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  • In-Person (G77) and Online Counselling, Therapy and Coaching
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1-1 Client Contract, Data Protection & Privacy Notice with Alison Barr

‘Welcome to ‘The Green Rooms’. This contract ensures we have a safe and professional space for our sessions.

Please read all 8 sections carefully before agreeing. To ensure we both have a formal record, you and I will each receive an email with the ‘signed’ contract attached as a PDF.

Please note that I keep the contract for 6 years to satisfy professional requirements, but your sensitive personal information is stored separately and deleted as soon as it is no longer needed.

1. Appointment Arrangements
  1. Duration: Appointments are 50 to 60 minutes long. The fee covers the 50-minute ‘therapeutic hour’, and I have up to 10 additional minutes available to ensure our conversation concludes naturally. Longer appointments may be available on request.
  2. Frequency: The frequency of our sessions is agreed upon individually and tailored to your specific needs. To ensure I build the right momentum for the work to be effective, I will usually agree to meet with you at least once a fortnight during the initial stages.
  3. Breaks and Holidays: I will provide as much notice as possible for any planned breaks or holidays, and I ask that you provide the same for me.
  4. Endings: When you feel ready to finish your sessions, I recommend that we have at least one ‘ending session’. This allows us to review our work together and bring the process to a safe and natural conclusion.

I can meet you in-person at my office in Newton Mearns, via secure video call, telephone, or home visit.

  1. Video calls: I will email you a secure link. In the event of technical difficulties that disrupt a video call, the appointment will be conducted via telephone.
  2. Telephone sessions: Please call me at our scheduled time once you are settled and have the privacy you need.
  3. Home Visits: Home visits are subject to my availability and your location, with fees tailored to the specific service and your environment.
  4. Non-Attendance: If you do not ‘turn up’ at the arranged date and time, I will attempt to contact you. I might email, text, and/or phone; however, only with prior permission.
  5. Timing: If an appointment begins late, it will still end at the original agreed time. If I am not available at the correct time, I will contact you as soon as I am available, and you will receive the full time you have paid for or a partial refund. 
  1. Fees: Fees reflect my specialist training and experience. The specific fee for your sessions will be confirmed with you before our first appointment.
  2. Payment: Fees are payable via bank transfer 2 working days in advance of the appointment, please. Bank details will be provided to you separately.
  3. Fee Reviews: Fees are subject to periodic review. I will provide you with a minimum of 6 weeks’ notice regarding any fee changes.
  4. Cancellations:
    o Notice of less than 1 working day: 100% of the fee is charged.
    o Notice of 1 to 2 working days: 50% of the fee is charged.
    o ‘Working Days’ are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding National Scottish and local East Renfrewshire Bank Holidays.
  5. Third Party Payments: You remain responsible for the full payment of fees in the event of nonpayment by a third party.

I practice in accordance with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework. Confidentiality is taken very seriously and will only be broken:

  1. To facilitate a ‘Clinical Will’ in the event of my death or incapacity.
  2. If I believe that I, you, and/or another person are in danger of serious harm.
  3. Where it is in the public interest or necessary for public protection.
  4. If required by a court of law or under any other legal obligation.
  5. Within my own professional Supervision. Your identity is always protected during these sessions.
  6. When seeking advice, guidance, or representation from my professional body, insurers, or legal advisors.
  7. When consulting with specialist organisations (for example, those focused on domestic abuse or safeguarding) to ensure the safety and integrity of the work.
  8. If you wish to raise a concern regarding professional conduct, in such cases, you can refer to the ‘BACP Guide to Making a Complaint’.
  1. Explicit Consent: By signing this contract, you give explicit consent for the recording and use of information as described in this section.
  2. Data Controller: Alison Barr is the Data Controller for her own work.
  3. Purpose and Lawful Basis: Personal information is recorded to support you, meet legal and ethical requirements, and follow good practice. Under the UK-GDPR, the lawful bases for processing are:
    o Contract: To fulfil this Counselling, Psychotherapy and Coaching contract.
    o Legal Obligation: To comply with professional standards and the law.
    o Health and Social Care: For processing sensitive data, I rely on Article 9(2)(h) of the UK-GDPR.
  4. Data Collected: This includes your name, contact details, home address, GP details, and psychiatrist details (if applicable). I also collect the address of your remote session (if different from your home address), relevant emergency medical information, and other sensitive data where relevant. No names or identifying information are recorded in session notes.
  5. Data Sharing: Your information is kept confidential. It is never shared with third parties for marketing purposes. Data is only shared in the specific professional and legal circumstances outlined in Section 4 (Confidentiality).
  6. Location of Data: Records are stored securely. Cloud storage may be used; these servers may be located outside of the UK, and providers may change at any time.
  7. Data Retention: Records are kept only for as long as is necessary to satisfy legal, professional, or reporting requirements. This period is subject to change to remain compliant with evolving legislation and BACP ethical guidelines.
  8. Your Rights: You have the right to: 
    o Access records within one month, free of charge. This period may be extended by a further two months where requests are complex or numerous. If an extension is
    required, I will inform you within one month of receipt of the request and explain why.
    o Request the correction of inaccuracies.
    o Request the erasure of data that is no longer necessary.
    o Request portability of records in a machine-readable form.
    o Withdraw consent for data processing at any time, though this may impact the ability to continue Therapy.
    o Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
  1. Your Environment: Please ensure you have a private, confidential room where you cannot be overheard and would only be interrupted in an emergency. This includes ensuring you do not answer the doorbell or other calls during our time together.
  2. Post-Session Care: Consider what you will do for the few minutes after the appointment has ended to allow yourself to settle before returning to your day.
  3. Technical Issues: If a video call is disrupted by technical difficulties, the appointment will be completed via telephone.
  4. Recording: I do not record our sessions, and I do not permit the recording of sessions (audio or video) by clients without my prior written consent. This is to protect the privacy and integrity of the therapeutic space.
  1. Safety Measures: I require your GP details, psychiatrist details (where applicable), and home address ahead of our first session. Please ensure you update me if your location changes for any specific session.
  2. Crisis Support: I do not provide an emergency or crisis service. If you require urgent assistance, please contact the appropriate service:
    o Emergency (immediate danger to life): Dial 999 for Police or Ambulance.
    o Non-Emergency Medical: Contact your GP or dial NHS 24 (111).
    o Social Work: Contact your local Social Work department.
    o Emotional Support: Contact the Samaritans (116 123).
  1. Professional Boundaries: If we ‘bump into’ each other outwith our appointments, you can choose to acknowledge or ignore me, and I will follow your lead. If you choose to
    acknowledge me, I will only return the gesture if I think it is appropriate. It is not appropriate to get into conversation or for me to ask how you are.
  2. Between-Session Correspondence: Please limit any contact between sessions to administrative matters (e.g. appointment scheduling). This ensures that all therapeutic work
    takes place within the safety and dedicated time of our agreed appointments.
  3. Social Media: To maintain professional boundaries, I do not accept ‘friend’ or ‘connection’ requests from clients on any personal social media accounts.
  4. Conduct: I reserve the right to address any behaviour that undermines the safety or professional integrity of the therapeutic space. This includes, but is not restricted to:
    o Abusive, threatening, or aggressive behaviour.
    o Discriminatory language or harassment related to race, gender, sexuality, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
    o Attending sessions under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
    o Persistent breaches of the terms outlined in this agreement.
    o Any other conduct that I consider inappropriate or detrimental to our professional relationship.
  5. Termination: In rare instances, I may end the relationship. Reasons for this may include, but are not limited to:
    o I believe you are not benefiting from the service.
    o I do not possess the specific skill-set to work with you.
    o The conduct standards above are not met.
    o Personal circumstances such as my own illness, retirement, or leaving the company.
    o Any other unforeseen or appropriate reason that makes continuing the work impossible or unethical.