The therapist’s terms and conditions are important to read before engaging with any service because they clarify what to expect.
Professional therapy services will have the therapist’s terms and conditions, but many clients don’t know what they are for and why I believe it’s important to read and understand them prior to booking therapy.
Hi, I’m Linda, a hypnotherapist, counsellor, and coach, so I’ll explain from both a therapist’s and a client’s perspective.
However, please note that I am not a legal expert and do not provide legal advice; this blog is for general informational purposes based on my experience. You should always consult a solicitor and seek other professional advice if you do not understand anything or have any doubts about any services you are intending to use.
What type of therapy are you intending to buy?
Sometimes, the services offered by some therapists may not be clear, but an initial consultation and plenty of information on the website help.
It’s important to know what you are buying. Determine the therapist’s experience and qualifications.
A therapist needs to make their services clear, as this builds trust and attracts more clients.
In my experience, many therapists use a blended approach. This means that they use more than one tool. For example, most hypnotherapists use NLP techniques with hypnosis. Some others use EFT techniques in addition to hypnosis. I personally use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with hypnosis as it has been shown to give good results.
There are many different approaches to counselling. As a counsellor, I have trained to be an integrative or pluralistic counsellor. This means that I use several different approaches.
How much does hypnotherapy (counselling or coaching) cost?
You have a right to know what you are paying for and how much it is. This can be explained verbally, but it is better to see it in writing and confirm the price and any additional charges before you commit to purchasing a service.
There are differnt thoughts on the importance of advertising prices on a website or directory. My prices are clearly shown on my website www.awakenthechange.com/prices
Sometimes, therapists charge extra for home visits, VIP services, evenings, or weekends. I do charge more for services outside my working hours and for home visits.
You need to know when the payment is due and how to pay.
You also need to have an idea of how long the sessions are. Typically, hypnotherapy lasts up to 1 hour, while many counsellors’ sessions last up to 50 minutes.
It’s common these days for therapists to request payment before the first session.
Sometimes you pay for a package rather than sessions by the hour.
Some therapists display this information on their websites, and others should explain their pricing through a discovery call or initial consultation.
What is the cancellation policy?
No client wants to cancel when they are serious about making changes in their lives, but sometimes other things can get in the way, like an unexpected shift at work, illness, or a big life event.
Occasionally, a therapist may also need to reschedule. This rarely happens in my practice, but just like clients, we all have other things going on in our lives, and emergencies happen. If I ever need to reschedule, I will offer another appointment as soon as possible. As I work full-time in my business, this often takes only a moment.
Find out what the cancellation policy is when you book a service.
Many therapy services now state that there are no refunds for missed appointments; however, if there is a valid reason, some therapists will waive payment. Valid reasons might be illness and emergencies.
Is the service confidential?
Therapists should follow a code of conduct, and that includes confidentiality. I belong to several professional bodies and follow their codes of conduct, all of which are based on ethical principles. For example, the National Hypnotherapy Society (NHS), the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNCH) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
However, there are times when a therapist has a duty to disclose. An example might be disclosing safeguarding issues or information you are duty-bound to disclose, such as terrorism-related information. If you want more information or feel concerned about confidentiality, always discuss this with your therapist.
In the UK, client information is covered by the GDPR, so therapists should be registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
What is meant by the scope of therapy practice?
The scope of practice means that the therapist makes it clear which areas they have been trained in and have experience helping people with. For example, my specialist areas are stress and anxiety, bereavement and loss, and functional issues. As a retired nurse, I can also help with a range of medical-related problems, such as a fear of needles, some skin conditions, and worries about going into the hospital for an operation.
This means that therapies such as hypnotherapy services must make it clear that they are not there to replace medical treatment.
If you contact a therapist who feels that your request is outside their scope of practice, they may suggest others who specialise in the issue, direct you to therapist directories, or ask you to see your doctor.
So there are some clients I decide not to offer hypnotherapy to. This is usually related to contraindications such as psychosis and people under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. I choose not to offer past life regression.
Can you contact a therapist between sessions?
This depends on the therapist. Most therapists have a way to contact them between sessions, but remember that therapists are not a 24-hour emergency service, so they may not respond immediately.
Hypnotherapy is an adjunct to healthcare, so you should contact your doctor or the emergency department for urgent medical concerns. The Samaritans are available day and night if you urgently need to talk to someone (Tel. 116 123).
Working online
Therapists often have online policies and procedures.
They may suggest what to prepare for online work, what to expect, and your responsibilities and theirs.
If the therapist has a website, their information confidentiality should also be explained.
There are also intellectual property rights related to the website.
Can the sessions be recorded?
Yes, but only with the consent of both parties.
The most important fact about sessions being recorded is the security of that information, including where it is stored and who might access it.
Professional standards
Therapists who have trained in the UK will often meet professional standards. This includes having:
- Supervision. Even experienced therapists should receive supervision to discuss anonymised client cases and ensure they consistently provide the best care. Most therapists receive monthly supervision, but experienced hypnotherapists may not continue that frequency if their professional body allows.
- Continuing professional development (CPD). All therapists need to keep up to date with their knowledge and skills. It’s common to be expected to do 30 hours of CPD per year to keep up to date.
- Registering with a professional body. There is no law requiring therapists to belong to a professional body; ethical practitioners often register and follow a code of conduct.
- Insurance. Most therapists have professional liability insurance.
Consider limitations of liability
Therapists can’t be held responsible for things outside their control. For example, if severe weather conditions prevent the therapist from turning up at the office or connecting online.
In most cases, therapists can’t offer guarantees unless there is overwhelming evidence.
Client responsibilities
Terms and conditions are to help the client and the therapist.
The client and the therapist should work together to meet the terms of the agreement.
Clients should arrive on time and
Ending therapy
Sometimes the sessions end because there has been an agreed number at the start.
Other times, it can be the therapist with very good reasons, or the client who has the right to terminate the sessions.
I have found that, in my practice, telling the client that they should let me know if they are not happy with something usually resolves the* problem, and the sessions continue.
Complaints procedure
If a client is not happy with the service, they can file a complaint.
First, they should talk with the therapist so that the therapist can explain things and offer a solution.
If this has not worked, a client may decide to contact the therapist’s professional body.
Finally, reading the therapist’s terms and conditions is worth bothering with. If you don’t want to read them, then please do ask questions before signing up for any service.
Want to find out more about hypnotherapy, counselling or coaching?
Please book a complimentary consultation and find out how I can help you. Most of my work is done online these days via Zoom as I’m able to connect with people from around the world. Book a session today- www.awakenthechange.com/online-bookings/
