Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions explain the counselling services provided by Paul Madden, a BACP-accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, through Private Counselling Online.

They outline important information about appointments, fees, confidentiality, cancellations and how counselling is provided, whether your sessions take place online, by telephone or in person.

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before booking your initial consultation or ongoing counselling sessions. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Disclaimer

Private Counselling Online offers professional counselling and psychotherapy to support emotional wellbeing, personal growth and mental health.

Information provided on this website, by email or during counselling sessions is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a GP, psychiatrist or other medical professional.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or medical emergency, please contact your GP, call 999 or access appropriate emergency support services.

While counselling can be highly beneficial, specific outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Each person’s experience of therapy is unique, and progress varies from person to person.

I do not provide medical, legal or financial advice.

Paul Madden works within the BACP Ethical Framework and relevant UK law.

Appointments

Counselling sessions last 50 minutes and are available online, by telephone or in person.

Online sessions can take place via WriteUpp Platform. Telephone sessions are also available.

In-person appointments take place in a private, comfortable counselling room in Ashford, Kent.

Appointments are arranged in advance at a mutually agreed time.

For online and telephone sessions, clients are responsible for attending from a private, quiet space where they feel able to speak openly. Where possible, please ensure you have a reliable internet or telephone connection to minimise interruptions during your session.

How Therapy Works

Free Introductory Call (Optional)

A free 15-minute introductory call is available for anyone who would like to briefly ask questions or discuss whether counselling feels right for them before booking an assessment session.

There is no obligation to continue afterwards.

Initial Assessment Session

The initial consultation and assessment lasts 50 minutes and costs £60, whether you choose to attend online or in person.

This first session gives us an opportunity to explore:

What has brought you to counselling
Your current difficulties and circumstances
The support you are looking for
Your goals and hopes for counselling
Whether working together feels like the right fit

The session also gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and decide, without any obligation, whether you would like to continue with ongoing counselling.

Ongoing Counselling Sessions

Ongoing counselling sessions last 50 minutes.

Online or Telephone Counselling: £60 per session
In-Person Counselling: £75 per session

Sessions are usually offered on a weekly basis, although fortnightly appointments or alternative arrangements can be discussed where appropriate to meet your individual needs and circumstances.

Fees & Payment

Payment arrangements vary depending on the type of appointment:

Online and telephone sessions must be paid for in advance via the online booking system, unless otherwise agreed.
In-person sessions can be paid at the end of the appointment by card.

Current fees are:

Initial Consultation & Assessment (50 minutes): £60 (Online or In Person)
Online or Telephone Counselling (50 minutes): £60
In-Person Counselling (50 minutes): £75

Fees are reviewed periodically. If any changes are made, existing clients will always be given reasonable notice before the new fees take effect.

Block Bookings

For clients who wish to commit to ongoing counselling, discounted block booking packages are available. Booking sessions in advance can support continuity, consistency and steady therapeutic progress, while also offering a reduced overall cost.

Online & Telephone Counselling

6 Sessions: £345
12 Sessions: £675

In-Person Counselling

6 Sessions: £435
12 Sessions: £840

Block bookings must be paid in full before the first session in the package.

Once a block booking has begun, it is non-refundable, except where required by law or in exceptional circumstances at my discretion.

Full details of the block booking terms, including cancellations and validity periods, will be provided before purchase.

Cancellations & Missed Sessions

At least 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or rearrange a session.

Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, will usually be charged at the full session fee.

Exceptions may occasionally be made in emergencies or exceptional circumstances at my discretion.

Confidentiality

Everything discussed within counselling sessions is treated confidentially and with respect.

Confidentiality may only be broken where:

there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or another person
safeguarding concerns arise involving a child or vulnerable adult
disclosure is required by law

Wherever possible, this would always be discussed openly with you first.

Clinical Supervision

As a BACP-accredited therapist, I attend regular professional clinical supervision.

This is a standard ethical requirement designed to support safe and effective practice.

Discussions within supervision remain confidential, and identifying details are removed wherever possible.

Data Protection (GDPR)

I comply fully with:

UK GDPR
The Data Protection Act 2018
The BACP Ethical Framework

Personal information is:

collected lawfully and transparently
stored securely
accessed only when professionally necessary
used solely for the purpose of providing counselling services

You have the right to:

request access to your data
request corrections to inaccurate information
withdraw consent where applicable
lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Boundaries & Contact Between Sessions

Counselling is a professional therapeutic relationship, and clear boundaries help protect both client and therapist.

Contact between sessions should be limited to practical or administrative matters such as booking, cancellations or scheduling.

Therapeutic discussions are best brought into scheduled sessions.

Ending Therapy

Clients are free to end counselling at any time.

Where possible, a final session is encouraged to allow space for reflection and ending the work safely and thoughtfully.

I also reserve the right to end counselling where therapy is no longer appropriate, safe or beneficial.

Crisis Support

Private Counselling Online is not a crisis or emergency service, and I am not available outside scheduled appointments.

If you are in immediate distress or require urgent support, please contact emergency or crisis services.

If you are in the UK:

Call 999
Contact your GP
Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours)
Shout Crisis Text Line: text SHOUT to 85258

International crisis helplines can be found here.

Contact

If you have questions about these terms or the counselling process, please get in touch:

📧 paul@PrivateCounsellingOnline.com