TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THERAPY AGREEMENT FOR IN-PERSON & ONLINE THERAPY

BASIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The present therapeutic agreement is between you (the Patient) and the Psychologist assigned to you by the London Psychologist Clinic.

The present therapeutic agreement abides by the GDPR legislation 2018. By commencing therapy, the Patient (you) agrees to the following terms and conditions:

All new Patients are required to read and confirm the acceptance of the terms and conditions of this therapeutic agreement. Confirmation can be provided in writing via email. If written confirmation is not provided for any reason, then by starting therapy (in-person and/or online) the Patient agrees to the term & conditions of this agreement. The Patient is required to respond in writing (via email) if s/he does not agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement.

Any insured or uninsured session cancelled or rescheduled by the Patient with less than twenty fours hours notice will be charged in full to the Patient. All appointments for uninsured Patients (private) must be paid before or at the time of booking the appointment. Failure to do so will result in the Patient forfeiting the session.

The Psychologist abides by the code of confidentiality of HCPC, BPS and GDPR regulations. Identifying information, such as Patient's name, address, biographical details and other description of a Patient's life and his/her circumstances, will be kept private and stored safely.

Contact outside sessions is encouraged mainly for re-scheduling appointments. If there is a crisis you can leave a message by email or text and your psychologist will contact you as soon as they are available. Please be mindful that the London Psychologist Clinic is not a crisis service. If you require emergency support please contact your GP, NHS 111 online service or 999.

For detailed Terms and Conditions, please see below.

PATIENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
JURISDICTION
These terms and conditions are governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law. This applies too in person and online sessions. In the event of any dispute arising in relation to these 'terms and conditions' or any dispute arising in relation to the Psychologist, whether in contract or otherwise, the English courts will have exclusive jurisdiction over such dispute.

DEFINITIONS
• The 'Psychologist': The clinician assigned by the London Psychologist Clinic to offer psychological services.
• The 'Patient': You
• The 'Insurer' or the Healthcare Provider: AETNA, ALLIANZ, AXA PPP HEALTHCARE, AVIVA, BUPA, CIGNA, WPA, VITALITY HEALTH.
• 'Therapy' and 'Therapy session' (in-person and/or online) is the time spent with the Psychologist who will apply his chosen method of therapy application and modality.
• 'Modality' is a model of study for therapeutic application. Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing are examples of psychological modalities.
• The 'Session' is the booked time slot (in-person and/or online) and arranged time working with the 'Psychologist'.
• 'Presenting Issue(s) or 'Problem' is what the Patient wants to work on with the Psychologist.
• The 'Goal' is the therapeutic goal created collaboratively with input from both the Patient and the Psychologist and is what the patient would like to achieve as the desired outcome in therapy.
• The 'Desired Outcome' is the desired result of the work that the Psychologist and the Patient work towards achieving.
• The 'Session Time' in person or online is 50 minutes unless otherwise agreed.

1. FORMATION OF AGREEMENT
1.1 After booking an appointment by either telephone, 07916 293 807, or email at info@londonpsychologist.co.uk, the Patient, in accepting the appointment, accepts the following conditions for the appointment: The Patient agrees to the Psychologist contacting him/her via email or SMS. In the event that the Patient prefers that the Psychologists only use telephone contact, s/he must state this in writing via email or text.

1.2. Booking: Appointments can only be made through discussion between the Psychologist and Patient, via email or telephone correspondence. When making an appointment via the booking system or emailing/texting the Psychologist, the Patient will receive a booking confirmation via email. The Patient may book ahead all his/her sessions (times/dates) at the Psychologist's office or online providing that these times/dates are not booked by other Patients, or s/he may book one session at a time.

1.3. Insured patients new to the the London Psychologist Clinic will be required to email the Psychologist their name, birthdate, full current address, insurance membership number and authorisation code for invoicing purposes. These details will be verified with the Patient's insurer 48 hours before the session time. If the Patient's details cannot be verified, the Patient will be contacted to provide up-to-date information.

1.4. The Psychologist requires the Patient to be truthful and work in the best interests of the agreement between the Psychologist and the Patient.

1.5. The Patient agrees to provide the Psychologist with all pre-session written work such as questionnaires (if applicable) as appropriate within the requested timeframe 24 hours prior to the booked session.

1.6. Lateness: The Patient is paying for the agreed time with the Psychologist and at the agreed location (physical or online). It is the Patient's responsibility to attend the session on time.

1.7. No refund will be given for any late arrival at the session under any circumstances. This includes emergency or unforeseen circumstances out of the Patient's immediate control, as the 24 hour cancellation policy will still apply.

1.8. If the Patient arrives late, an extension of the agreed time or rescheduling the session will not be offered.

1.9. The Psychologist is not required under any circumstances to go beyond the arranged session finishing time. The session will be terminated at the end of the arranged time even if the Patient has not reached his/her desired outcome.

1.10. The Psychologist will use reasonable care and skill in providing the service that the Patient chooses. Patients are different and so is every therapy session. There are no guarantees of successful outcomes.

1.11. It is not the responsibility of the Psychologist to achieve the desired outcome for the Patient. The desired outcome as an achievement of the goal(s) cannot be guaranteed or promised to the patient by the Psychologist. It would be unethical to provide a guarantee for a Patient's treatment of therapy.

1.12. If the Patient is not satisfied with the therapy's outcome, there is no refund. The London Psychologist Clinic does not accept any liability in relation to the therapy and modalities used in session.

2. PRICING, PAYMENT AND METHODS OF PAYMENT
2.1 The fee for a 50-minute uninsured/private psychological session in person or online is £295.00, unless otherwise agreed.

2.2 A 50-minute insured psychological session will be covered by the insurer. Excess fees will be covered by the Patient and an invoice will be sent to the Patient accordingly.

2.3. Payment is required in order to confirm the appointment, via a bank transfer. Bank details will be given at the booking of the appointment.

2.4. Credit and debit cards are also accepted. The Patient, however, is obliged to pay any related transfer fees per transaction. The Psychologist bears no responsibility for any transaction fees set by any third parties.

2.5. Failure to comply with payment requirements will result in the session being cancelled and the session will be made available to other Patients.

2.6. It is at the Psychologist's discretion whether to accept late payment.

2.7. Patients must be current with payments before booking a new session.

3. CANCELLATION POLICY
3.1. Cancellations can be done via email by the Patient, with a minimum of 24 hours before a session for a refund in full. Twenty four hours is exactly 24 hours before the arranged time - e.g., an appointment arranged for 2pm Tuesday must be cancelled by 2pm the Monday before.

3.2. Any cancellations within the 24 hour notification period will not be charged.

3.3. If a Patient would like to cancel a session before the 24 hour cancellation period, the patient is expected to contact the Psychologist by email.

3.4. If a Patient fails to give 24 hours notice of cancellation, s/he will have to pay for the booked session or not receive a refund for the booked session. This applies under any circumstances including emergencies, illness, or any situations that are out of the Patient's control.

3.5. Rescheduling before the 24 hour deadline will allow the session fees to be carried over to the new appointment but under the same terms and conditions for cancelling.

3.6. Short Notice emergency sessions can be booked directly with the Psychologist in writing but under the same terms and conditions for booking/payments/cancellation period.

4. REFUNDS
4.1 'Booked Sessions' by the Patient must be paid for in full before the session. No refund will be issued for any cancellations or missed appointments with notice less than 24 hours in writing (email). This policy applies under all circumstances including emergencies, illness, or any situations out of the Patient's control.

4.2. The Patient is not bound by the cancellation fee if s/he contacts the Psychologist in writing (by email) to cancel or rearrange prior the session within exactly 24 hours. For example, if a session is booked for Tuesday at 5pm, the 24 hour notice must be given the preceding Monday at 5pm at the latest.

4.3. The Patient is expected to pay in full any cancelled or missed appointment with less than 24 hours notice.

4.4. If written cancellation is received within the 24 hour notice, the Patient has no claim to this session time and the Psychologist reserves the right to offer this slot to other Patients.

4.5. If the Patient wants to arrange or rebook an appointment within the 24hr cancellation period, s/he is expected to request this change in writing. The Psychologist will try to offer an alternative appointment but cannot guarantee to accommodate the Patient's request.

4.6. The Psychologist will not terminate the session before the agreed time. However, if the Patient desires to finish a session earlier than the agreed time, a refund for the remaining time of the session will not be given.

4.7. The Psychologist can only offer an estimate of the duration of therapy based on his clinical experience. This, however, is only an estimate and therapy can be extended or terminated based on the Patient's needs and treatment's progress.

4.8. Sometimes a Patient requires more time or less time than expected and this can only become known after therapy has started. If the Patient is in any doubt at any point or has any questions relating to the agreed duration of therapy, the Patient must raise the appropriate questions with the Psychologist during an agreed therapy session.

4.9. The Psychologist reserves the right to terminate a session without a refund if it is considered that the Patient is a personal risk to him or anyone else in office or in the building. The appropriate services will also be alerted in all cases of violence or personal threats.

4.10. Personal threats, verbal or physical abuse and vandalism will not be tolerated and the session will be immediately terminated. Subsequently, no refund or any monies will be given for the remaining time of the booked session.

4.11. Although the agreed session time is 50 minutes, the Psychologist reserves the right to terminate the session if the Therapy is not considered in the best interest of the Patient. The Psychologist reserves the right not to disclose the reason for the session's termination. In these circumstances, no refund will be given.

4.12. When booking from outside the UK, the appointment time and further communication regarding the appointment are in the time zone of the Psychologist's current location. If the Patient has booked in the wrong time zone, the Psychologist cannot be responsible for the error. This will be counted as a missed session and payable by the Patient and not the Insurer if the Patient is insured.

5. CONFIDENTIALITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY
5.1. The Psychologist is an accredited member of BPS, BABCP and HCPC and adheres to their ethical framework and guidelines to ensure that the Patient receives professional and competent service.

5.2. Confidentiality is agreed between the Patient and the Psychologist. The Patient is entitled to expect that the information they give to the Psychologist about themselves and others will remain confidential. The Psychologist reserves the right not to disclose to any third party any information related to therapy sessions. This applies to all circumstances even at the request of the Patient. Information can be disclosed only if it is required by law.

5.3. In line with UK law and the Psychologist's ethical codes of BPS and HCPC, the Psychologist reserves the right to break confidentiality and disclose session information (notes, video or audio recordings) to any relevant third parties (e.g., GP, police, social services, legal services, emergency services) if in his/her clinical opinion the Patient's safety is a risk to her/himself or to others or is at risk from others. The Psychologist reserves the right to break confidentiality and disclose session information to child protection services if in his/her clinical opinion there is physical or sexual abuse or neglect of any person under 18 years of age. Similarly, the Psychologist reserves the right to break confidentiality and disclose session information, if s/he believes that an elderly person or disabled person is being abused or neglected, to the appropriate state agency that handles abuse to elderly or disabled persons. Finally, the Psychologist reserves the right to break confidentiality and disclose session information to authorities if the Patient discloses any involvement with terrorism and money laundering whether it is related to drug trafficking or any other serious crime.

5.4. If the Psychologist decides a confidentiality breach is necessary, he will endeavour to discuss this matter with the Patient and any recommendations will be documented. If this discussion is not possible due to any limitations or unforeseen circumstances (e.g., time limitations, urgency of the matter, availability, illness), the Psychologist may have to proceed with the breach of confidentiality without prior notice to the Patient.

5.5. The Patient's personal information in any session material is confidential and kept securely. However, in line with the Psychologist's professional accrediting bodies, the Psychologist is expected to be in regular clinical supervision to ensure high quality of psychological services. Therefore, some information will be shared with the Psychologist's clinical supervisor and/or outside clinical sources who are also accredited with a professional body and abide by the ethical framework and guidelines of the profession. No personal identifiable information will be used to discuss the Patient with regards to the material that would be shared. However, discussion topics from the therapy sessions will be used in order to ensure that the Psychologist is getting and giving the best assistance possible. The person(s) with whom the Psychologist discuss Patients' cases are legally bound to keep information confidential.

5.6. The Psychologist also requires confidentiality of the Patient at all times. It is not permissible for the Patient to disclose any written, recorded or distributed correspondence/material related to the session, pre-session or post-session.

5.7. The correspondence and all therapy material shared between the Patient and the Psychologist is to be used only by the Patient. All written and verbal communication is issued and intended according to the Patient's individual treatment plan. If the Patient shares any recorded or written material that was intended for his/her exclusive use, the Psychologist accepts no responsibility for the material's effecting use on any third parties. Therefore, copying, reproducing or displaying this information publicly or electronically is not permitted.

5.8. The Patient under no circumstances is permitted to record (video, audio) the session (on the phone or any other device) unless the Psychologist has issued consent in writing.

5.9. All relating correspondence (verbal or in writing) such as by phone, email or online software is strictly for use of the Patient and the Psychologist. Information can be disclosed only if it is required by law.

6. HANDLING, COLLECTION, STORAGE AND USAGE OF DATA
6.1. The lawful basis for the Psychologist holding and using the Patient's information is in relation to the delivery of a contract to the Patient as a health care professional. As an accredited member of BPS and HCPC and a registered member of BABCP, the Psychologist operates under a strict code of confidentiality.

6.2. Upon starting therapy, the Patient's basic personal information will be collected for contact and identification reasons. These include the Patient's full name, date of birth, next of kin, address, insurance membership number/authorisation code (when applicable), and GP details. If any of the patient's contact or GP information change during therapy, the patients should inform the Psychologist in writing providing the new information.

6.3. Information is kept securely and confidentially in line with the data retention policy as stated above.

6.4. Session notes or personal details of the Patient are kept in electronic form and paper form. Any paper notes are kept in a secure, robust, locked filing cabinet and stored within a secure building. All digital information is stored on a domestic computer, which is password protected and stored within a secure building.

6.5. The Patient's information is kept for a period of seven years following the end of therapy to comply with any obligations that are placed upon the Psychologist by his/her insurers and his/her accrediting bodies.

7. PATIENT'S RIGHTS
7.1. The Patient has the right to access the clinical notes. Beyond the clinical notes, any details held about the Patient are for the Psychologist's own use and not shared.

7.2. The Patient has the right to request a copy of the clinical notes that the Psychologist holds about her/him. If the Patient would like a copy of some or all of his/hers clinical notes, then the Patient must email or write to the Psychologist via the contact details stated on the contact form on the London Psychologist Clinic website or directly at info@londonpsychologistclinic.co.uk. Information will be provided to the Patient within 60 days.

8. REVIEWS AND ENDING THERAPY
8.1.The Patient and the Psychologist will review sessions regularly depending on the Patient's demand or as the Psychologist finds this appropriate.

8.2. The Patient is not tied into any long-term commitment and s/he may end sessions by giving 24 hours notice in writing although a number of ending sessions depending on the length of treatment is recommended.

8.3. If the Psychologist considers the Patient's needs are beyond the limits of his/her competence, the Psychologist reserves the right to terminate the therapeutic contract. The Psychologist will discuss this with the Patient in the session and further recommendations, if possible, may be provided.

8.4. If the Psychologist decides to end the therapeutic agreement with the Patient due to unforeseen circumstances, he reserves the right not to disclose the reason for this decision. However, the Psychologist will endeavour to give a month's notice.

INFORMED CONSENT
By commencing therapy (in-person and/or online), I (the Patient) acknowledge that I have read the information above and I agree with the terms and conditions of this agreement.