What is a Counselling Agreement?

It may feel a bit unusual or confusing to receive a contract within the therapeutic relationship. We can have this idea that contracts are usually relevant to a business transaction, a sale or service, and whilst a Counsellor is providing a service - it is a very personal relationship full of depth, empathy, mutual trust and honesty. It is a very human encounter and the therapeutic relationships we develop can bring a deeper sense of meaning, purpose and belonging to our lives. However it is from the depth of these encounters that we find the counselling agreement. The counselling agreement offers stable and secure roots from which the trunk or body of our relationship can grow and eventually blossom and fruit.

The contract forms part of the therapeutic holding container. When in the counselling space together I offer myself to you, I sit with you and listen, listen to lots of big feelings and processes and that requires a holding space, somebody to sit and walk alongside you to support you in holding some of these big things whilst we make sense of them together. The agreement forms part of that holding, it is a foundation where we each understand the expectations and boundaries of the relationship and this transparency can help to provide a sense of safety.

The agreement shines a light on what you can expect from the relationship and what your role is within the space. The things in a counselling agreement relating to your role might be, how to communicate absences and holidays, an agreed appointment time, a commitment to your process, a willingness to explore any worries or concerns about the work with the Counsellor and cancellation and payment policies. The things relating to what you can expect from your Counsellor may include session length, contact between sessions, counsellor holidays, confidentiality, data protection, ethical frameworks and complaint procedures. The aim is to offer a mutual understanding and break down some of the potential power imbalances so that we can feel safe to explore those depths together.

Counselling agreements are never set in stone and can often be negotiated or re-negotiated between Counsellor and client depending on your individual needs (physically, emotionally or spiritually) and also as the relationship grows and develops. A copy of the counselling agreement can be seen here.