DRAMA AND MOVEMENT THERAPY
THERAPIST: Laura Hurkett (the therapist) will provide Drama and Movement Therapy sessions and additional services if required to the client in question, at dates and times agreed by both parties.
POTENTIAL RISKS: Like other forms of psychotherapy, Drama and Movement Therapy also holds risks, which may include the client experiencing uncomfortable or difficult feelings whilst being supported by the therapist (e.g., sadness, guilt, anger or frustration) so that they may ultimately find comfort, understanding, new perspectives, and healing.
EVALUATION: The first 2-4 sessions will involve an evaluation of the client’s individual needs, along with the necessary building of trust between client and therapist. By the end of the evaluation period, the therapist will be able to offer the client some initial impressions of what the work might include.
CLOSING: The closure of therapy will be discussed and agreed by both parties, either at the beginning of therapy if a specific number of sessions is set, or during the process of therapy. A closing period of a minimum of five sessions is usually sufficient for the client to explore the nature of closure in a healthy manner, if ongoing therapy is agreed prior to therapy commencing. Closure of therapy is important; therefore, clients and their representatives must agree to adhere to the minimum closing period unless agreed by the therapist.
QUERIES: Any questions regarding this contract, or the services provided are welcomed to be discussed with the therapist at any point.
SESSIONS & CANCELLATIONS
DURATION/FREQUENCY: Sessions will be 50 mins – 1 hour in duration (depending on the natural end of the session), once a week, at a time the therapist and client both agree on, however sessions may be longer, shorter or more/less regular if agreed by both parties prior to the appointment. Additional appointments may be booked if needed if the therapist has availability.
ADDRESS: Face-to-face sessions and relevant services will be held in the therapy room at The Bristol Dramatherapy Space, The Bromley, 73 Quakers Road, Bristol, BS16 6NH.
RESCHEDULING/CANCELLATIONS/LATENESS: If the client needs to reschedule or cancel a session/service, they must give as much notice as possible. If the client misses a session or service without cancelling, or cancels with less than 48 hours of notice, they will still be charged. If the client is late, the session/service will still need to end on time.
THERAPIST ABSENCE: If the therapist is unable to make a session/service, they will attempt to contact the client as soon as possible to reschedule and will not charge the client for the missed session/service if it cannot be rescheduled. In the unlikely event that the therapist is late, time will be offered elsewhere to make up for this.
PROFESSIONAL FEES
PRICING: Bristol Dramatherapy Ltd offers individual Drama and Movement Therapy sessions at £45 per hour. Any increases in price will be discussed beforehand, and a notice period of 10 weeks (minimum) will be given.
PAYMENT DUE: Payment is due on or before the day the session or service is due to take place. If debts incur, the therapist reserves the right to use legal means to secure payment owed. An interest of 1.5% per month will be charged to late fees (from 14 days from date of service).
METHODS: Payment methods such as cash, card or cheque can be made at the premises. Online payment is also available via bank transfer or Paypal.
INVOICING: If requested, invoices and receipts will be emailed to the client’s preferred email address. Please inform your therapist if you would instead prefer hard copies of invoices and receipts.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES: In addition to facilitating therapy sessions, additional services are sometimes required, such as attending meetings, report writing, holding booked phone consultations (exceeding 15 mins) etc. These are to be agreed upon beforehand and are charged at the usual hourly rate, via the method usually paid.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES: In addition to facilitating therapy sessions, additional services are sometimes required, such as attending meetings, report writing, holding booked phone consultations (exceeding 15 mins) etc. These are to be agreed upon beforehand and are charged at the usual hourly rate, via the method usually paid.
PROFESSIONAL RECORDS & CONFIDENTIALITY
All records and work are maintained securely and respectfully; in all incidences, the therapist is the sole user/password holder of all devices and the sole holder of keys to all cabinets/cupboards mentioned below.
PRIVACY: Confidentiality will be kept at all times in accordance with GDPR & the Data Protection Act & the therapist is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a data controller. Information will not be shared with third parties without the client’s explicit consent, except in issues of safeguarding, child or adult protection, or if the therapist believes the client or others are at risk. In these cases, it is the therapist’s duty to inform and share information with the relevant parties in accordance with the law.
NOTETAKING: The therapist is required to keep appropriate records about clients and services provided. These records tend to be brief as they are intended to aid the therapist in keeping track of client progress. Notes may include attendance, reasons for seeking therapy, topics explored, medical, social, and treatment history, themes and patterns that arise, and if necessary, records received from other providers and copies of records sent to others. The therapist does not video or audio record sessions or services unless as part of the therapeutic process and is agreed with the client beforehand.
WHERE NOTES ARE KEPT: Written/printed notes & documents of current clients are kept in a lockable cabinet in the office at The Bristol Dramatherapy Space. Digital notes are created on the therapist’s password-protected work devices in protected files, before being transferred to an external hard drive, which is kept in the cabinet at The Bristol Dramatherapy Space. A password-protected, back-up hard-drive is also kept in a lockable cabinet in the therapist’s personal home office in case of damage/technical error on the original hard drive.
THERAPEUTIC WORK: Any therapeutic work/artwork/paper documents in the therapist’s possession from current clients are stored in a lockable cupboard in the therapy room at The Bristol Dramatherapy Space. Artwork is photographed (to keep track of the client’s progress and for the client to refer to) on the company’s phone and imported into the client’s digital notes before being erased from the phone.
FORMER CLIENTS: All written/printed client documents regarding former clients are kept in the lockable cabinet in the therapist’s home office. Records will be retained for 7 years from the date of the last treatment (unless in cases involving minors, or if the therapist has any concerns) before being disposed of confidentially & respectfully. Any artwork still in the therapist’s possession after the closure of therapy will be kept for one month before being disposed of respectfully & confidentially; any photographs of artwork will remain in records as above.
REPORTS AND NOTES: Notes are usually intended for the therapist only. Clients may review their notes at any point in the presence of the therapist (to translate handwriting and terms). Reports may be requested; these will be made available in 14-28 days after the request has been made (depending on size/casefile/specification of report). This service will be charged at the usual hourly fee (agreed prior) and must be paid at the time of request.
SUPERVISION: Registered therapists are required to attend supervision with a registered supervisor, where they discuss aspects of their clinical work. Supervisors themselves are bound by confidentiality and the therapist does not reveal individual identities of clients to their supervisor.
CCTV: CCTV is in operation inside and outside of the building (except The Bristol Dramatherapy Space) solely for security purposes and is only available to the landlord of the building and the business owners/staff which operate within it. If you have any concerns or queries relating to the recordings of the CCTV cameras, please feel free to discuss this with your therapist. The video doorbell at the courtyard entrance is viewed solely by the therapist and is in place for their security only.
COVID-19 SAFETY PROCEDURES & POLICIES
The following steps have been put in place to limit the spread of Covid-19 and other illnesses in response to the guidelines set by Public Health England. These must be adhered to at all times until further notice.
Please do not attempt to visit the building if you have symptoms of Covid-19, have been instructed to isolate or have been in close proximity to someone with suspected/confirmed Covid-19 in the last 10 days. Please follow the guidelines set for you by the NHS.
IF A CLIENT NEEDS TO ISOLATE: Please contact the therapist as soon as you are aware to arrange an online/phone appointment, to reschedule your appointment if possible, or to cancel the appointment; however please note that the cancellation policy, as stated in this agreement, will apply to Covid-19 related cancellations, as with other illnesses or reasons for cancelling.
ENTRANCE: Please only enter the building through the courtyard entrance, no earlier than ten minutes before your appointment to give the therapist time to sanitise the waiting area. If the waiting room is yet to be sanitised by the time you arrive, a sign on the waiting room door will indicate this. Please maintain social distancing whenever possible during your visit.
CHAPERONES: Only one person (from the same household/allowed by government guidelines) is permitted to accompany the client into the building unless the café is open and you wish to use their facilities under their Covid-19 policies whilst you wait.
PPE: Visitors are free to use any and all PPE that allows them to feel safe. Masks should be worn when entering the building unless you are exempt. Masks will be available however it is requested that visitors bring their own whenever possible. Individuals do not need to wear their mask in the waiting room when both doors to the waiting room are closed.
HANDS: Please sanitise your hands before entering the waiting room with hand sanitiser (outside the waiting room) or the bathroom sink (located opposite the courtyard entrance to the building). The sink in the corridor is intended for staff of the café only.
FACILITIES: Please use the tissues provided when needed and dispose of all rubbish in the bins. After using the waiting room, please indicate what mugs/spoons have been used, and stack the cushions on any chairs you have sat in. As the toilet facilities are communal, a ‘clean box’ will be provided for visitors to sanitise the bathroom facilities before they use them if they wish, however the bathroom will be checked and cleaned regularly.
THERAPY ROOM:Masks are to be kept on until the client is in the therapy room, physically distanced and both parties have agreed for the therapist to remove their mask (and consent from parent/guardian has been given if applicable). In all cases, the therapist will wear a mask when not physically distancing from a client. The client can choose whether or not they wear a mask when physically distanced during therapy. During public lockdowns it is requested that only the client and therapist enter the main therapy room unless during urgent matters and/or with the therapist’s permission.
COVID-19 CLEANING PROCEDURE
SURFACES: All surfaces that are likely to have been touched (inc., tables, sideboards, doorbell, handles, chairs, cushions, floor space etc), will be sprayed with disinfectant between each client. All glasses and mugs will be rinsed with boiling water and thoroughly washed between uses.
OBJECTS: Any small objects (toys, pens, ornaments) used in therapy sessions/services will be placed into the designated ‘dirty box’ by the client. This is a multi-coloured crate located near the therapy room’s fire exit. All items that are able to be sanitised with disinfectant will be sanitised by the therapist at the end of the day. Items that are more difficult to sanitise (older items, books, cards etc.) will be quarantined in the office for 72 hours between uses.
VENTILATION: As the space does not have exterior windows, the rooms will be ventilated between appointments. For this reason, the front door of the building may be open when you arrive, however as stated, please do not enter through the café. An air purifier will be used during sessions/services to add ventilation to the space. A UV light will be utilised when the space is due to be empty for at least 8 hours (for safety reasons) to further sanitise the area in preparation for the next day.
ONLINE WORKING & PHONE SESSIONS
Bristol Dramatherapy Ltd now offers online and phone therapy sessions, either by default or in place of face-to-face sessions. These are offered at the same appointment times, duration and charge rate as face-to-face sessions.
NOTICE: The client may request an online/phone appointment with the therapist for any reason. The therapist requests that a minimum of 15 minutes notice is given via phone call before the service/session is due to start. If notice is not provided, the therapist may need time to set up during the allotted time, in which case the appointment will still need to end on time and will be charged at the same rate.
ALTERING SESSIONS: If the therapist needs to move a session/service online due to their need to isolate, they will notify clients as soon as they become aware. The client can accept an online or phone appointment or ask to reschedule/increase duration of another session at a date agreed by both parties. In this instance, if the therapist has given less than 48hrs notice before the time the session/service was due to start, the client may also choose to cancel the appointment without being charged. However, if the therapist previously confirms the need to alter/reschedule the session/service with the client and gives more than 48hrs notice, before the client cancels at a later date within the given 48hr notice period, the client will still be charged in accordance with the cancellation policy.
ONLINE SESSION PLATFORM: The online sessions/services will take place via a Zoom link provided by the therapist, unless alternate arrangements have been agreed beforehand by both parties.
PHONE SESSIONS: Phone sessions/services are to be agreed by both parties. The client must phone the therapist on 0770 332 7330 at the agreed time, to indicate they are ready for their appointment to start.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidentiality will be observed during online/phone sessions/services as it would during face-to-face appointments. During these online sessions/services, the therapist will be in the office of the Bristol Dramatherapy Space, or in certain circumstances (e.g., technical issues/isolating), in their personal home office, as both are confidential spaces. As with face-to-face sessions/services, these will not be recorded aside from the therapist’s standard notetaking unless agreed by both parties and aids the therapeutic process.
BUILDING POLICIES
Our therapy room is situated within The Bromley Building, which is shared with a small, independent café.
ENTRANCE: Please do not enter the building through our entrance if you are not visiting Bristol Dramatherapy Ltd at that time (i.e., visiting the building to use the café only).
CAFÉ: The kitchen/counter area is only accessible to café staff. It is also not permissible to enter the café’ area (past the welsh dresser) when the café is closed, unless participating in an emergency exit.
BELONGINGS: Please do not leave any belongings outside of The Bristol Dramatherapy Space (apart from locking bikes etc securely in the courtyard), as the therapist cannot be held responsible for them, and they may block fire exit routes.
HEALTH & SAFETY: Please follow the health and safety and fire safety procedures and guidance set out by the therapist and signage during your visit.
INSURANCE, PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION AND TRAINING
QUALIFICATIONS: Laura Hurkett (the therapist) holds an MA in Drama and Movement Therapy from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London) and undergoes regular continued professional development relevant to their practice.
REGISTRATION: Laura Hurkett is registered as a therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) & works within the codes of practice set out by both the HCPC and The British Association of Dramatherapists.
CERTIFICATES: The therapist is trained in Health and Safety, First Aid (including CPR) and Fire Safety. They also hold a clear DBS check.
INSURANCE: The therapist holds their own Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
PARENTS & MINORS
Legally, children are not given the same rights as adults in regard to confidentiality from their parent/legal guardian when undergoing treatment in therapy. However, Bristol Dramatherapy Ltd feels that appropriate confidentiality between therapist and client, no matter what age, is crucial to client safety, building trust, cooperation and effectiveness of treatment.
I therefore ask parents to agree to the following confidentiality policies before treating a client:
CONSENTING TO THERAPY: In most cases, parental consent to treatment must be given for all individuals under 18 years of age. According to the Department of Health, in specific cases regarding individuals 16yrs of age and over, treatment may be given with sole consent of the client if the client shows competency to make decisions in regard to their treatment.
UNDER 13 YRS OF AGE In providing therapy to a child under 13yrs of age, the child must agree that whatever information the therapist considers necessary can be shared with a parent/legal guardian when appropriate to do so.
OVER 13 YRS OF AGE In providing therapy to a child 13yrs of age and older, if a client demonstrates competency in making decisions for themselves, an agreement must be made with all parties, allowing the therapist to share general information regarding progress and attendance with a parent/legal guardian. All other communication will be on a need-to-know basis, and will require the child’s agreement, unless the therapist feels there is a safety or wellbeing concern. In such cases, the therapist will make every effort to notify the child of any intention to disclose information and make every effort to handle any objections that are raised.
OVER 16 YRS OF AGE In providing therapy to a child 16yrs of age or older, if a client demonstrates competency in making decisions for themselves, an agreement must be made with all parties that even if parental consent has been given to undergo therapy, any further information shared (excluding attendance if the therapy is funded by the parent/guardian) will require the child’s agreement, unless the therapist feels there is a safety or wellbeing concern. In such cases, the therapist will make every effort to notify the child of any intention to disclose information and make every effort to handle any objections that are raised.
