Kate Devereux Counselling & Psychotherapy
Therapy Agreement
Qualifications and experience
I hold a BSc (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy, which includes specialist training in Couple and Family Systems Therapy, and a Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Counselling from the University of Gloucestershire.
I currently work in private practice at The Therapy Rooms in Painswick and online, offering individual, couple, and family therapy. Alongside this, I run Earth Wisdom Therapy - a community-focused counselling agency offering accessible, nature-based therapeutic services that support individuals in reconnecting with themselves, others, and the more-than-human world.
My clinical experience spans a range of emotional and psychological difficulties including grief and loss, anxiety, relationship challenges, identity exploration, low self-esteem, trauma, and life transitions. I have worked with clients at Footsteps Counselling and Care (offering specialist bereavement support), and within the student and staff counselling service at Gloucestershire College.
Ethics
I am a member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and work in accordance with their Code of Ethics.
Confidentiality
What is discussed during our sessions is not shared with anyone else without your consent, unless I am concerned that you (or anyone else) may be at risk of harm. There are limitations to confidentiality where the law requires disclosure such as The Terrorism and Drug Trafficking Act, or if a legal court compels me.
As a requirement of the NCPS I work with a professional supervisor to ensure best practice for my clients. I will share aspects of my work with my supervisor, without disclosing identifiable information.
Online Counselling
I work in a private space where your conversation cannot be heard. I will not be recording our sessions, and neither do I give permission for you to record the sessions. I will email you a link to the online meeting, which will be a new link for each counselling session for added security.
Counselling Sessions
Therapy is most productive when incorporated on a regular basis for at least 12 sessions. When having weekly sessions, 12 sessions could take 3 months. Fortnightly sessions could mean 12 sessions take a 6-month commitment. Therapy will bring up a variety of emotions, and uncovering these deep emotions can be intense and overwhelming. Discomfort should be expected when navigating difficult emotions, and you may feel worse after therapy, until you have begun to resolve the pain and begin to feel better.
Fees and Times
· Individual counselling is charged at £60 per session and must be paid 48hrs (2 business days) before the session. Each session will last for 50 minutes, and will occur on the same time, on the same day each week. Although sessions are offered on a regular weekly basis, fortnightly sessions may be available upon negotiation.
· Couples therapy is charged at £90 per 50min session. This must be paid 48hrs (2 business days) before the session. Each session will occur on a fortnightly schedule.
· Family therapy is charged at £110 per 50min session. This must be paid 48hrs (2 business days) before the session. Each session will occur on a fortnightly schedule, or a schedule agreed upon negotiation.
Monday sessions require payment on the previous Thursday, Tuesday sessions require payment on the previous Friday, Wednesday sessions require payment on the previous Monday, Thursday sessions require payment on the previous Tuesday. Any session fee not paid for according to the schedule in this agreement will result in the session being cancelled. I have an automated invoicing system in place, which will notify you when payment is due. Fees are reviewed annually, and I will give you 4 weeks’ notice of any change.
Payment Details
Kate Devereux Counselling & Psychotherapy
Lloyds Bank
Sort Code: 30-99-50
Account Number: 18602162
Please reference payments with your name and date of the session.
What Your Session Fee Covers
Your session fee contributes to more than just our time together - it supports the quality, professionalism, and sustainability of your therapeutic care. This includes:
Room rental – a private, comfortable, professional therapy space.
Insurance – professional indemnity and public liability cover.
Clinical supervision – ensuring safe and ethical practice.
Professional memberships – ongoing compliance with NCPS or other governing bodies.
Training and continued professional development – maintaining up-to-date therapeutic skills.
Room and facility costs – including water, electricity, heating, and maintenance.
Administrative time – scheduling, preparation, and secure record-keeping.
Governance and safeguarding – adherence to ethical frameworks and legal standards.
Advertising and website maintenance – so clients can find and access support easily.
Materials and resources – therapeutic tools, forms, and handouts used in sessions.
Subscription services – secure online systems for notes, booking, and communication.
These costs ensure that your therapy takes place in a safe, ethical, and supportive environment, where your wellbeing remains the central focus.
Cancellation Policy
If you are less than 10 minutes late to a session, I will see you for the remainder of the session time. If you are more than 10 minutes late, the session will be forfeited and the full fee will still be charged.
Last-minute cancellations result in lost business, as the space cannot usually be offered to another client at short notice. For this reason, sessions cancelled with less than two business days’ notice will be charged in full. This fee compensates for the time that had been set aside specifically for you.
Sessions must be secured by payment at least 48 hours in advance. Payments made on the day of the appointment cannot be accepted as confirmation of the session, and the session will not go ahead. I am unable to run a practice based on last-minute confirmations, as this prevents me from offering the time to other clients and disrupts the consistency and reliability of the therapeutic space.
If payment has not been received 24 hours before the appointment, I may offer that time to other work commitments. The full session fee will still be charged, as the time was reserved and cannot usually be reallocated at such short notice.
Payments made on the day will therefore be treated as a missed session, as the appointment was not secured within the agreed timeframe.
Please give as much notice as possible if you cannot attend. I will also provide as much notice as I can when I am unavailable. If I am unexpectedly unable to contact you, I have a confidential arrangement with a colleague who will notify you on my behalf.
If it is a couple’s session and one partner cannot make it, feel free to come along and have an individual therapy session rather than cancel. Unfortunately, if you miss more than two consecutive sessions, I will assume that you are no longer able to attend therapy and withdraw your space.
Sickness Policy
As the autumn and winter cold weather starts to arrive, and we begin to spend more time indoors, illnesses spread more easily. My sickness policy helps ensure we all do what we can to protect the most vulnerable who visit my private practice setting. I see a range of clients with complex health needs that need the protection of staying well during the colder seasons.
Illnesses of concern can include (but is not limited to):
· High Temperature – if you have a high temperature, please do not attend the setting until it goes.
· Coughs and colds – please do not attend the setting until you begin to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks.
· Covid-19 – please do not attend the setting. You may return when at least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared and you have had 3 full days of no fever.
· Vomiting and diarrhoea – if any member of your household has diarrhoea and/or vomiting symptoms please do not attend the setting until they have been free of symptoms for 48hrs.
For other illnesses that arise on an individual basis please message me and we can discuss the details.
If you experience any of the above illnesses but feel well enough to continue your normal activities, including engaging in therapy sessions, we can move the session online. This allows you to continue your therapy and avoid a late cancellation, whilst minimising risk to others.
I understand that health can be unpredictable, but it is important to provide support for clients whilst maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated in committing to the health and well-being of all client’s healthcare needs.
Endings
You are free to end counselling at any time, although it would be great for us to have an ending session should you be able to do so. It is possible to request monthly or ‘one off’ counselling sessions for clients who have ended, subject to availability.
Term Time Only
My therapy practice operates on a term-time only basis. This means my availability for sessions will correspond with the school term. The main reason for this schedule is that it allows for a better balance between work and family for me. I do not take 6 weeks off over the summer, but it is usually 2 to 3 weeks. I will endeavor to give you as much notice as possible regarding school holiday breaks.
Can I contact you between sessions?
Contact between sessions should be for the rearranging, or confirmation of, appointment times. It is fine to do this via text or email. All therapeutic material will be discussed in our sessions. If we see each other in a public setting, I will respect your privacy and not approach you.
Drugs and Alcohol
If drugs or alcohol have been consumed which alter your ability to engage in the therapeutic process, the session will be stopped, and the full fee will still be charged.
Behaviour
Abusive, threatening or harassing behaviour will not be tolerated and will result in immediate termination of services. The police may be involved, and the full fees will be charged. Termination will be entirely at my discretion.
Therapy Dog
I have a therapy dog that may be present during sessions. Clients are welcome to engage with him at their own discretion and risk. While he is trained to be calm and supportive, it is important to understand that individual comfort with animals may vary. If you have any concerns or allergies, please let me know in advance so we can make necessary adjustments.
Records
I keep brief notes of our counselling sessions, which are anonymised and stored securely using password protection. They will be destroyed 5 years after your counselling sessions end. Your contact details will be kept for 3 years and then destroyed.
Your Data
I will use your contact details to engage in my work with you according to this contract, including contacting you about appointments. I will not use them for any other purpose.
You have a right to ask to see any information that I hold about you. You also have the right to ask me to change any information that I hold that is incorrect, and to ask me to delete any information that I hold about you. I will do this except for any information I need to hold for legal purposes.
What do I do if I am unhappy with the service provided?
We will review our work together on a regular basis in order to ensure that it is meeting your needs effectively. If this does not seem to be the case, please feel able to raise questions and concerns in the session or contact the NCPS for further advice.
Please note that I am based in the UK and governed by UK jurisdiction.
If you are in urgent need of support, please call your GP, the out of hours GP service on 111, or the Samaritans on 116 123. You can also contact Gloucestershire Crisis Team 24/7 on 0800 169 0398. If it is an emergency, please call 999.
Walk & Talk Therapy
Walk & Talk Therapy takes place outdoors, combining therapeutic conversation with gentle movement in a natural setting. This approach can provide a different experience from traditional therapy, allowing for a more relaxed and open exploration of thoughts and emotions.
Considerations for Walk & Talk Therapy:
Confidentiality: While every effort will be made to maintain privacy, public spaces may present challenges. If we encounter others, I may pause our conversation or change direction to help protect confidentiality.
Weather Conditions: Sessions will go ahead in most weather conditions unless it is unsafe (e.g., heavy rain, storms, or extreme temperatures). If a session cannot go ahead due to weather conditions, we will hold the session in the therapy room instead.
Physical Considerations: Walk & Talk sessions are adapted to your pace and ability. If you have any health concerns that may affect your ability to participate, please discuss this with me beforehand.
Clothing & Footwear: Please dress appropriately for the weather and terrain to ensure comfort during the session.
Risk & Responsibility: While I take care in selecting safe routes, you acknowledge that outdoor sessions carry some inherent risks (e.g., uneven terrain, changing weather conditions). By choosing Walk & Talk Therapy, you accept responsibility for your own wellbeing during our sessions.
Emergency Plan: Your safety is my priority. I will carry a fully charged mobile phone to contact emergency services if needed. I will carry emergency contact details for both of us in case urgent support is required.
If you have any concerns or additional requirements regarding Walk & Talk Therapy, please feel free to discuss them with me.
Engaging in therapy indicates your consent to the terms outlined in the agreement. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out.