Children and Young People Counselling Agreement
My name: Nel Clarke
Type of counsellor: Integrative Counsellor – MBACP Lvl 4 CPCAB Integrative Counselling
What is counselling?
Sometimes life gets messy or stressful, and talking about it helps. Counselling is a private space where you can share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences—both past and present.
Since we’re all different and unique, I mix different therapeutic tools to match exactly what you need. We will team up to figure out what you want to get out of therapy, and I will be right there beside you to support you through the whole journey.
Looking after yourself during counselling
Counselling uses energy, making sure you have some time after a session is healthy. Try to make sure you do not have to rush off after a session, doing something fun for 5 – 10 mins can help you to decompress.
What you can Expect
Time and Place
We will agree a time and day each week to meet for 50 minutes. If you can’t make it on time that’s okay but we will always need to finish at the same time.
Sometimes we’ll have a check in to see how things are going to make sure we’re still focused on what you want.
Fairness
As a counsellor, I uphold some important values to make sure you are treated fairly and I’m looking after your wellbeing. I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I follow their guidance on fairness. You can look it up here.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is the most important part of counselling, but it can never be 100% guaranteed. Sometimes I might have to share information without asking where:
- There’s a real possibility that you will harm yourself or someone else.
- That you might be involved in serious crime.
- Where I might think that harm may happen to someone you are connected to who is vulnerable.
If I must share something you’ve told me, I will try to talk it through with you first, but I can’t always promise this will happen. We can always talk about what’s been shared and why in our next session.
Supervision and Note taking
I take regular notes from our sessions to another counsellor who helps me to make sure I’m looking after you and keeping you safe.
All my notes are very short and only deal with the facts from our session.
A note might look like this:
‘Talked about relationship with Mum and feeling sad this week.’
Boundaries
Boundaries are there to keep you safe. Imagine them like the walls of your bedroom (or safe space). Inside the room you can talk about whatever you want but outside you might want to be a bit more careful what you share with who. In the end it’s up to you to decide what you want to tell the people in your life about your counselling journey or about me as your counsellor.
Outside our sessions, if we happen to bump into each other, I won’t say hi to you first. This is to make sure I’m not sharing things you don’t want to or feel ready to. If you’d like to say hi or introduce me I’m happy to stop and chat.
Let’s keep talking
Sometimes, therapy can feel hard, sad, or heavy, and you might feel like you want to stop coming or skip a session. If you ever feel this way, please tell me!
Staying safe with technology
- Use of AI
- Some people find using AI very helpful when they go to counselling. If you like to use it to help with your mental health, we can explore it together in our sessions.
- I don’t use AI in my practice for note taking or for any stuff that comes up in our sessions.
- Social Media
I don’t have any public social media accounts, but you might want to search and find me online. If you do, you should know that I don’t friend or message any of the clients I am working with at the moment or have worked with in the past.
An extra helper
Sometimes, you might want to bring a helper or someone you trust into our sessions. I usually only talk with one person at a time, and I don't do counselling for families. But if you need extra help to come to therapy, please talk to me! We can work out the best way to support you so you can access everything you need. I also have a special helper guide called an equality and diversity statement that shows how I try to make sure everyone is treated fairly.
Creative Stuff
Sometimes, we might play games or do fun crafts as part of our work together. We might use picture cards, play with a tray of sand, or do some drawing. I might also tell you about some things you can try at home that might help you feel better.
Just remember that sometimes doing creative things can bring up big feelings or surprise thoughts, and that is completely normal and okay.
I will always show you how a new game works or an activity might look, but you get to decide if you want to do it. You never have to do anything you don't want to, and you can stop or change your mind any time for any reason. If you ever feel worried please tell me.
Missing a Session
Life happens! Sometimes you might miss a session or two; you might be away or not feeling well. If that happens, I will talk to your adult and work out what is bet for your welfare. I will always talk to you as well and let you know what I’ve discussed with your adult.
The End!
Counselling is a special kind of helpful relationship, but it won't last forever. You are in charge of your own therapy, so you can have as many sessions as you need and stop whenever you feel ready.
Sometimes, I might realise that I don't have the right tools or training to help you with a problem. If that happens, I will talk to you about it honestly. Then, I will help you find a different helper who is a better match to make sure you get the help you need and deserve.
Contact outside sessions
Normally, I will tell you and your adult that any talking that needs to happen between sessions is only to do with organising times and days for us to meet or letting me know if you can’t make it (or letting you know if I can’t make it).
You can contact me here:
Email: nelcounselling@outlook.com.
Phone:
If you’re really struggling and you think you might want to hurt yourself or someone else, talk to someone right away. Here is a list of places you can call in an emergency:
Police/Ambulance: 999
Childline: 0800 1111
Client Name:
Client Signature:
Counsellor Name:
Counsellor Signature:
Date:
Responsible Adult Session Agreement
Time and Place
Each session will be at a mutually agreed time with the client. Usually at the same time, on the same day each week.
Sessions will be 50 minutes, if the client is late for a session, we will still finish at the scheduled time.
Parental Session Review
There will be an ongoing process of review between the client and I but, as the client’s responsible adult, I would invite you to a more formal review of the counselling process after six sessions. If sessions continue open ended, we can agree to and arrange further parental reviews as and when the client feels they are necessary.
It is important to note that the young person is the client and whilst it is important that their responsible adult is involved in the therapeutic process it must be with the client’s consent. I will only share what the client has approved in a parental review and any communication between us will be discussed with the young person in their session.
Arrangements for drop off and collection
- Be on time: Please ensure your child arrives promptly for their session. They are welcome to bring along any personal items or resources they would like to use during therapy.
- Prompt pick-ups: Please collect your child as soon as their session ends. Because I cannot provide childcare between sessions, I have a strict 15-minute safety window. If you are more than 15 minutes late and I haven't heard from you, I am required to follow my safeguarding procedures and contact my supervisor to ensure your child is safe.
- Running late? If you are running late for drop-off or pick-up, please let me know as soon as possible. If lateness becomes a habit (more than 3 times), we will need to sit down and review our therapy agreement to make sure this schedule still works for your family.
Legal Stuff
My work is subject to English and Welsh law with the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the United Kingdom.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an essential part of the counselling process however; it can never be absolute. In some instances, information may be shared without consent where:
- If there is evidence that you intend to cause significant harm to yourself, or harm someone else,
- are involved in acts of terrorism,
- if there are safeguarding concerns connected to children and vulnerable adults.
As the responsible adult it is likely that you will be informed if confidentiality is breached but it is not guaranteed and will be based on the circumstances and content of the young person’s disclosure.
Clients Right to Privacy
The young person is the client and with any therapeutic relationship has a reasonable right to privacy. Parents and carers do not have an automatic right to view any session material, clinical notes or creative resources. If you would like further information on working with young people in counselling, please visit the BACP website information for parents regarding confidentiality.
Cancellation policy
- Cancellation of an appointment with less than 48 hours’ notice will incur the full fee of the session.
- Missed sessions (unattended with no prior reason given) will incur the full fee of the session.
- Three missed sessions in a row (unattended with no prior reason given) may result in the termination of the therapeutic work.
I will inform you, as far in advance as possible if I need to cancel a session and will arrange with you whether it is appropriate to reschedule.
Payment
My fee for a 50-minute session is £60 payable in advance of each session. If you are unable to make payment, please let me know as soon as possible. If payment is consistently missed this may result in termination of the therapeutic work. I will review my fees annually in April and inform you of any changes.
Bank Details:
Emergency Contact Details
Name:
Phone Number:
Contact outside sessions
I do not offer crisis support
Under normal circumstances it is encouraged that contact between sessions relates only to administrative tasks. The primary modes of contact will be:
Email: nelcounselling@outlook.com.
Phone:
If your young person is in crisis and needs to speak to someone immediately, please contact your GP or the emergency services on 999.
Responsible Adult Name:
Responsible Adult Signature:
Counsellor Name:
Counsellor Signature:
Date: