Green Door Therapy
Counselling and therapy agreement
This counselling and therapy agreement lays out the terms of our work together. Please read it carefully and click the consent box at the bottom of the form before our first session. I will ask you to sign a hard copy of this agreement before our first session.
Confidentiality
Everything shared in our counselling sessions is confidential. The only time that I may break confidentiality would be if:
You are at serious risk of causing harm to yourself or others
You share information about a proposed serious criminal act
I am required to do so by a court order.
In any of the above situations, I would discuss with you how and why I would disclose this information.
Supervision
Counsellors are required to have supervision with an experienced peer who is also bound by the ethical guidelines of the profession. While I may discuss elements of your case with my supervisor, your identity would never be disclosed to them.
Sessions
Sessions last for 50 minutes (80 minutes for couples). Appointments are usually weekly but may be fortnightly or even less frequently, if you prefer. Weekly sessions are often advisable at the beginning of therapy.
Fees and Payments
Individual sessions cost €100 (€160 for couples). You are kindly requested to pay for each session at the time of booking (online sessions) or immediately after the session (in-person sessions). Cash is preferred. If you prefer to make an online payment, I can share bank details.
Security
For online sessions, please secure your computer and emails against unauthorised viewing by third parties. It is recommended that you only use a private computer and not a work or public computer for our sessions. Please ensure that you will be able to be in a quiet, comfortable space for the duration of the session, where no one will disturb you or overhear our conversation.
Arrangements for technical problems
If you are experiencing a technical problem that prevents you from making a video call as agreed, please contact me by WhatsApp or email so that we can discuss how to reschedule the session. I will similarly contact you by phone should I experience technical problems. Many technical problems can be avoided by making sure that both parties are working from computers with a solid internet connection or being close to a wifi router.
Crisis measures
I am not able to provide help in an emergency for clients. If you find yourself in a crisis and considering harming yourself, you should get immediate help.
In Portugal, you can call 808 24 24 24 for 24-hour crisis support in Portuguese. You can also call the emergency services on 112 or access their suicide hotline on 218 540 740 or 968 982 150. There is also online support available at the SNS 24 portal. You can always ask for A&E (Serviço de Urgência) at any hospital if you think you are in danger of harming yourself.
Further advice on emergency contacts can be found here at the UK government website for nationals abroad.
Cancellation Policy
No-show and late cancellation fees are designed to encourage clients to let their therapist know in good time if they do not need their appointment slot, so that we can offer it to someone else and be compensated for our time if we cannot find a replacement.
Please give at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. The full cost of the appointment will be forfeited in the case of sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice.
Appointments rearranged with more than 24 hours’ notice will not incur a cancellation fee.
Acceptance of limitations
Your decision to attend therapy is voluntary, and you can terminate the relationship at any time. While therapy is intended to help clients feel better (and has been empirically shown to have benefits), there is no guarantee that it will accomplish your desired goals. Furthermore, progress is not always linear; some clients may experience temporary discomfort or feelings of distress as they explore sensitive areas, and sessions may involve discussion of upsetting experiences. Therapy's effectiveness depends on multiple factors, including the client's participation and personal circumstances. Therapy is therefore not guaranteed to make clients feel better, even if this is always the intended and desired outcome.