, 24 hours a day, throughout the year) or SaneLine (0300 304 7000, open 6pm-11pm daily).
