Please be aware that booking or paying for an appointment is deemed to be acceptance of these terms of service.

Appointments and cancellations

Appointment bookings

Bookings can be made either as a regular weekly arrangement if you are looking for a standing appointment at the same time each week. Or bookings can be made from session to session, if you prefer to adapt if your own schedule varies.

Cancellation or rescheduling

Appointments are charged in full unless notice of cancellation is received at least 3 working days in advance. I am committing to be present for your appointment time and I expect the same of my clients in return. This cancellation policy is applicable for therapy or for supervision and applies whether the appointment is a regular weekly occurrence or an appointment made from session to session.

Rescheduling

If you become aware of anything which affects your ability to attend a booked appointment, please let me know as soon as you know. I will respond according to the prevailing circumstances. If we can find a mutually convenient alternative time the same week, only the rescheduled appointment will be charged.

Timing

The session will run from the scheduled start time until the scheduled ending time, even if the client arrives late. Full payment will be expected. If the client is absent from the appointment or Zoom call for 15 minutes from the start time, the appointment will be terminated.

Payment terms

For an initial appointment, I request payment in advance. For further sessions, invoices are payable within 2 working days of issue unless other arrangements are mutually agreed. My preferred payment method is online funds transfer to my private practice bank account in the name of Ashlar Evolution. Card payment is accepted with a 2% charge to cover transaction charges through the app. Please note that further sessions may be suspended if any session fees remain unpaid.

Ending arrangements

If more than one session is attended, an agreement is in place to hold a pre-planned ending session when the time comes to bring a close to our work together. In my view, sadly and all too often, endings don’t receive the attention they deserve. I’d like the chance for us to do things better. So I would want us to commit to attending an ending session together within a month of notice being given by the client(s). It is the responsibility of the client(s) to notify me about any intention to end therapy, so that a mutually-agreed ending can be arranged. However, if I determine a reason for ending therapy with a client or clients, I will give notice with a rationale. Depending on the circumstances,  I would use best endeavours to provide referral recommendations or signposts for onward therapy provision.  

Diversity and respect policy

I am committed to the provision of therapy and supervision which is inclusive for clients from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities. I uphold therapy which respects differences in ability and disability, age, sex and sexual preference, gender diversity, race, religion, and culture.  I would want each client to feel seen, heard and respected during their therapy with me. I am keen to explore intersectional identity and social positionality for each person with whom I work. This process can be explored in one or more sessions, as a discovery process for the unique nature of each person coming forward to therapy or supervision.

Data policy

Client information is kept according to strict security protocols and confidentiality guidelines according to my ethical codes, legal requirements, and appropriate provisions for data protection. Please note that it is necessary to process any personal information provided by you or by a third party so that I may contact you or invoice you or retain your contact details for follow-up. My work in Ashlar Evolution Limited is as a sole practitioner. However, in order to provide a professional service and for compliance with regulatory or legal requirements, third parties may act for me within confidential professional capacities such as marketing, information technology, accountancy or legal matters - although in any such instances those third parties are also obliged to maintain data confidentiality.

Couple/relationship therapy

The start point is that I will support your relationship to continue, unless I hear otherwise from one or more people involved. If I hear a wish to separate, at that point we would review the role of therapy. If I am contacted by one party in a couple or other form of relationship,

I will usually reply to both. Any correspondence which I receive by any mode of communication can be shared transparently as part of the couple/relationship therapy process for which I have been instructed.

Usually sessions take place with all parties present. I believe that this approach supports the growth and connection of the couple/relationship. I am open to each person in the intimate relationship having individual therapy alongside couple/relationship therapy.

Conditions affecting relationship therapy

There are some pre-existing factors which may impede couple/relationship therapy:

·       Undiagnosed or untreated severe mental health condition which may require diagnosis or treatment

·       Pattern of serious addictive or compulsive behaviour

·       Violent or sexual acting out

If so, the priority is attending to these factors because they affect the intimate partner relationship. In such circumstances, I am open to exploring the role and benefit of couple/relationship therapy, as long as the initial focus is on stabilising any prevalent factors. Otherwise, effective couple/relationship therapy can be compromised.

I am willing to willing to work with trauma presented by one or more people in the relationship, either historical or current. This trauma-focused resolution process may involve at times attending to one person while that person is witnessed by their partner(s) in support.

Crisis support

Please be aware that I do not provide a crisis service so if you are in need of urgent assistance in an emergency, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123, visit your GP or attend the nearest Accident & Emergency.

Confidentiality, ethics, and supply
Confidentiality policy

The content of sessions and any correspondence is confidential, according to the professional codes for my work. There is a limitation on confidentiality if sufficient concern arises about the risk of harm to client(s) and/or other(s). In such cases I may need to fulfil my duty of care by breaking confidentiality in order to minimise risk of harm. I am happy to discuss the specific context and implications of this with any client or supervisee. 

Place of supply

Although I work internationally, the place of supply is England under the law of England & Wales and tax legislation of the United Kingdom.

Reporting obligations

As guidance for informed consent, I am professionally obliged to report information related to acts of terrorism, money-laundering, child pornography. If a dual relationship is identified, I will attend to developing a protocol for managing confidentiality boundaries.

Ethics and scope of practice

Sessions with any client or supervisee are held in accordance with the ethical code of practice provided by my professional bodies: BACP, COSRT, NCP, EMDR UK, Imago UK. I have an unswerving commitment to providing a professional and private service for all my clients, to ensure quality standards and psychological wellbeing. I pledge to work within my scope of practice and according to the ethical codes of my professional organisations. The code of ethics for each professional body is available online or I can provide this documentation, along with details of how to make a complaint within this framework.

Disclaimer

Sarah Briggs operates within the scope of practice defined by her qualifications and training and professional memberships.

Neither Sarah Briggs nor Ashlar Evolution Limited is responsible for third-party content. Any links or suggestions are offered for research purposes in support of informed decision-making by clients.

Neither Ashlar Evolution Limited nor Sarah Briggs provides medical advice or medical treatment. Information on lifestyle and wellbeing approaches, META-Health or META-Consciousness is offered in case it is beneficial for clients to explore and make informed decisions about optimising their mental health and mind-body links.