Counselling agreement template
A counselling agreement sets out how a counsellor and client will work together: the type, length and place of sessions, fees and cancellations, the limits of confidentiality, records, contact between sessions and how therapy ends. This version includes optional terms for online or telephone sessions and the 14-day right to cancel, with the model cancellation form. It is agreed with each new client before the first session, with the counsellor, client, fee and arrangements different each time.
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What changes each time
27 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
The counsellor and practice
- Counsellor's name and qualifications
- Practice name
- Practice address
- Practice phone
- Practice email
- Professional body and membership number
The client
- Client's full name
- Client's address
- Client's phone
- Client's email
- Emergency contact
- GP name and practice
The sessions
- Type of therapy
- Length of each session
- Frequency
- Where
- Number of sessions
Fees and cancellation
- Fee per session
- How the fee is paid
- Notice for free cancellation
- Notice of fee change
- Email or address for cancelling
Records and signatures
- Notes storage
- Retention period
- Privacy notice link
- Telephone number for reconnecting
- Date signed
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- One of several wordings
“Sessions are either a set number with a review, or open-ended with a review every set number of sessions.”
For an open-ended arrangement, the agreement says a review happens every six sessions.
- One of several wordings
“The place of sessions is at the practice, online by a named platform, or by telephone.”
For online sessions, the platform is named and the online terms are included.
- One of several wordings
“Health information is used either with the client's explicit consent or under the health or social care condition.”
When the counsellor relies on explicit consent, the tick box appears.
- Only when…
“Include the online and telephone terms and the 14-day right to cancel only if the agreement is made or delivered that way.”
When the agreement is made by email, the cancellation section and model form appear.
- One of several wordings
“The professional body line says the counsellor is either registered or accredited.”
A BACP accredited member's line says accredited and gives the membership number.
Questions people ask
Do counsellors need a written contract?
It is not a legal requirement for every case, but professional bodies such as the BACP expect a clear agreement about fees, confidentiality and boundaries before work begins, and it helps both sides.
What are the limits of confidentiality?
Counselling is confidential, with limited exceptions such as a serious risk of harm to the client or someone else, harm to a child or an adult at risk, a legal duty to disclose, or a court order. The agreement sets these out so the client knows before they start.
Does consumer law give a client a cancellation right?
Where the agreement is made online, by phone or away from the practice, the Consumer Contracts Regulations generally give a 14-day right to cancel, with a proportionate charge if sessions start earlier at the client's request.
Are counselling notes special category data?
Yes, information about health is special category data under the UK GDPR. The agreement explains how notes are kept, for how long, and how the client can see them or complain.
Can I use my own counselling agreement?
Yes. Upload your own Word or PDF version and DocuWeave turns it into a template in your wording, with the same kind of rules and the same filling from paperwork.
Use this template
It opens in DocuWeave as a template you can check, change and publish. Nothing is used until you do.