THERAPY TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Linda Witchell trading as Awaken the Change
Version 2.0
Last Reviewed: June 2026
Next Review: June 2027
Introduction
My aim is to provide a professional, safe and supportive service. These terms and conditions help ensure that we both understand our responsibilities and what you can expect when working with me.
Please read them carefully and ask if anything is unclear.
Services
I provide counselling, hypnotherapy, coaching, supervision and training services.
Counselling services are available to clients located within the United Kingdom.
Hypnotherapy and coaching services may be available internationally.
All services are provided from England and are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Appointments and Payment
Appointments must be booked in advance.
Payment is due before your appointment unless otherwise agreed.
Sessions will normally begin and end at the agreed time. If you arrive late, the session may need to finish at the scheduled time.
Cancellations and Missed Appointments
If you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice.
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice may be charged in full unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Missed appointments are normally charged in full.
Online Sessions
Most of my work is conducted online.
You are responsible for ensuring that you attend sessions in a private and safe environment where you are unlikely to be interrupted.
Please ensure that your device is charged and that you have access to a reliable internet connection.
If technical difficulties prevent a session from proceeding, reasonable efforts will be made to reconnect. If this is not possible, an alternative appointment may be arranged.
Online services are not suitable for emergencies or crisis situations.
Confidentiality
Everything discussed during sessions is treated as confidential.
There are some exceptions where confidentiality may need to be broken. These include:
- Serious risk of harm to yourself
- Serious risk of harm to another person
- Safeguarding concerns
- Legal requirements
- Court orders
Where possible, concerns will be discussed with you first.
As part of safe and ethical professional practice, anonymous information may be discussed during professional supervision. Supervisors are bound by professional and confidentiality obligations.
Contacting Your GP or Emergency Contact
You will be asked to provide GP details and an emergency contact.
Where appropriate and with your knowledge, contact may be made with your GP, emergency contact, or another relevant professional if there are concerns about safety, well-being, safeguarding, medical risk, or continuity of care.
Record Keeping and Privacy
Brief records of our work together will be kept in accordance with legal, professional and insurance requirements.
Information about how your personal data is collected, stored and used can be found in the Privacy Notice for Clients.
Recording Sessions
Sessions may not be recorded without the written agreement of all parties.
Unauthorised recording may result in the termination of services.
Health and Wellbeing
Please inform me of any significant changes to your health, medication, personal circumstances or risk factors that may affect our work together.
If you are under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs, the session may be postponed or terminated.
Scope of Service
Counselling, hypnotherapy and coaching are not a substitute for emergency medical care, psychiatric treatment or crisis intervention services.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or are at immediate risk, please contact emergency services, NHS 111, your GP or your local emergency support service.
Young People Aged 16–17
I may occasionally work with young people aged 16 and 17 where this is considered appropriate and within my professional competence.
Young people aged 16 and 17 are generally considered able to consent to therapeutic services in their own right.
Where appropriate, parent or guardian involvement may be encouraged, particularly where this supports safety, communication and ongoing wellbeing.
For clients under 18, parent or guardian contact details and GP details may be requested for safeguarding and emergency purposes.
Suitability of Service
Services may be declined, postponed, or terminated when they are considered clinically inappropriate, unsafe, outside my professional competence, or when professional boundaries cannot be maintained.
Where appropriate, alternative sources of support may be suggested.
Outcomes
Every client is unique.
While every effort is made to support positive change, no specific outcome can be guaranteed.
Your progress will depend on many factors, including your circumstances, motivation and engagement with the process.
Feedback and Concerns
I welcome feedback and will always try to resolve concerns fairly and professionally.
If you have concerns about the service you receive, please raise them with me in the first instance so that we can try to resolve the matter together.
Changes to These Terms
These terms and conditions may be updated from time to time.
The most recent version will always be available through my practice documentation and website.
By booking, attending or continuing to use my services, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these terms and conditions and the Privacy Notice for Clients.
