working agreement

Client Agreement & Terms of Business

Effective: October 2026

This agreement is between you (the client) and Claire Thom. Its purpose is to establish a clear framework for our working relationship. Please review these terms carefully, and we can discuss any questions you have during our initial consultation.

Session Structures & Fees

Our initial work begins with a mutually agreed contract detailing the goals you want to achieve. We will meet for an agreed number of sessions, reviewing our progress periodically.

Initial Consultation: Free of charge (45 minutes, online via Zoom).
Individual Sessions: £50.00 per 50-minute session.
Couples / Relationship Therapy: £80.00 per 80-minute session.
Payment Terms: Fees must be paid in full via bank transfer before the start of each session.
Fee Changes: If rates are reviewed, you will receive at least three months' advance notice before any price changes take effect.

Attendance, Cancellations, & Rescheduling

Commitment to our scheduled times is an important part of the therapeutic process.

If I need to reschedule: In the rare event that I cannot keep an appointment, I will give you as much notice as possible and immediately offer an alternative date.
Standard Cancellation Policy: I require a minimum of 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or rearrange a booked session. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged at the full session rate.
Emergency Exceptions: I understand that sudden crises occur. The cancellation fee may be waived at my discretion in the event of a sudden, unavoidable emergency (such as acute illness or a severe accident). Please contact me as soon as you are safely able to do so.

Ending Therapy (Termination)

Planned Endings: At the end of our contracted sessions, we will review your goals and decide together whether to extend our work.
Early Discontinuation: If you choose to stop counselling before our contract finishes, you agree to give notice and attend one final session to safely wrap up our work.

Confidentiality & Professional Boundaries

What you share in our sessions is strictly confidential. However, this confidentiality has legally mandated and ethical limits. Confidentiality may be broken without your consent if I assess a substantial risk of:

Significant harm to yourself or others.
Involvement in criminal activity, including money laundering or terrorism.
Child protection or vulnerable adult safeguarding issues.

In these rare circumstances, I reserve the right to contact your GP or the appropriate emergency authorities directly.

Media & Communication Boundary

To protect the therapeutic space, we will not engage in discussions on social media or other platforms outside our sessions. Messages between sessions should strictly be limited to administrative logistics like changing appointments.

Supervision & Professional Standards

Clinical Supervision: In line with professional ethical codes, I regularly discuss my case load with a clinical supervisor. All details are completely anonymised so that you can never be identified.
Accountability: If you have any concerns about our work, please raise them with me directly. If we cannot resolve an issue, I will gladly provide you with copies of the professional Codes of Ethics and direct contact details for UKATA and COSCA.