Additional Information for Clients

In this document you can find further information about my counselling practices, that supplement the working agreement you hold with me.

If you have any questions at any time, please do reach out to me at administration@cau12.com. 

About Ed Magee

To find out more about me, how I work, my accreditation, experience, fees and more, please click here.

To review our working agreement:

Contents

Introduction to Counselling

Remote Appointments

Outdoor Appointments

Guidance for Parents/Carers: Counselling Children and Young People

If you are in crisis

If you are in crisis it is vital to get immediate help.

If your life is at risk right now and you feel you might attempt suicide or have seriously harmed yourself - call 999 or head to A&E.

Introduction to Counselling with Ed

What sort of issues can counselling help with?

Counselling provides an opportunity to explore a personal difficulty in a confidential and supportive environment.  All of us experience such difficulties at certain times in our lives, and the accompanying feelings can be painful.

When this happens, it can be hard to stay positive and cope with everyday life.

Counselling can help you explore your feelings related to a wide range of issues including abuse, anxiety, stress, depression, eating difficulties, loneliness, relationship problems, bereavement, self-esteem, sexual orientation, sexual abuse, discrimination, pet bereavement and many more.

How it works

The aim of counselling is to provide you, the client, with the opportunity to talk about any problems or difficulties that are bothering you and to explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe place, without judgement. Counsellors provide, to the best of their ability, a supportive, non-judgemental environment in which you are given time and space to gain insight into your situation. This can foster growth and lead to positive change in your life.

When you started working with me, you were given a working agreement that outlines what both I, as the counsellor, and you, the client, commit to during the counselling process.

The objectives of the counselling are decided by you and what you want to achieve. These will be regularly reviewed, with the expectation that objectives can and may change as the counselling progresses.

Counsellors are not in a position to offer advice.

There may be occasions where I ask questions; this may be to seek a clearer view of your difficulty or to clarify a misunderstanding in your mutual communication.

Face-to-face counselling appointments

Face-to-face counselling is held at our rooms at Unit 12. Suitable appointments will be arranged, will usually last for 50 minutes, and can be held at the same time each week.

Being in our rooms can also provide the scope to explore aspects of your life in a creative way e.g. through use of mediums such as drawing, painting and sand trays.

At times I can also offer remote or even outdoor appointments.  Please see the relevant sections further on in this document.

Confidentiality

Your privacy is very important to me and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose for which it was given to us.

Please do take time to read my Privacy Notice, which can be found here.

We will hold confidentiality within the limits of the law.

We will hold your information in accordance with GDBR best practice.

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Remote Appointments (Telephone or Video Call)

Remote working may be something that you are familiar with, or it might be completely new to you.  It can give you the opportunity to access counselling at a time and in a place that is convenient to you, and it has been proven to be very effective.  However, not all types of issues can be resolved through remote counselling, and I will advise you if face-to-face counselling, or some other form of support, might be more suitable for you.  

In remote counselling misunderstandings may sometimes occur as technology doesn’t always accurately transmit all of our facial expressions, body language and tone of voice. It is therefore important for both of us to feel comfortable in asking for clarification if we are unsure of something that other is saying. This way we can promote a strong therapeutic relationship.

We offer two different types of Remote Appointment; telephone appointments and Video call appointments. Choosing which is most suitable for you is something only you can do and will depend on how comfortable you are about using technology and what your relationship is with technological communication.

Regular sessions

Telephone appointments: If you opt for appointments over the telephone, I will call you at the scheduled time of your appointment on the telephone number you have provided. Should you need to change the number we hold for you, please either let me know or email administrator@cau12.com.

If I cannot reach you, I will attempt to call you again a couple of times, followed by sending a text message to you, should the number we hold for you be for a mobile phone. If I still cannot reach you, I will contact you to rearrange your appointment. Please note the terms for missed appointments in your working agreement.

Before attending your telephone appointment, please consider the best location for you to be during the session. If possible, try to choose somewhere you feel comfortable and where you will not be disturbed or overheard.

Video call appointments: If your chosen remote counselling method is via Video call, I will send you a Zoom link in advance of your appointment.

Zoom is a secure and encrypted service and is free for you to access and download; which you can do from www.zoom.us.
You can watch a video on how to join a Zoom session here:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting

The link will be sent via email, which will include a Meeting ID and password. You will be able to join the meeting either by clicking on the link or by entering the Meeting ID and password into Zoom. When joining the meeting, you will enter a virtual waiting room, and I will then admit you to the appointment.

As with telephone appointments, please consider the best location for you to be during the session. If possible, try to choose somewhere you feel comfortable and where you will not be disturbed or overheard.

Please make sure that you have installed Zoom on your device before the session commences, with your video and microphone switched on. It is helpful if your device is positioned stationary so that it is stable and placed at an appropriate height so that your face is clearly visible.
Sound quality can be improved by using headphones with an attached microphone, but these are not essential.

Technological interruptions: While it is not common, using technology can present its own challenges and sometimes connections can be interrupted, and disconnections can occur. To minimise disturbance please ensure you are in a location with a strong and stable phone or WiFi signal. Closing down any unnecessary apps during the call also allows your device to be able to focus its resources on the call, reducing the chance of the signal dropping unexpectedly. We also strongly recommend that, where at all possible, you only use a private Wi-Fi connection and not a public hotspot. We also strongly recommend that you disable your device’s Bluetooth connection for the duration of the counselling session.

In the event a disconnection occurs and does not rectify itself within a couple of minutes, I will contact you to work out how best to proceed.

Confidentiality (within the limits of the law)

Please bear in mind that, whilst every effort is made to provide a safe and secure environment for your remote therapy, absolute security does not exist in the digital world. Telephone and internet-based technology is fallible; it can never guarantee 100% confidentiality and there is a possibility, albeit minimal, that confidentiality may be compromised.

Your commitment

You agree to ensure that your device is sufficiently charged, that you are in a location with a suitable signal strength and that, for Video call appointments, the Zoom app is installed and you are prepared to enter the meeting using the link provided by your counsellor.

You also agree to wear appropriate clothing during Video call appointments, as if you were meeting with me face-to-face in a counselling room.

Cancellations

Should your session not be able to take place due to technological interruptions, payment may not be required. If agree to waive the fees because of technological interruptions, and if you have made your payment in advance, the funds will be carried over to your next appointment.

My Commitment

  • To be available at the agreed time via Zoom link or to call you by telephone at the agreed time.

  • To send a Zoom link by email to you, the client, for connection to the Video call appointment.

Additionally, both parties will:

Ensure that relevant security updates on devices are up to date and installed, make sure power supply and battery charge is sufficient on our devices, make sure we each have an alternative means of communication, i.e. phone, should disconnection from the Zoom platform occur.

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Outdoor Appointments

Outdoor counselling appointments are only offered to clients who are already engaged in counselling with me and are having either face-to-face or remote counselling sessions. Outdoor counselling appointments are conducted as part of your treatment journey and work alongside your other sessions.

Many people find being in the open air meditative, allowing deeper thinking and an opportunity to talk about difficult issues in a different setting. Our location has a variety of green spaces available in the vicinity.  You would get the same excellent psychotherapeutic service, just in the outdoors. 

Session arrangements

Sessions are held at the same time and on the same day as your regular face-to-face or remote appointment. Before meeting, we will agree on the length of time the session will last, but it will not exceed the normal appointment time of 50 minutes.

I will suggest a suitable outdoor place to meet, taking the weather forecast, the terrain and your general level of fitness into account.

Confidentiality

As with face-to-face and remote sessions all content is confidential unless you are at risk of serious harm to yourself or others, you disclose safeguarding issues that must be reported or when there is a duty of law to share. However, as these sessions are conducted in public spaces there are limitations to the level of confidentiality that can be achieved and I cannot guarantee complete confidentiality.

You should also be aware that you could be recognised by someone you know during an outdoor appointment and I may not be able to prevent this happening. If you do recognise someone you can tell me, and I may decide to end the session, or choose a different route, whichever is most appropriate for you.

Health and Safety

In order to maintain the health and safety for us both, sessions may be cancelled at short notice due to adverse weather conditions. Should this be the case, I will contact you to make alternative arrangements, for example a remote appointment via the telephone or video call.

Sessions may also be cancelled at short notice if there are other circumstances out of my control that would make the session unworkable. This would include, but is not limited to:

  • closure of the area used for walking

  • large crowds of people in the area

  • other events being held in the area

You will be considered accountable for your level of fitness to walk and must disclose any physical issues before the session starts.

You must also take responsibility for your safety whilst attending an outdoor appointment and not place yourself at risk.

You will set the pace of the walk and must tell me immediately if you feel that you cannot continue with the session for any reason.

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Guidance for parents/carers: Counselling children and young people

For counselling to be as effective and safe as possible, as a parent or carer, your commitment, motivation and consent is encouraged and needed. Entrusting your child or young person to a counsellor may feel difficult. There can be so many unknowns and unanswered questions but hopefully the information provided here will be useful in helping reassure you of the service being offered and the counselling process.

Model of approach

I offer counselling that brings in a variety of ideas from different approaches, including psychodynamic counselling, person centred therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, solution focused motivational and psychoeducational techniques. All of these forms of therapy are applied creatively, ensuring that the child or young person taking part in the counselling process is offered the opportunity to talk though whatever is going on for them in a private and safe setting, in a format that is beneficial to them.

As a parent or carer this may feel difficult, however I am professionally mindful of encouraging children and young people to build positive relationships with the significant individuals around them and will therefore always work towards empowering and building the life skills necessary for the child or young person to develop more open communication within their family.

Working with children and young people

I will tailor my approach to the individual and work in an ethical and age-appropriate way. I will use creative intervention in a relaxed and calm environment.

As a child grows into adolescence, he or she experiences a huge amount of change and young people are often in a very different mental space than adults, due to the physiological and cultural specifics of the individual. There are psychological changes, such as changes in attachment to the care giver and cognitive growth which impact on adolescents emotionally. This can be very distressing, so for a young person, it can be beneficial to explore feelings and thoughts with an adult who is not their parent or carer, in a private, safe space.

Working creatively

We are born with the ability to imagine, dream, create and play and I am happy and able to use a variety of creative mediums with my counselling work. Whether it be art based, images, toys or sand work, there is a beneficial and meaningful connection between creativity and therapy.

Using a creative medium allows the child or young person to share, express and think through a process of self-exploration, which may uncover feelings, thoughts and experiences once forgotten. Wherever our minds wander, our thoughts and feelings are important no matter how insignificant they may feel. Exploring them together helps develop a greater sense of ourselves and our experiences. However, we do recognise that creativity is not for everyone and I will be sensitive to the individual’s needs. For a child or young person, it can be just as powerful to gently and mindfully talk through their unique experiences. Sessions will take whatever form your child or young person requires.

Parent or Carer Meetings

Depending on the child or young person’s, age, developmental stage and ‘capacity to consent’ to counselling (see below), you may decide you would like to have regular meetings throughout the course of your child's therapy.

After consultation with my supervisor in relation to ‘best interest’, and only with the young person’s consent, these meetings can be scheduled for 1 hour and cost the same as the agreed session fee.

The initial meeting offers you, the parents or carers, the opportunity to talk about what has been happening, exploring the child's experiences and the parent's experiences from the parent/carers perspective. I will endeavour to offer ideas about things you can do alongside the therapy which may help in a supportive manner. Later, any agreed parent meetings will offer the opportunity for review and feedback on progress and sharing of any concerns or any developments from home.

Endeavouring to protect the child or young person’s confidentiality, I will be transparent with the child or young person about any contact I have with the parent/carer after the counselling has started. This helps to establish trust in the therapeutic relationship and is in accordance with the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

Important Note

Due to the law surrounding confidentiality, children and young people have to agree the content of any information shared from sessions. However, as long as the content is agreed these sessions can be invaluable in helping families to communicate and work together.

The Counselling Process

A counsellor is someone who listens carefully and curiously to your child’s experience; I will not cast judgement, tell your child what to do or give them the answers to their questions, but I will endeavour to empower, guide and invite them to make their own decisions within safe and ethical boundaries.

I will encourage and support your child or young person to find a positive way forward. I will help your child or young person identify a ‘therapeutic aim’ to work towards, which will help give focus to their counselling sessions. Of course, there are no guarantees with counselling, however the most important start is that your child or young person is happy to attend counselling.

Important Note

Children and young people may have very different aims than those of their parents or carers. Listening and adhering to their own wishes is the beginning of inviting them to develop appropriate autonomy. This is particularly important if aspects of life have felt out of their control for whatever reason. In gaining awareness and understanding, your child or young person may decide to invite change into their life. Counselling therefore has the potential to be a journey of discovery; their journey.

Capacity to Consent

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) states that careful thought needs to be given when working with children and young people as to their capacity to give informed consent to a confidential relationship.

This is sometimes referred to as ‘Gillick Competency’ and detailed information can be found here; https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-protection-system/gillick-competence-fraser-guidelines#heading-top

During the first session I will assess whether the child or young person wishes to attend and will give them the choice as to whether they want to return or not. It is important that the child or young person wishes to speak to a counsellor and is agreeing to attend counselling voluntarily.

This can feel frustrating for a parent or carer, but this process places the responsibility in the hands of the child or young person and marks the beginning of them taking control of their experience. It is fundamentally important to the therapeutic relationship that they realise they have choices and the right to make them.

How long does the process take?

Sometimes children and young people attend counselling for only a few sessions, some may choose to attend for much longer.

I will be led by your child or young person in terms of how long they attend. However, it is important to talk this through carefully together, as it is usual to have ‘an ending’ which is an arranged conclusion to therapy whether after only a couple of sessions or a longer period of time.

There is theoretically no limit to the number of sessions they can attend, although I am bound by ethical requirements not to continue with therapy for longer than required. I will do regular reviews - roughly every 6 sessions - to check progress and to make sure that your child or young person is still benefiting from counselling.

Generally, ‘an ending’ usually occurs naturally and is mutually discussed as the aims are hopefully gradually achieved. I may use a specific ‘outcome measure’ (YP-CORE), which I will explain during the first appointment. This is a measurement of how your child or young person is feeling week to week and forms a part of the decision as to whether to bring sessions to an end.

In protecting the child or young person’s confidentiality, I will gain permission to share ‘enough’ to help decisions about continuation or termination of therapy to be made. Hopefully, as a parent or carer, you will be aware of improvements and may notice a gradual change over time which will also inform your decision.

Contact, Boundaries and Confidentiality

When you meet with me for the first time, I will run through a counselling contract with you and your child or young person together. This will explain the professional boundaries which surround counselling and it will help you to understand what you can expect and for your child or young person to begin to build trust in me.

For instance, I will talk with you about practical issues such as punctuality, cost and length of each session, as well as asking for information about previous counselling or any specific mental health treatment or diagnosis which may be relevant.

Any information you are asked to disclose will be held with the deepest respect and within the usual boundaries of confidentiality.

Depending on the age of your child or young person, it may be useful to book a parent meeting so you can fully discuss what has led to your decision to seek counselling in this instance. I will also talk with you both together - you and your child or young person - about confidentiality and how whatever is disclosed in each session will remain confidential unless there are concerns that your child or young person may be at significant risk of harm, or someone they know may be at risk of harm.

I will explore confidentiality in more depth with you when you meet so you are clear about the established and lawful limits of confidentiality. We are aware of how important this aspect is and how central this is to the development of a trusting relationship.

Important Note

Your child or young person has a right to confidentiality which will mean you won’t know what has been said during a session unless a significant risk has been identified.

Your child or young person will be invited to realise they can speak to whoever they want to about their sessions; the counselling work/relationship is not a ‘secret’ but it is their choice to do this or not.

I will always aim to encourage children and young people to build positive communication with their families but, it is most effective when they make the choice for themselves. Sometimes, I may identify the need for a piece of information to be shared which may not be surrounding a significant risk, but it could make a difference to the child or young person if their parent or carer knew. In this instance I will first empower your child or young person to voice this for themselves. If they do not feel able to do this then I will seek permission from the child or young person to share the information appropriately instead.

Please read alongside Privacy Notice for more detailed information around confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection.