Terms & Conditions

By attending an initial consultation or regular counselling sessions, you agree to the following terms and conditions. This agreement is made between you (the client) and Transformative Talks Counselling,       specifically with your practitioner, Antonio Ruffo (Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP Membership No. 411483). This agreement grants your consent for us to work together collaboratively.

1. Therapeutic Approach & Framework

• Modality: Treatment is delivered via a Humanistic Integrative Counselling framework. This method addresses the whole person—mental, physical, and emotional needs—incorporating a variety of           therapeutic modalities, including Person-Centred, Transactional Analysis, and Gestalt Therapy.
• Professional Standards: All practice strictly abides by the Ethical Framework established by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
• Exclusion of Services: Transformative Talks Counselling shall not provide services to any clients who are currently on pre-trial legal status.

2. Confidentiality Policy & Limits

The counsellor-client relationship is built on a foundation of trust. The content of your sessions will           remain strictly confidential, subject to the following professional, legal, and ethical exceptions:

• Clinical Supervision: In line with professional BACP requirements, this practice is regularly                   supervised. Case material is discussed anonymously with a supervisor who is a BACP member bound by identical confidentiality standards.
• Serious Harm: Information may be disclosed if there is a compelling reason to believe it could        prevent serious harm to yourself or someone else. Wherever safely possible, this will be discussed with you first.
• Compliance with UK Law: Information must be shared if legally obligated by a court order, or if there is an indication of a violation of UK statutory duties. This includes safeguarding issues involving       children or vulnerable adults, or crimes involving substantial financial gains or losses under the following acts and any subsequent legislation:
  • The Children’s Act 1989/2004 (any abuse of a minor)
  • The UK Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000
  • The Drug Trafficking Act 1994
  • The Care Act 2014
  • The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (money laundering)

3. Record Keeping & Data Protection

• Data Security: Session notes are recorded securely on a dedicated, password-protected laptop at both the individual-document and device levels. Physical documents are stored in a locked cabinet           accessible only by the practitioner.
• Retention & Regulation: Data is held strictly in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 18) and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK-GDPR). The practice is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (Registration No: ZC148009). Data will be destroyed       securely at the end of the recommended retention period.
• Clinical Will: In accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework, a trusted colleague (also a BACP       member bound by professional confidentiality) has been appointed to administer the practice,         manage appointments, and confidentially destroy notes in the event of the practitioner's death or incapacity.

4. Session Logistics, Attendance & Holidays

• Availability: Standard practitioner hours are Thursdays between 9:00 and 18:00. Attendance is strictly by prior appointment.
• Session Duration: Standard therapeutic sessions last for exactly 50 minutes.
• Late Arrivals: If you arrive late, the session cannot be extended past its scheduled slot, as this impacts subsequent appointments.
• Progress Reviews: Your therapeutic journey and goals will be reviewed every six (6) sessions.
• Unanticipated Absences: If you miss a session unexpectedly, the practice will reach out via email or text to check on your well-being. Missing two consecutive sessions without prior notice may result in termination of the therapeutic contract.
• Holiday Notice: Both the client and the counsellor are required to provide a minimum of two           sessions' notice prior to any holiday arrangements.

5. Fees & Financial Agreements

• Fees: Regular sessions are charged at £50 per session. The initial 15-minute telephone consultation is entirely free.
• Annual Review: Transformative Talks Counselling conducts an annual review of its fees. Ample           advance notice will be provided before any rate changes take effect.
• Payment Terms: Payments must be made via bank transfer (BACS) exactly 48 hours before each scheduled session.
• Late Payment: Failure to meet the 48-hour BACS payment deadline will result in the automatic       cancellation of that scheduled session. Repeated financial non-compliance may result in permanent suspension of therapy.

6. Cancellations & Rearrangements

• Notice Window: At least 48 hours’ notice via text or email is required to cancel or change an              appointment slot.
• Late Cancellation Fee: Cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice will incur a flat fee of £20.

7. Communication Boundaries & Crisis Limits

• Contact Between Sessions: The therapeutic relationship is safely contained within the therapy room. Text, phone, and email channels are used exclusively for administrative adjustments, scheduling, or cancellations. Therapeutic issues will not be discussed outside of sessions.
• Crisis Situations: Phone lines and emails are not continuously monitored for emergencies. If you     experience an immediate, major emotional crisis or consider serious self-harm, you must seek             immediate help via the following emergency resources:
  • Call your General Practitioner (GP)
  • Call the NHS medical line on 111 or visit your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department
  • Call the Samaritans on 116 123
  • Call Connections Dorset on 0800 652 0190
  • Contact Hopeline247 on 0300 102 2470
  • Refer to the Urgent Help page on the Transformative Talks Counselling website.

8. Terminating Therapy

Ending therapy is a vital phase of the therapeutic process. Whether participating in short or long-term therapy, you can choose to complete your process at any time. The practice requires a minimum of 1 to 2 sessions' notice prior to termination. This window ensures adequate time to process your journey, 

facilitate clean closure, and establish a safe ending.

9. Technical Disruptions & Connectivity (Online sessions)
Online and telephone counselling rely on digital infrastructure, and disconnections may occasionally 

occur due to circumstances beyond either party's control. In the event of a technical failure, both the client and the practitioner agree to communicate via WhatsApp text message (practitioner contact: 07394 622 606). If online connectivity cannot be restored promptly, the session will ideally continue via telephone. Should persistent technical difficulties or telephone signal failures prevent the session from 

being completed, the appointment will be rescheduled.

Client Declaration

By attending sessions with Transformative Talks Counselling, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by these terms and conditions. You enter therapy with the understanding that it is a deeply collaborative process, and that your therapeutic progress relies on your own unique motivation, openness, and active participation.