In his practice, already in the first meeting with the client to establish clear boundaries, I always offer to enter into a therapeutic contract. A verbal agreement between me and the client, in which we clearly defined the following:
- the location of our meetings;
- the time (the beginning of the meeting and its duration);
- the frequency of meetings and the number;
- payment for the session (amount and payment terms).
Additionally, I always stipulate the following.
Delay.
If the client is late, he does so at the expense of their time.
At pass and transfers of meetings, you need not less than a day to warn me, if you do not have time to do it in advance, missed appointments are PAID.
These terms work both ways. If I, for whatever reason, cancel the session with the client in less than a day, next time we work with him without pay. If I'm late, we started late, I suggest to the client or this time to finish the later session (session time 50 min) or to increase her time.
interruption or termination of the therapeutic work.
In this case, the client always COMES to the clinic and completes our already established therapeutic Alliance. This is very important! Eco-friendly (healthy) ending a relationship and assimilation of new experiences is an integral part of psychotherapy.
confidentiality.
the Most important moment for me in working with the client. In order to psychotherapy was successful and took place at all, I always abide by this rule. Confidentiality with the client from the therapist, is, in my opinion, an important criterion for the emergence and further maintenance of TRUST between the participants of therapy.
Who is responsible for therapy?
I always share with the client the responsibility for the therapy 50%/50%. For what is happening (or not happening) in the process, meet both, the client and therapist. It is therefore very important to talk to each other about what's going on in contact, to identify feelings, talk about their expectations of the therapist, etc.
Psychotherapy is a complicated and sometimes quite lengthy process, it takes a lot of resources on the part of each participant, both client and therapist. This is an important point, I always refer my clients, so I try to give them some responsibility for themselves, their choices and their actions.
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