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These details outline Simone Lee's standard working practice, which are always discussed
and, if necessary, customised by mutual agreement at the commencement of our
work. Please note, every person on the avenue practice referral
network will have their own standard practice.
session
This is defined as a meeting which has been
agreed verbally or in writing, whether or not it is attended. The place and
format of meeting, appointment time and length of session are mutually decided.
A single therapy session usually takes place weekly
or twice weekly and lasts for 50 minutes/an hour at the same
time and place, but this may be negotiated according to need and circumstances.
Couple work is often booked in double sessions.
initial
session and planning how to go forward
Before we agree to work together, we shall have an
introductory, extended session, which is chargeable. This is a time for you to
ask questions and for us to get a sense of one another and how we would work.
At this meeting we will look at scheduling future
appointments. You will not be pressurised to make any decisions at this meeting. If we do
decide to work together, we then formalise our own working agreement and agree
an initial working period. At the end of the initial working period,
we can then agree to book a further block of sessions or
leave the work open-ended with continual reviews.
location
My usual practice is to meet with clients at my home
address in Finchley or at the Inner Circle Therapy Centre (ICTC) at
Regent’s College in Regent’s Park. It is possible to meet at other venues too,
by arrangement.
Internation and distance work:
I work using Skype and online
chat and phone by arrangement.
lateness
& cancellation If I
am late for a session, I will make up the time so long as this is possible for
you or reimburse you accordingly. If you are late, please expect the session to
finish at the appointed time. If I cancel a session, you will not be
expected to pay for it and, if possible, I will offer you another.
Weekly sessions which you cancel with less than
one week’s (ie 7 full days')notice carry the full fee, although whenever possible I will try to
offer an alternative time that suits us both, (please note
that this is often not possible).
Fortnightly
sessions, appointed on a fixed time and day, which you cancel without a
full week's notice, carry the
full fee, although whenever possible I
will try to offer an alternative time that suits us both, (please note
that this is often not possible).
holidays & breaks
I will try to give between good notice of forthcoming holidays and breaks and I
hope you will give me as much notice as you can.
confidentiality,
good
practice and safety
What is shared in the session will be treated as confidential. It will
not be discussed outside the sessions except in the context of professional
supervision and professional training. Any such references will always be
anonymous and you could not be identified through them.
In very few
extreme circumstances, it might be necessary for me to pass on information. This
would only be if there were a substantial possibility of serious harm to
yourself or others or if I were legally impelled to impart information. If I had
concerns in this area, I would talk to you as fully as possible before deciding
to take any action. I aim to maintain the highest standards of good practice and
safety. If you do have any concerns whatsoever in this regard, please do raise
them with me. I am fully insured.
In the unlikely
event that our work has to terminate because, for example, I am involved in a
serious accident, and I am unable to inform you personally, I will have
entrusted a UKCP registered and highly trusted colleague the task of contacting
you and discussing the situation with you. In this event my colleague will
then have access to your contact details and the basic details of what our work
is e.g. long-term therapy,
consultancy and any information that is ethically necessary
to impart.
ending
If
we have been working together for any length of time, it is important to give as
much notice as possible before you finish. After the initial review period, I
request at least four sessions’ notice. I expect two weeks’ paid notice of
open-ended work when we have met for more than 10 sessions
and, after 40 sessions, four weeks' paid notice is requested. I would encourage you always to attend
our ending sessions so we can conclude our work.
Even with flexible work where we have not met on at regular intervals, I do ask
for you to come to an ending to honour our work and conclude satisfactorily.
fees The standard arrangement is that with
private work fees are paid either in advance or at the end of each session by
cheque or in cash; with organisations I will normally invoice and expect payment
within 30 days. We can arrange for you to make payments direct into my account
by arrangement. Please ask for receipts and invoices if you need them.
changed circumstances If we have been
meeting and your personal circumstances change, making it difficult for you to
continue with our meetings, I encourage you to discuss the situation with me.
non-payment of fees
Where fees are not paid and reasonable attempts have been made to secure the
outstanding fee and to make allowance for any mitigating circumstances, it
may be necessary to take the matter further and this might require the
disclosure of individual's or organisation's name and address and the
general nature of the professional agreement. I am glad to say that avenue
practice has never claimed outstanding fees via any legal mechanism and
have every hope it will never be necessary, for the therapeutic encounter is
about dialogue, communication and mutual respect.
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simone
lee ukcp ecp Mbacp