Working Agreement

I am a psychotherapist, working from a broadly person-centred perspective. I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework at all times.

Everything you say to me will be in strictest confidence. It is entirely up to you what you bring to our sessions and what we talk about. My aim is to provide you with an opportunity to speak openly and freely about your feelings, whatever they are, in a space where you feel valued and heard.

In very exceptional circumstances (for example if I feel you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or others), it is conceivable that I may want to consult an additional point of view in order to secure some extra support for you. Whenever practicable, I will seek your consent before disclosing any information to a third party in such exceptional cases.

I receive regular supervision, to monitor and discuss my practice. During this supervision I may speak about issues that have come up during sessions with clients. However, names of clients are never used, under any circumstances, and your confidentiality is protected at all times. The purpose of supervision is to help me to help you to the very best of my ability.

I occasionally make notes after client sessions; clients are not identified by name and nothing is written down that could be used to identify specific individuals.

My responsibilities to you
To be available at the agreed time, and to start and end on time.
To provide an alternative as soon as is possible, if I have to cancel an appointment.
To maintain safe, professional boundaries.
To regard all contact and information shared with me as confidential.
To work within the BACP Ethical Framework.
To review our therapeutic work and our relationship regularly.

Your responsibilities to me
To be available at the agreed time, and to start and end on time.
To give as much notice as is reasonably possible if cancelling an appointment.

What I can offer you

Different people have varying expectations of how therapy works, and what it will do. I am offering you a safe and confidential space where you may talk about and deeply explore what’s going on for you, what’s important to you and what’s troubling you. I aim to nurture an increasing understanding, acceptance of, and ease with, yourself, driven by your innate appetite to develop and grow.

Sometimes clients come looking for tools or strategies designed to “fix” them; while I can easily empathise with this desire, I cannot instruct, advise or coach you. Instead of illness or disorder that needs to be fixed, I see an obstruction or compromise of natural growth. As we strive to push aside that obstruction, to create space for movement, together we will ask not, “What is wrong with me?” but rather, “What happened to me?” We will approach this fundamental question with curiosity, compassion and care, free of judgement, blame or criticism.

Paying for sessions

Sessions last for 1 hour and cost £60. I prefer to be paid on the day of our session. You may pay for a block of sessions in advance if you wish. I accept card payments in person at sessions, or online payment by card. You may also pay by online bank transfer, cash or cheque.

Cancellations / missed appointments
Offering therapy represents my sole income. If an appointment is cancelled within 24 hours, or missed without prior notice, you are required to pay for the session in full. This prevents the loss of income that would otherwise be irrecoverable.

We may review and amend this agreement at any point during our relationship so that it continues to fulfil the needs of both of us.

In embarking on a therapeutic relationship with me, you are accepting this agreement and confirming that it accurately reflects the general needs of us both.

Steven Ballantyne

Please contact me if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment: hello@therapy.scot or 07796 766533