Gill Jackman -- Counsellor: Terms and conditions

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Tenniel illustration of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland used on the T&C page of Gill Jackman, a counsellor working in the Chew Valley, North Somerset

Except in short-term solution-focused work, therapy with me is a weekly activity, involving a serious commitment on both sides. Appointments are at a fixed time each week and I will give notice of short breaks and annual holidays at least four weeks in advance. I charge according to means from thirty-two to forty-two pounds per hour and generally have one low-cost place.

Holidays, missed appointments and ending therapy

If clients break from their timetable, charges are as follows:

Four full weeks' notice: no charge.
Less than four weeks' notice (up to one week): half the cost of session.
Less than a week's notice: full cost of session.

Sometimes, in unavoidable circumstances, it is possible to move a session to another time. This requires flexibility on both sides.

Missed appointments will be charged at the full rate.

When therapy is open-ended, as opposed to a certain number of pre-arranged sessions, it is important that ending therapy is not sudden but negotiated and prepared for a few weeks in advance as a great deal of therapeutic benefit can be gained in these last few meetings.

If you are not happy or are unclear about these terms and conditions, please feel free to discuss the matter with me as any unresolved difficulties with them may prevent therapy from being as helpful as it might be.

Please feel free to ask me about my style of working at any time, should you feel the need. I aim to be as 'transparent' and 'up front' as possible.

Short-term solution-focused work

While it is important that the first three of six sessions occur in consecutive weeks, timing for sessions is as flexible as possible and the final three sessions can be taken at any convenient time over the next six weeks. Payment for all six sessions is due by the second session.

Couple counselling

Couple counselling is also a weekly activity, particularly for the first six weeks. After this, however, if there is progress in communication, couples may find that once a fortnight is enough. Because there are two people to organise and much of the work is solution-focused, it is possible to have more flexibility for appointment times.

Local discounts

I offer discounts to clients who live near my home. Residents of the villages of Backwell, Bishopsworth, Blagdon, Butcombe, Churchill, Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Congresbury, Dundy and Wrington in the Chew Valley are eligible, as are people from the Hartcliffe area of Bristol. Please contact me for details.

Supervision

In accordance with BACP guidelines. Please contact me for further information.

Mentoring and consultancy

...can be arranged as needed.