(1) About me

• I work with an integrative approach, so I’ll approach the session to fit your individual needs and what works best for you.

• I adhere to the Ethical Framework for Good Practice for Counselling and Therapy.

• I would be happy however to discuss any issues you might have regarding my counselling practice and hopefully we can resolve these together.

(2) How it works

• Process of therapy -Therapy requires your active involvement, honesty, and openness in order for you to increase your self-awareness and take those steps to change. Remembering or talking about unpleasant events, feelings, or thoughts may result in you experiencing considerable discomfort or feelings such as anger, sadness, worry, fear, anxiety, difficulties with sleeping etc. Attempting to deal with the issues that brought you to therapy may result in changes that were not originally intended such as making changes in your relationships, employment or substance use. Change will sometimes happen quickly, but more often it will take time and patience on your part. There is no guarantee that the therapy will yield positive or intended results.

• Preparing for online therapy - It is good practice to prepare yourself for a few minutes before you start an online session so that you feel ready to start our work together. Likewise, after a session, it is a good idea to give yourself some time to readjust before you go back to your daily life.

• About Video sessions - We agree on a set day and time to ‘meet’ on-line using “Webex / Google Meet / Zoom”. This secure platform provides a high level of end-to-end encryption. Online counselling sessions will last for a maximum of 40-45 minutes – they may be weekly or further apart depending on your requirements.

(3) Payment for Service

Payment can be made through Online Transfer or UPI Money Transfer – before the beginning of your counselling sessions.
Charges Per Session: Rs. 700

(Note: I revise my payment every year. If you choose to attend sessions with me, you will be sent an update regarding the same.)

Your appointment will not be scheduled until this payment has been made.

(4) Cancellation Policy

In all cases of cancellations, you can drop a mail at [email protected] and I will revert back within 48-72 working hours.

As scheduling a session involves reserving session time specifically for you, a minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required for cancelling or changing my online appointment.

As a client, you understand that you will be charged the entire full session fee if you were to give less than 48 hours’notice for cancellation, change the appointment time, or forget your appointment; unless either of us experienced a technical problem.

Although I utilize email or telephone reminders, you understand that you are responsible to remember and be online for your scheduled appointment, even in the event that the reminder technology fails.

(5) Unforeseen Circumstances

If for any reason I cannot send you an e-mail within the agreed time frame such as if I have technical difficulties or I am ill, I will send you a brief text message by mobile phone or telephone you (only if this is your preferred method of communication) to let you know and we can make an alternative arrangement.

Similarly, if you experience any technical difficulties or illness please get in touch as soon as possible (my work number will be given to you before commencement of counselling) so that we can discuss how to re-arrange our session.

(6) Missed Sessions

If you have an online session and cannot attend, please send your counsellor a message as soon as you know you are not going to be able to attend the session.

If you have not told us you cannot attend your online session, your counsellor will write to you asking you to make contact. If we don't hear from you within 28 days we will assume no longer wish to continue counselling at this time and will deactivate your counselling contract.

If you miss a session, and we don't hear from you, will try to make contact with you and this might include sending you an email and/or a text. Please let us know if you have any objection to this.

(7) In Case of Emergency

Please be aware that I do not constantly monitor my emails or texts and my phone is turned off during my non-work hours. Once your counselling sessions are underway, your counsellor will have a live session with you once a week at the same agreed time. If you message in between this time, your counsellor will probably not respond until your next session.

Sometimes when people start counselling, emotions can rise to the surface that may have been hidden for a long time. If you find, at any stage in between sessions, that you are in crisis, feeling suicidal or having thoughts of self-harm, you agree to contact the emergency services on 112, go to your nearest hospital Accident & Emergency department or phone a crisis helpline such as ‘KIRAN’ 1800-599-0019.

(8) Referral

During our work together we may regularly evaluate how the counselling is going and if it is the most suitable form of support for you at this time.

• If YOU feel that our online counselling relationship is not working, if you require a counsellor with specific expertise, or if online work is not suitable for you then I will help you find a counsellor to best suit your needs.

• If I feel that I am not able to provide you with the level of support you require (such as if I feel your mental health issues are beyond my area of expertise) I have the right to discontinue our work together. This would be done with your own best interests at heart and carried out as sensitively as possible. I will help you to find a counsellor alternative support where possible.

(9) Professional Conduct

I approach all my client work with professionalism and respect. In return, I request clients do not attend under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and that you are appropriately dressed for video sessions.

(10) Note-taking

I keep brief written notes of the session. These notes are kept confidentially in a locked filing cabinet. Any electronic work will be stored on an external drive (password protected). At the end of our work together my notes will be stored securely for a period of 5 years. After that time they will be destroyed by secure shredding or expunged.

(11) Social Media

As a professional, I will not have any contact with you outside of our session. I do use social media but will not accept social networking requests or chat with you through this medium as I believe it will comprise our counselling relationship. Please understand that if you post or “Like” on my Facebook business page you may imply that you are or have been a client of mine and thereby may compromise your confidentiality

(12) Security

Please ensure that you 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. Please ensure you keep your anti-virus protection up-to-date and I will undertake to do the same.

(13) Privacy and Confidentiality

• Any computer files referencing our communication are maintained using secure and encrypted measures.

• I make every effort to keep all information confidential. Likewise, when working online, I ask that you determine who has access to your computer and electronic information from your location and whether or not confidentiality from your computer may be compromised. I encourage you to only communicate through a computer that you know is safe and where confidentiality can be ensured. Be sure to fully exit all online counseling sessions and emails. It is advisable to delete your browsing history after our communication.

• All information disclosed within sessions and the written records pertaining to those sessions are confidential and may not be revealed to anyone without your written permission, except where disclosure is required by law. Likewise, you are expected to keep our communications confidential and you understand that all records of communication between client and therapist remain the property of and legally owned by Somya Verma. Verbatim material from therapy sessions should not be revealed publically or to any third party anywhere as this could constitute a breach of law.

• As part of the ethical code of practice I have regular supervision where I discuss my work to ensure best practice. Your identity will be kept anonymous and confidentiality is maintained. Any records pertaining to our therapy sessions are also anonymized and kept securely for a minimum of five years.

(14) Limits to Confidentiality

All sessions will be conducted in strictest confidence and this confidence will be maintained by Somya Verma and applied to any and all records, except in the following instances:

• Where the client gives consent for the confidence to be broken.

• Where the information “is of such gravity that confidentiality cannot be maintained” i.e. in cases of fraud, crime, terrorism and where there is a case of “serious physical harm” to others.

• Where there is a risk of suicide or serious harm to self in which case the counsellor may need to discuss this with their supervisor and/or someone else outside and wherever possible, would endeavor to inform you first.

• If you give me written consent to release it to a specified health professional.

• If you state or suggest that you are abusing a child (or vulnerable adult) or have recently abused a child or vulnerable adult, or a child or vulnerable adult is in danger of abuse, I am required by law to report this information to the appropriate social service and/or legal authorities.

• I am legally obligated to release case notes of your sessions if they are subpoenaed by a court of law.

• Email, phone and text messages are not entirely secure and therefore confidentiality in this format may not be protected. Please keep phone and email communication restricted to content related to appointment scheduling and refrain from revealing personal information.

(15) Dual Relationships

If you are in my friend, social media friend or are a family member, I won’t be able to provide you counselling services. However, I can connect you to sources that can offer you help, if you ask for it.

(16) Ending of Therapy

As therapy is a professional therapeutic relationship, it will end at some point. The ending of our contract will be agreed mutually between us. However, you are welcome to have as few or as many sessions as you feel you need and to end therapy at any point that feels right for you. If you decide not to continue with our sessions, I would appreciate if you give me 48 hours’ notice prior to any appointment. You will be invoiced for any unpaid fees.

(17) For Clients Under 18 Years Old and Parents/Guardians

I believe for counselling to have the best chance of being effective it is important that the client is permitted to keep their counselling relationship private. I also understand that you aretrusting me to work with your child and are entitled to know what that involves and to be updatedon how the work is going. With this in mind, please note the following:

• Please allow your child to decide whether and how much they wish to talk with you about theirsessions.

• If your child discloses something I believe indicates risk of serious harm to themselves or othersthen I will be in touch with you.

• Please feel free to contact me to request an update on how the sessions are going and I will thenconsult with your child and provide an answer.

• I check in with my clients on a regular basis to see if they are finding the work we are doingtogether helpful. If they are not then we will bring our work to a close and I can make referral.

• If you decide to terminate treatment, I have the option of having a few closing sessions with your child to properly end the treatment relationship.

• I will inform you if your child does not attend the treatment sessions.

• At the end of treatment, I will provide you with a summary that includes a general description of goals, progress made, and potential areas that may require intervention in the future.

• If necessary to protect the life of your child or another person, I have the option of disclosing information to you without your child’s consent.

• You agree that my role is limited to providing treatment and that you will not involve me in any legal dispute, especially a dispute concerning custody or custody arrangements (visitation, etc.).

• You also agree to instruct your attorneys not to subpoena me or to refer in any court filing to anything I have said or done.

• If there is a court appointed evaluator, and if appropriate releases are signed and a court order is provided, I will provide general information about the child which will not include recommendations concerning custody or custody arrangements.

Acceptance

Your use and undertaking of the services of Somya Verma constitutes your approval and acceptance of this agreement.

--------------------WE CANNOT BEGIN THERAPY UNTIL YOUR AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED-----------------