Working agreement between Client and Counsellor
Outdoor Appointments
This information is valid from the 17th April 2024. It is periodically reviewed for accuracy. Changes will be highlighted at the top of the document.
Outdoor counselling appointments are only offered to clients who are already engaged with a counselling@unit12 counsellor and are having either face-to-face or remote counselling sessions. Outdoor counselling appointments are conducted as part of your treatment journey and works alongside your other sessions.
As such, please consider this working agreement an addendum to your previously signed working agreement with counselling@unit12.
Session arrangements
Sessions are held at the same time and on the same day as your regular face-to-face or remote appointment, unless an alternative appointment can be arranged between you and your counsellor. Before meeting, you and your counsellor will agree on the length of time the session will last, but it will not exceed the normal appointment time of 50 minutes.
Your counsellor 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. Your Counsellor will try to discuss any disclosure issues with you before they share information. Any notes will be kept securely.
However, as these sessions are conducted in public spaces there are limitations to the level of confidentiality that can be achieved and counselling@unit12 cannot guarantee complete confidentiality.
You should also be aware that you could be recognised by someone you know during an outdoor appointment and the counsellor may not be able to prevent this happening. If you do recognise someone you can tell your counsellor, who 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 of both you and your counsellor, sessions may be cancelled at short notice due to adverse weather conditions. Should this be the case, your counsellor 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 the control of the counsellor 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 to your counsellor 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 your counsellor immediately if you feel that you cannot continue with the session for any reason.
To accept the terms of this Working Agreement, please complete the online form you can access by clicking on the following button.