ONLINE THERAPY

Due to the current Covid 19 social distancing rules it is not possible to engage in face to face counselling at this time. However, I offer an online counselling service which means to you can still attend counselling from the comfort of your own home.

I have been working with clients online for the past couple of years and clients share with me they feel it is just as beneficial as coming into my counselling room.

There are positives for online counselling. Having a counselling session from the comfort of your own home surrounding may help you feel more relaxed. And of course the convenience of not having to travel to get to your session could also be a bonus for you. There is also more flexibility around the scheduling and session time for your appointment.

You will need a good internet connection, a private place where you are not disturbed or overheard for the duration of the session.

If you are uncertain if online counselling would work for you please feel free to give me a call and we can explore together how this approach may or may not work for you.

I use Whereby for our counselling sessions. I chose this service because it is GDPR compliant, encrypted and secure. It is also very easy and straightforward to use.

Client Agreement for Online Counselling

Please read the information below as this sets out the boundary to our online therapy work together. This is an informed consent form and you are asked to read and confirm acceptance via email before we can begin working together.

Payment

I charge €50 per individual session.

Payment is made in advance of the session via PayPal, bank transfer or Revolut.

Duration of Sessions

The duration of each therapy session is 60 minutes

Cancellation or Change of Appointment

If you need to cancel your appointment, please let me know as soon as possible. I request that clients give 24hrs notice or the full fee for the session is payable. In the unlikely event that I need to reschedule a session, the client will be notified at least 24 hours in advance where possible and an alternative appointment will be offered. If you do decide to stop coming for therapy, I would appreciate it if you would let me know.

Confidentiality

All counselling is confidential as laid down by the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy Code of Ethics. There are however some limits to confidentiality.
These include:

If I evaluate that you are a danger to yourself, others or me.
A disclosure of abuse involving a minor (under 18 years) or any other child protection issue emerges.
If I know, believe or have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed.

In the case where I deem it necessary to breach confidentiality, I will contact your GP or family member/friend. All child protection concerns must be discussed with my supervisor. Whenever possible, this will be done with your knowledge and is aimed at making sure that you are cared for and safe at all times. It is an extension of care rather than a breach of confidentiality.

GDPR & Security

All notes and personal information are held in accordance with GDPR. Please see www.susanboad.com for the full privacy policy. I ensure that my computer is regularly updated with anti-virus software and I use an encrypted online platform for our sessions. All calls (video or phone) are carried out in a safe, uninterrupted and private setting in my therapy room. Clients are responsible for the maintenance and protection of their own computer and for regularly updating their security software. Clients are responsible for making the necessary arrangements to ensure confidentiality from their end during sessions and afterwards where computers may be shared. Personal data is required for my own records and may be stored by me in a secure file and may not be released to a third party except under court order.

Ethics and Professional Practice

I abide by the IACP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (copy available at https://iacp.ie/iacp-code-of-ethics).

Agreement

By accepting the client agreement, you agree to comply with the following:

To accept responsibility for checking that the laws in your country of residence permit the use of this service.
To have read the full client agreement.
Our work together is confidential. I ensure that all information is kept safe and protected, I ask that you do the same. No calls or video sessions are to be recorded by either therapist or client and no details or any part of the session to be shared on social media or any other platform without prior written consent.
To accept that contact between the client and therapist take place within the session, the only exceptions being for the purpose of cancellation or rescheduling or as per contracted by client and therapist.
To agree to disclose honestly your medical history and all current medications.
To understand that this is not a free service and that all sessions are subject to payment in advance.

Technical Difficulties

If technical difficulties are experienced, for example computer or internet breakdown, we will undertake to contact each other via text message to see if the issue can be resolved and, if not, to reschedule the session.

“One can peacefully accompany clients to a deeper level where the steps of change and healing come”.
Gendlin