The duration of your child’s therapy is a personal choice, influenced by your unique circumstances. I provide options for short, medium, and long-term therapy, allowing you to choose the approach that best suits your child’s needs. The decision can be guided by factors such as the nature of your child’s concerns, therapeutic goals, and personal preferences. Additionally, to ensure the effectiveness of our sessions, we will conduct short reviews every 6 weeks to assess progress and make any necessary adjustments to the therapeutic approach.

Typically, sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis, though this can be discussed on an individual basis to ensure your child’s needs are being met appropriately.

Upon opting for therapy, I will allocate a dedicated time slot for your child every week. This reserved time prohibits the booking of any other appointments within that time slot. In the event of a therapy session cancellation less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled time, a cancellation fee will be incurred. This policy will be thoroughly discussed during the initial assessment and explicitly outlined in our contract. It's important to note that this fee applies only to client-initiated cancellations; if I, as the therapist, need to cancel a session, no fee will be applied.

During the initial assessment, a comprehensive risk assessment will be conducted to ascertain the level of risk involved. If deemed necessary, a safety plan will be collaboratively devised within the first session. However, If, upon thorough assessment, it is evident that your child's risks require intervention beyond my scope, I will discuss this with you. In such cases, while treatment with me might not be feasible, I am committed to supporting you in accessing the requisite assistance for your child.

Throughout our sessions, if there is an indication of escalating risk, I will strictly adhere to safeguarding protocols explicitly outlined in our contract. This action would be taken only in instances where your child is at risk of self-harm, harm from others, or poses a risk to others.

I would like to kindly inform parents that my practice does not offer a crisis service. In urgent situations or emergencies, it is crucial to contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline for immediate assistance. My therapeutic support is designed for non-crisis situations, and I encourage you to reach out to appropriate emergency resources if urgent intervention is required.

Among others, this may include:

• Emergency services: Dial 999 for immediate assistance in emergencies.
• NHS 111/101: For medical advice and non-emergency assistance, you can call NHS 111/101.
• Samaritans: A helpline providing confidential emotional support for individuals experiencing distress or despair. Phone: 116 123 (free, available 24/7).
• Buckinghamshire Mind: Mental health charity offering support and services for individuals experiencing mental health crises. Phone: 01494 463364 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm).
• Beat Youth line: Helpline providing support for young people under 18 experiencing eating disorders, as well as their families. Phone: 0808 801 0711 (Monday to Friday, 9 am - 8 pm; Saturday to Sunday, 4 pm - 8 pm).
• Childline: A confidential support and advice service for children and young people under 19. Phone: 0800 1111 (free, available 24/7).
• Young minds crisis messenger: Text YM to 85258 for 24/7 crisis support for young people.
• Kooth: Online mental health and well-being support for young people (ages 11-18) in Buckinghamshire.
• Papyrus – Prevention of young suicide: Provides support for young people at risk of suicide and those who are worried about them. Phone: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 41 41 (Monday to Friday, 9 am - 10 pm, weekends and bank holidays, 2 pm - 10 pm).

It's helpful to have an open conversation with your child about the purpose of therapy and reassure them that it's a safe and confidential space. Let them know they can express themselves freely and encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings. It's common for children to feel hesitant about therapy. Open communication is key. Explain the benefits, express your support, and show them my photo so they know what to expect!

As confidentiality is a crucial aspect of therapy, my aim is to keep the sessions confidential, thus meaning I will not discuss your child outside of the sessions. However, there are limitations, and information may be shared, as per my safeguarding protocol, if there is a concern for your child’s safety or the safety of others. I will outline these limitations at the beginning of therapy, and they will be included in our contract.

I take the privacy and safety of my clients very seriously. Any information you or your child share with me, as well as any notes I generate, is securely stored digitally with password protection and encryption. Handwritten notes are carefully maintained in a secure filing cabinet. Additionally, I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), further ensuring the responsible handling of your data.