CONTRACTS IN CONTRACTS IN COUNSELLINGCOUNSELLING

Unit 1: Counselling-Ethics and Unit 1: Counselling-Ethics and PracticePractice

CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELLING SKILLS AND THEORY

What is a contract in What is a contract in counselling?counselling?

It is an agreement between the It is an agreement between the counsellor and client which can be counsellor and client which can be verbal or written, and establishes from verbal or written, and establishes from the beginning of the counselling the beginning of the counselling relationship what is involved, and what relationship what is involved, and what the counsellor can offer the clientthe counsellor can offer the client

The contract The contract

There are two parts to a counselling There are two parts to a counselling contract. Firstly, the business aspect is contract. Firstly, the business aspect is discussed with the client including cost, discussed with the client including cost, duration, confidentiality etc. Secondly, the duration, confidentiality etc. Secondly, the therapeutic aspect in which the counsellor therapeutic aspect in which the counsellor outlines the approach that will be used in outlines the approach that will be used in the counselling process the counselling process

The business contractThe business contract 1.1. The cost/fees charged and how these The cost/fees charged and how these

can be paid.can be paid.

2. How the counsellor and client can be 2. How the counsellor and client can be contacted, when contacted, when

3. How many sessions are on offer 3. How many sessions are on offer when/where/duration etc? Is the contact when/where/duration etc? Is the contact open-ended or time limited? open-ended or time limited?

4. What happens if the client does not attend 4. What happens if the client does not attend a session? Is there a charge for missed a session? Is there a charge for missed sessions? How many sessions can be sessions? How many sessions can be missed before the place will be given to missed before the place will be given to someone else? someone else?

Business cont…Business cont…

5. 5. The Confidentiality Agreement and its The Confidentiality Agreement and its limitationslimitations. It is vital that this is discussed . It is vital that this is discussed at the beginning of the contract to clarify at the beginning of the contract to clarify what confidentiality you are able to offer what confidentiality you are able to offer the client. the client.

6. 6. Note keepingNote keeping - Clients have the right - Clients have the right under the Data Protection Act (1998) to under the Data Protection Act (1998) to

have access to their notes (written or have access to their notes (written or taped). taped).

The therapeutic contract The therapeutic contract

This is where to approach used is This is where to approach used is discussed with the client e.g. Cognitive discussed with the client e.g. Cognitive behavioural therapy, Transactional behavioural therapy, Transactional Analysis , Psychodynamic, Humanistic Analysis , Psychodynamic, Humanistic

Why is important to have Why is important to have boundaries?boundaries?

The need for clear boundaries is vital in The need for clear boundaries is vital in counselling relationship and will help to counselling relationship and will help to alleviate any harm to the client or alleviate any harm to the client or counsellor. If this does not happen then counsellor. If this does not happen then clients can get upset as they may feel that clients can get upset as they may feel that they are not getting what they expected they are not getting what they expected from the counselling. This is often caused from the counselling. This is often caused by a failure to be clear in the original by a failure to be clear in the original agreement. agreement.

Counsellors need to be:Counsellors need to be:

be working within their level of be working within their level of competence and be qualified and working competence and be qualified and working under supervision. under supervision.

be committed to receiving continual be committed to receiving continual professional development, as well as professional development, as well as looking after their own physical and looking after their own physical and emotional wellbeing. emotional wellbeing.