Contracting

The contract serves to protect both the therapist and client and maintains the safety, containment and professionalism of the psychotherapy service. 

The contract consists of terms and conditions set out below. Please refer to additional contracting terms relating to Skype, supervision and training.

All parties agree to adhere to the terms and conditions of the contract when they begin psychotherapy.

Please discuss anything you are unsure about prior to starting treatment. 

 Contract: Once an agreement is made to embark on psychotherapy, the client (and their parent/carer) and therapist enter into a contract together. They agree to keep each other safe during treatment, to not harm each other or the things in the therapy room and to maintain therapeutic boundaries and confidentiality*.

Boundaries: Boundaries of time, place and setting ensure containment and a safe space. Therapy sessions take place at the same time on the same day in the same room, which remains the same. Therapist and client do not bring things into the room or take things out. They respect each other’s personal space within the session and outside.  Doorstep conversations between client or parent/carer and therapist are limited.

*Confidentiality: The therapist will not share the content of therapy sessions with anyone, other than the clinical supervisor**, including parents/carers, without the client's consent. The only exception is if there is a concern regarding safeguarding. If this happens, the therapist will discuss her concerns with the client and their parent/carer before thinking together about what to do next.

Reviews: Review meetings provide a space for the client and therapist to meet with the parent/carer and think together about how things are going. The frequency of these meetings depends on the client's age and presentation. There will always be an initial meeting together before therapy begins and after the assessment period as well as a final review meeting at the end.

Cost and method of payment:  The fee is agreed prior to contracting. Invoices are issued at the beginning of the month for services in advance. They should be settled within 7 days by electronic bank transfer or PayPal or by other arrangement. Please note that all missed or cancelled appointments are charged in full. Late payment of invoices may incur a penalty charge to cover additional administration costs (over 14 days +10% of invoice, over 21 days +20% of invoice, over 28 days +25% of invoice). Non-payment over 28 days will result in termination of the therapy contract and may lead to legal proceedings.

Location: Sea Psychotherapy is a private practice at a residential address in Westgate-on- Sea. There is a public green opposite the house which is a 10 minute stroll to the sea and 5 minutes from the library, train station and main bus route. Sessions take place in a private consulting room which is comfortably furnished and contains appropriate art and play materials for use in psychotherapy. There is no waiting room and parents/carers are kindly requested to drop-off and collect the client punctually at the agreed time and keep doorstep conversations to a minimum. There is unrestricted parking.


Professional Standards: Jeanine Connor is a qualified and experienced Child and Adolescent Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and full registered member of bacp (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). Jeanine has professionals qualifications in counselling supervision and teaching and maintains the bacp professional code of ethics. Legal obligations including  **Clinical Supervision, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, professional indemnity insurance and Continued Professional Development (CPD) are maintained. 

Calls and emails: Telephone and email contact is kept to a minimum between sessions in order to maintain the therapeutic boundaries of time, space and confidentiality. Please note that all additional discussions, advice, meetings, reports and telephone/email contact outside of appointments will be charged at the same rate as individual sessions. Please respect the therapist’s personal time, space and privacy by not visiting the address other than at the agreed appointment times.   

                                                          Jeanine Connor © 2018 (update)