The therapy process can be both formal and informal in areas, but it is a professional practice and is treated as such by those who are involved in it - your therapist. As such, contracts tend to be written up and signed so that this therapeutic relationship can be kept professional at all times. This is essential to the client and therapist, who will both take part in the therapeutic sessions.But how do therapy contracts work? What do therapy contracts cover? Why are therapy contracts even used? And how important is confidentiality in all of this? There are a lot of vital questions to be answered, so let’s get right into it. Here is the therapeutic contract, explained:

How do therapy contracts work?

The therapy contract acts as a mutual agreement between both the therapist and the client. Before any sessions take place at all, the therapist will present the contract in writing to give full clarity on the situation to the client. This is to give the client peace of mind about their therapy. Then, the therapist may verbally present the contract’s top points so that the client can be assured the terms of the agreement are going to be met there and then.Questions can be asked and points clarified if necessary. Anything else can be signed off after. Clients should read through all the points in the therapeutic contract before proceeding as they may not be comfortable with some of the details included, be it down to personal preference or not. Either way, the therapy contract is designed to be relatively straightforward and easy to read and understand.

What do therapy contracts cover?

Overall, therapy contracts should cover Session Duration, Payment and Frequency Cancellations, Reviews and Ending Therapy, Confidentiality, and Signatures at the very least. Confusion can creep in when it comes to costs, so details must all be laid out in the contract. Cancellation policies are typically included, giving the clients enough notice as to when they can cancel their sessions - i.e. 48 hours beforehand. This allows the therapist to utilise those timeslots for other clients.The reviews and ending therapy section should be clear in how reviews take place and when. Not only that, but it can state how many sessions are needed before you are able to end therapy or if the situation is more flexible. Confidentiality encompasses everything to do with how the information is kept private, ensuring it stays between you and the therapist only. Signatures confirm that you have read and are happy with what is included in the contract.

Why are therapy contracts used?

There are a number of reasons why therapy contracts are used, including the following:

• Fees
• Method of Payment
• Cancellation
• Termination
• Duration of appointment
• Holidays
• Contact between sessions
• Where will the appointment be held
• Information about your therapeutic executor
• Client’s state when attending therapy
• Notes/Reports
• The applicability of complaints procedure/BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2018)
• Confidentiality

Clients need to know everything they can about what they’re getting themselves into. So, it’s important that sufficient information is included so clients are fully informed about what to expect going forward. Fees, for example, can make or break a deal for some clients. The contract needs to state whether fees will be reviewed and at what frequency. In terms of the method of payment, details should be included in the contract that state how and when the payments will have to be made. Therapy contracts give clients all the information they could possibly need.

How important is confidentiality?

Confidentiality means a great deal in therapy. The sessions will contain sensitive and personal information that needs to stay sensitive and personal. Clients need to know that what they are saying will not be shared with third parties. On rare occasions, this confidentiality can actually be broken, particularly when you give the therapist consent to do so, when the therapist is compelled by a court of law, or when confidentiality cannot be maintained due to your imminent danger, for example. It’s worth noting that your therapist will attempt to speak to you beforehand.Therapists have regular supervision sessions and need to keep records of their sessions too. These supervision sessions do not generally reveal any of your information to others in the meetings. Records, on the other hand, are kept brief and locked away somewhere with a password to keep everything confidential and safe away from outside interests.

Who to turn to for therapy in Warrington, Cheshire.

If you are looking for a therapist in the Warrington area, please feel free to get in touch. Visit my website today to learn more about my Zoom or in-person appointments. Whether it’s Anxiety, Trauma, Abuse, PTSD, or something else entirely, I am here to provide you with the support you need.Get in touch to book an initial consultation.