Terms & Conditions

As an ethical therapist I am pleased to be able to provide entirely transparent Terms & Conditions to all my clients so that YOU know what you can expect from me.
What follows are my terms and conditions which will change from time to time.

Gavin Bowtell BA(Hons), Dip.Hyp, HPD, MNCH(ACC), MAPHP(ACC)
Advanced BWRT® Practitioner, Advanced Hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy Supervisor.

To all my clients.
Whilst I sincerely wish to believe that everything written here is a matter of common sense and decency, it is nonetheless important that we have good healthy boundaries in therapeutic relationships as well as in, social, professional and romantic ones. What follows seem to me to be the the most helpful conditions likely to help us bring that change into your life that you desire.
I look forward to working with you, and welcome your questions or comments on these T&Cs

Confirmation and Contract

By choosing therapy with me/signing this agreement/ completing the online consent form:

• You confirm that all information you have given is full and correct and
• That you are committed to undertaking a course of therapy or coaching as discussed.
• You understand that results can vary and that any therapist cannot guarantee results.
• My therapies are not a replacement for medical treatment, psychological or psychiatric
  services.
• You are free to terminate any or all sessions at any time; I also reserve this right.
• Sessions will usually be around one hour.
• Contact between sessions will be strictly limited to telephone, email or letter.
• My phone is switched off/goes to voicemail after hours and cannot be used for emergency purposes.
• You will not attend sessions under the influence of drugs (prescribed or recreation) or alcohol. If you take medication that might affect your ability to focus – please let me know and we can attempt to work round those side-effects. 
• Unless otherwise agreed with me you will attend face to face appointments alone; this means that you do not have any person in the room with you during the zoom session as well.  It doesn’t matter if I can’t see them, their presence can seriously undermine the therapeutic work we attempt. 

Sessions & Therapies Used & Location

• Face to Face or via Zoom

• Not all sessions will include an intervention/technique or therapy; but I may use some or all of the following in combination or singly:

•  Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy/Conversational Hypnosis
• BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT®)
• Coaching
• Conscious Analytical Therapy
• NLP
• TFT/Tapping/EFT
• Parts Work
• Reiki 

Some therapies may include some touch to hands, arms, fingers, shoulders or head. Please indicate if you would prefer I chose alternative methods.

Writing to Your GP

Professional guidelines often require that I send a letter to you GP before I start working with you. This is usually when you are seeking help for something that might have a physiological (medical) cause that could be treated using conventional medicine. You have the right to withhold your consent for me to write to your GP but this could result in not being able to have therapy with me. 

Protecting Your Information. 

Confidentiality is paramount and will be maintained in all but the most exceptional circumstances. Situations where information may have to be disclosed are as follows: If there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or to others, then your GP or the Police may be informed (it may not always be possible to talk to you first). The courts can also order disclosure of information in some extreme circumstances. It is a very complex area and I would always seek legal advice.  I have clinical supervision, but will not disclose any information that could potentially identify you. I keep notes – but these are securely locked away in a filing cabinet, in a locked room to which members of the public have no admission.  You are welcome to see your notes.  You agree that reports requested by insurance companies, employers, courts, etc. will not be released without your written permission, and will incur a fee to prepare and provide which will be inline with current ICO guidelines.  Personal information is stored in line with regulations, and you can view my privacy policy on my website.  Any information I collect during sessions is stored for 6 years as per my insurance requirements at the end of which period it is destroyed by fire.

Cancellation

Sometimes things get in the way and you need to cancel with very little notice.
However if you cancel with less than 48 hours notice I may ask that you pay for up to 100% of the cost of the session.
Please be aware that cancellations could result in the termination of therapy.

Holidays

If you are lucky enough to have holidays booked before you begin therapy with me do let me know so that we can do our best together to ensure that any break in momentum has as little effect as possible.

Late Arrival

Please value your therapy.  Respect the time you are investing in yourself. Please be punctual. If you are running late please try to let me know.

You will still be charged the same amount if the session goes ahead.
I reserve the right to cancel appointments due to lateness. Your lateness might have effects you are not aware of, regular lateness could result in the termination of therapy.

Payments

You can pay in-person  cash or by card.  Payments for zoom sessions should be made by Bank Transfer or Paypal, and at least one hour before the appointment.
Certain appointments – for example Smoking Cessation might be require advanced payment or deposit.

Fees

My fees are listed on my website and are subject to change. All other policy documents are available upon request or via the website.

My commitment to you:

I will use my expertise to facilitate the changes that are mutually agreed upon to be in your best interest, in the shortest possible time.