Payment for the first session is a commitment that you

are in agreement with these terms and conditions.

 

Contact details:

• Office hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 1pm. The Clinic is not open at weekend.
• Email is the preferred form of contact:  mail@bristolpsychologyclinic.com. 

Please bear in mind that on long clinic days, responses might arrive the following working day.

 

Appointments and cancellation policy:

 

On agreeing to work together there is an understanding that there is a commitment to the therapy. Consistent attendance for sessions is a part of this. We will agree the number and frequency of sessions together. 

 

The sessions are 50 minutes long from the agreed appointment time.

 

It is sometimes possible to reschedule a session but the earlier rescheduling is requested the more likely it will be that we will be able to make an alternative arrangement.

 

If you need to cancel an appointment, you must do so during normal office hours of 9 to 5pm, giving at least 48 hours notice. Please note that this does not include Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays. For example, if you wish to cancel a session scheduled for 10am on a Monday morning, you must notify the Clinic before 10am on the previous Thursday.

 

Ø  If you cancel with more than 48 hours notice, the fee for that session will not be charged.

 

Ø  If you cancel with less than 48 hours notice, the fee for that session will be charged, regardless of the reason for cancellation. The same will apply if you do not arrive for a booked session

 

Ø  If you think you may need to cancel but are not sure, contact the Clinic, giving at least 24 hours notice, so that we can make a suitable arrangement between us.

 

We will aim to start every session on time.  If your therapist starts a session late, they will ask you if they can make up the time at the end of that session.  If that is not possible, we can try to arrange something else.

 

If you arrive late for a session, we do not extend the session beyond the time at which it would have finished had we started on time.

 

If you do not arrive within 15 minutes of the start of your session time, you will forfeit that session unless you have liaised beforehand with the Clinic by telephone, text or email contact to organise a later start time. You are solely responsible for remembering and paying for any booked sessions, whether they are attended or not. Non-attendances will only be contacted at my discretion in certain circumstances.

 

If you need to rearrange or cancel an appointment, please call or text 07871 863827.

 

We will try to give you as much notice as possible with regards to annual leave commitments. You can check dates at: www.bristolpsychologyclinic.com/for-clients/annual-leave-dates/.

 

Unlike some psychological therapists, we do not charge clients for sessions which they know in advance that they cannot attend due to their booked annual leave or other commitments (as long as more than 48 hours’ notice is given). However, in return, it is helpful if we also have ample notice of your annual leave dates or other pre-arranged commitments so I have the option of reallocating the appointment slot where possible. 

 

It is standard practice to refuse carrying out a therapy session if you arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, you will still be charged for the session.

 

If you are accessing remote sessions, please ensure that you are in a private space and ready for your session.

 

If we have technological issues (at either end), we will continue the session by telephone as an alternative method so please keep your mobile phone or landline phone nearby. If you fail to arrange, or sustain, a suitable remote way of accessing your session, you will still be charged for the session.

 

Payment

 

Please pay at least 48 hours in advance to confirm your session booking. Online banking details will be supplied at the time of booking.

 

If you have a Health Insurance Policy, you may still be invoiced for payment. After payment is received your payment, a receipt will be provided so you can claim the money back from your insurance company.

 

Please note that you will be liable for any excess to pay on your policy and/or session fees if your health insurer declines any invoiced sessions (e.g. if your policy has expired during treatment but you continue with your sessions beyond the policy expiry date). Any declined fees will be directly payable to the Clinic, with no exceptions.

 

If you have been referred via your solicitor as part of a litigation claim or via an Employee Assistance Programme, invoices for treatment will be sent directly to the relevant body. 

 

In an Emergency

 

The Clinic does not provide an emergency service. In the case of an emergency, telephone your GP or go directly to your nearest Accident and Emergency department. You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123.

 

Confidentiality

 

What is said in sessions is confidential. However, there are some limitations. These are:

 

·       If we think that you are thinking of seriously harming yourself or someone else, we are required to discuss this with other professionals who might include your General Practitioner, so that steps can be taken to try to ensure people’s safety. 

·       If we believe you are involved in terrorist or significant criminal activity, we are required to report this.

·         Therapists receive ongoing supervision, which enables them to maintain the quality of the therapy. During supervision, only a client’s first name is discussed. Therapists are supervised by clinicians who are bound by the same rules about confidentiality.

·       We will not routinely contact your GP unless you agree to this or specifically request it. However, if you have been referred by a third party as part of a litigation claim, we are required to provide the relevant people involved in your case with relevant reports regarding your therapy and, in cases, short progress updates via phone or email.

·       If you have Private Medical Insurance, we are likely to need contact the Insurance Company to clarify or obtain administrative details only.

 

Professional registrations

 

Dr Joanne Weston is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), as required by law to practise as a clinical psychologist. Her registration number is PYL26669. She holds chartered and fellowship status with the British Psychological Society. The Clinic is registered with the Information Commissioners Office and stores and process all client information in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Dr Joanne Weston holds professional indemnity insurance and has an enhanced DBS check. She undertakes regular continuing professional development and clinical supervision, as required by the relevant professional and regulatory bodies.