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Therapeutic Touch Clinic

Online Counselling Service

Code of Practice

As part of our commitment to our clients, we adopt a set of standards that reflect our core principles of:

  • confidentiality
  • person-centred
  • accessible
  • non discrimination

What standards of service can I expect when I deal with Therapeutic Touch Clinic Counselling Service?

We would like you to know about the standards you can expect from us. We aim to achieve the standards set out below throughout our organisation.

  • In all our dealings with you, we will:
  • treat everyone who uses our services, fairly and equally
  • work in partnership, co-operating with other individuals and organisations
  • be punctual, reliable, courteous and friendly
  • send you information within the time limits set out below

If you write to us, you can expect us to do the following:

  • answer your emails within five working days - if we can't provide a reply within this time, we will acknowledge your correspondence (email) and give you a date by which we expect to give you a more detailed response
  • process applications for counselling promptly

You can help us to get it right

We are committed to providing the highest standards of service. To improve continuously the level of service we provide, we are open to suggestions and comments and use the information you give us to revise and improve our policies and procedures.

What if I am not happy with the service provided?

We will investigate complaints in the strictest confidence and will view any complaints as an opportunity to put things right. This will certainly not affect how we deal with the person who has made the complaint.

Core principles

We always work within to the core principles of person-centred counselling of:

  • genuineness and congruence
  • unconditional positive regard and total acceptance
  • feeling and communicating empathic understanding

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is maintained for all clients except in the following cases:

  • if child abuse is either reported or suspected.
  • when the child is a minor, the parents/guardians are entitled to know the condition, diagnosis, and progress of therapy.
  • if the client poses a "clear and imminent danger" to someone else including family members, police, or the threatened party.
  • if the client releases information with written authorization.

Supervision with another therapist is undertaken by your counsellor in order to provide the best possible therapy. Such discussions will, of course, remain private within the consultation or supervisory relationship.

 

How much does it cost? The first session or email exchange is free. This is an opportunity for you to tell me something about yourself and what issues you feel you need help with. It is also a chance to get a sense of the process. Thereafter, if you chose to continue, sessions (email exchange is the equivalent of a face to face session), costs £30.

About the Counsellor My name is John Dodds. I have trained as a counsellor for five years, and I hold a Counselling Certificate (COSCA) . I am currently working as a counsellor in Health All Round, a community health practice in Edinburgh. I am now extending my practice to include online counselling.

Secure Email For many, the preferred method is secure email. This gives you a chance to consider, and write down your thoughts and feelings. And it gives me, as the counsellor, a helpful record of everything you wish to consider. I can then take time to give you a detailed, in-depth response. I recommend secure email, which is encrypted.

Online ChatOnline chat - also known as synchronous chat, where you and the counsellor used chat software to text talk   - happens in the moment, so in that respect it has similarities with face to face counselling. This may not suit everyone, because non-verbal communication is missing. However, if you are comfortable with texting, this method, or you are seeking more immediate feedback, you may find this process helpful.

Download Hushmail Hushmail provides a secure, encrypted email accounts, which are free to use. Once you have an account, you email, you then register with the counselling service. We identify clients by a number, though names are filed securely in a separate place.

Download Skype Skype offers a secure chat environment, through text messaging or internet telephone chat. It works in a similar way to Microsoft Messenger, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger and other well-known chat software. It's free, and once you have an account, you can register with the counselling service and provide your contact identity.

©2005 Therapeutic Touch Clinic