Information, Terms & Conditions

The Therapist

I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). I am bound by its code of ethics and practice and subject to its complaint's procedure. I am also accredited in CBT with the BABCP.

I work within the ethical and professional frameworks of my relevant regulatory bodies (HCPC and BABCP). I do not guarantee specific outcomes from therapy or assessment.

I work in a person-centred and formulation driven way (i.e. led by the understanding of the individual's needs). I will seek to establish a safe 'therapeutic relationship' in order to help you work through your difficulties. I have experience and competence in CBT, EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Compassion Focused therapy and narrative approaches.

Risks & Advantages of Therapy & Assessment

Through therapy or assessment clients/patients learn things about themselves, that they may previously not have realised. There may be a chance that during or after a session, the client/patient may feel emotionally or physically distressed. This can be normal and is often part of one's healing process. Therapy can help in developing one's personal insights, to find ways of coping and addressing problems.

There is no firm timeline for this progress. However, through a positive therapeutic alliance between the client/patient and the therapist, the progress is more likely. A therapy's success shall depend both on the efforts of the therapist and the client/patient.

Suitability of Services

Services are not suitable for:

Crisis situations
Immediate risk of harm to self or others

In a crisis or emergency that needs immediate attention, whereby you are considering seriously harming yourself or someone else, please call the 999 or go to an Accident & Emergency (A&E).

Session Length & Payment

For therapy, there is no specific determination on how many sessions are needed by a client/patient as this may depend on the progress of said client/patient and this can be discussed with your therapist at the initial assessment. An initial assessment session, with a brief formulation (understanding of difficulties) at the end, is required before beginning work. Each session will be 50 minutes in length unless otherwise arranged, the fifty minutes will commence from diarised time and will be weekly/fortnightly as arranged.

I am able to work with approved health insurance providers where prior authorisation has been obtained. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure:

Their policy covers the sessions
Authorisation is in place before treatment begins
Any shortfall, excess, or non-covered fees must be paid directly

Diagnostic Assessments

An initial screening appointment, from which a clinical design regarding whether a full assessment for autism is offered in the first instance. The cost of this screening, which involves gathering evidence (with consent) from other sources prior to appointment, is £275.

A full autism assessment is carried out by at least two professionals and involving specialist screening tools, a comprehensive developmental history and a specialist gold standard observational assessment (the ADOS) is £1850. There is no specific determination on how many sessions are needed to complete this assessment, however, the process is designed to be both thorough and time efficient.

Payment for diagnostic assessments is required in full, prior to booking.

Outstanding Payments for therapy and assessment

If payments fall into arrears:
- Future appointments may be postponed or paused until the account is brought up to date.

Non-Payment

In cases where payment is not received:
- The matter may be referred to our credit control process
- A credit controller may contact you directly to arrange payment
- Further action may be taken if necessary

Session Cancellations

At times sessions may need to be re-arranged or cancelled by either party. We request that at least 24 hours' notice be given prior to cancellation. Any notice under 24 hours will incur the full fee charge. In the event that I am not able to provide you a session due to sickness, I will endeavour to give plenty of notice and arrange an alternative time with you.

Please note that you may cease therapy sessions at any point, however, I request that where possible you provide one week's notice and we meet for one session following your decision. This is deemed important in order to have a positive and proper therapeutic ending.

I will not see you if you are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Relationship

The required relationship that a client/patient should have with his/her therapist is strictly professional. Any other relationship, such as business or personal relationships that a client/patient may have with a therapist may prevent or undermine the effectiveness of the treatment.

Confidentiality

Sessions between the therapist and the client/patient are strictly confidential. I will need to discuss my work with my supervisor. I will use your initials but not any other identifying information about you when discussing you in the supervision context.

On the rare occasions (or when requested by yourself) that information needs to be shared with other health professionals, this will only happen by seeking your permission and knowledge of what is being discussed.

If I believe you will cause serious physical harm to yourself or another person, then I will not be able to retain confidentiality and will need to inform my supervisor and your doctor and/or other relevant professionals. Confidentiality would be broken in the event of a breach of national security.

I am committed to offering good practice. My insurance includes personal indemnity and public liability. In case you have any questions regarding confidentiality, please discuss this with your therapist. Confidentiality will be discussed and handled sensitively.

Privacy Statement and Data Protection

I am registered with the ICO (Information and Commissioners Office) which means I need to tell you what data I am collecting from you and what I intend to do with it.

What data do I need to keep and why do I need it?

Name, date of birth - this basic information I need to get to know you for therapy and assessment.
Address, email address, phone number - this will be used as a way of contacting you for your sessions and for requesting payments. I will use your preferred method of contact. If this is not successful, and contact is urgent, I will use other methods
Doctors’ details, next of kin and health insurance details - these details are taken with your permission. In line with BPS (British Psychological Society) code of conduct, I will only contact your next of kin/doctor if I believe you are at risk or if you request me to share information. I may require your health insurance details if payment for sessions is coming from this source.
Session notes - these are there primarily as a record of attendance, to help me recall my work for following sessions and to record specific incidents (such as contacting your doctor). These notes are anonymised and kept separately from contact data.

Who will I share data with and for what purpose?

I will not sell your data, or use it for unethical reasons. I may have to share information if my notes are subpoenaed by court. If you or anyone you tell me about is subject to a safeguarding issue, I may have to pass this information of to the GP, social care or the police.

How will I store your data?

Your data will be kept on my password protected laptop. Any session notes that are handwritten will be stored in a locked filing cabinet, and typed in a password protected file. Personal data, will be stored on one form and in a password protected file, this will be kept separate from anonymised session notes.

How long will I store your data for and how will I dispose of it?

I comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Session data, and your name and signed consent will retained for the legally required period. Clinical records are retained in line with legal and professional guidance, typically:

Adults: at least 7 years after last contact
Children: until age 25 (or longer where required)

Financial records are retained for statutory accounting periods.

You may request access to your records in writing, subject to legal and ethical limitations.

If you are not happy with the way I use your data, you can complain to the ICO at www.ico.org.uk or phone them on 0303 1231113.

Use of AI (Artificial Intelligence)

I (Dr Clare Evans, Into the Light Therapy Dorset), am committed to providing you with exceptional, and confidential care. To enhance the quality of my service and manage practice operations efficiently, at times I utilise certain artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Use of AI in my practice is always risk assessed and GDPR complaint.

How I Use AI Tools

I may use AI-supported technologies for the following tasks:

Practice Administration: Drafting anonymous routine communications, and organizing practice resources.
Clinical Preparation: Brainstorming broad psychoeducational materials, worksheets, therapeutic exercises or to support in communicating a clinical idea succinctly.

All AI outputs are rigorously reviewed and edited to ensure clinical appropriateness and accuracy before use.

Where AI is never used

No personal identifiable data or information, is ever put through AI. I do not use AI to aid with clinical documentation of session notes. Your privacy is paramount.

AI is not used to make diagnostic decisions, and it cannot replace the empathy, clinical judgment, and human connection fundamental to therapy.

Complaints

Complaints Procedure – [Dr Clare Evans – Into the Light Therapy Dorset]

Purpose

I am committed to providing a safe, respectful, and professional service. If you are unhappy with any aspect of your experience, I encourage you to let me know so I can address your concerns promptly and fairly.

Under the Data (Use and Access) Act, all UK organisations are legally required to have an internal data protection complaints process as part of their complaints system. If you believe that I have infringed data protection legislation because of the way I have handled your personal information (or the personal information of someone you are acting on behalf of), please do submit a complaint.

How to Make a Complaint

Informal Resolution: If you feel comfortable, please raise the issue directly with me as soon as possible. Many concerns can be resolved quickly through open discussion.

Formal Complaint: If you prefer, or if the matter is not resolved informally, you can submit a written complaint via email to: clare.evans27@outlook.com
If you are concerned about how your data has been handled, please contact me in the first instance but you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): www.ico.org.uk

What to Include in Your Complaint

Your name and contact details
Appropriate ID – such as a driving licence or passport to confirm your identity
If you are complaining on behalf of someone else; please provide proof that you are approved to do so. For example providing:

an appropriate power of attorney; or
a signed letter of authority from the person they are acting on behalf of.

Date(s) of the incident(s)

A clear description of your concern

Any supporting evidence (if applicable)

The outcome you are seeking

What Happens Next

I will acknowledge your complaint within a maximum of 30 days, although generally a response will be given much quicker.
Acknowledgement: If the complaint is received electronically or via post, I will confirm receipt of your complaint via an acknowledgement in writing. If I receive a complaint verbally (e.g. over the phone or face-to-face), I will acknowledge this verbally by summarising the complaint back to you to check understanding and request your preferred contact method for receiving updates and obtain contact details. With all complaints, I will confirm that I will be in touch to provide updates; and follow this up in writing (even if I have acknowledged it verbally).

Investigation: I will review your concerns, which may involve discussing the matter with you and, if relevant, other parties. I will investigate without any undue delays; gathering the relevant facts thoroughly, fairly and accurately. I will compare the information from the complaint with the information I hold; check my own terms, policies and standards. If I am unsure sure what the complaint is about, I will ask for more information as quickly as possible. I will keep you updated on the progress of the investigation, with timeframes given where appropriate.
Response: You will receive a written response within 30 days. If more time is needed, I will inform you and explain why. Within this response, I will explain what I have done to resolve the complaint (including data protection complaints) and, where appropriate, any actions I have taken as a result. For data protection complaints, where compliance with data protection law is evident, I will explain this in detail. For all complaint responses, I will provide enough information to help you understand how I have reached my conclusion.

If You’re Not Satisfied

If you feel your complaint has not been resolved, you may escalate it to my professional bodies:

HCPC – Health and Care Professionals Council, https://www.hcpc-uk.org/contact-us/
BABCP – British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies – telephone number - 0330 320 0851, Email: complaints@babcp.com

You can also submit complaints about data protection to the ICO at www.ico.org.uk or phone them on 0303 1231113.

Confidentiality

All complaints will be handled sensitively and in line with data protection laws. Information will only be shared with those directly involved in resolving the matter.

Record Keeping

I will keep a confidential record of all complaints for monitoring and service improvement purposes.

Termination of services

I reserve the right to end services if:

Therapy is no longer clinically appropriate
Boundaries or terms are repeatedly breached
Fees remain unpaid

Where possible, I will discuss this with you and offer appropriate signposting.

Limitation of Liability

Dr Clare Evans, Into the Light Therapy Dorset is not liable for:

Indirect or consequential losses
Outcomes beyond reasonable professional control

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence.

Changes to these Terms

I may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time. The most current version will be available on my website: https://www.intothelighttherapydorset.com/

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Questions

For questions or concerns, you may get in touch with via email at clare.evans27@outlook.com

Consent

Clients/patients will be provided with a hard copy of the above terms and conditions, in the form of an information and consent form, for their review and agreement.

For clients under 18:

Consent must be provided by a person with parental responsibility
In some circumstances, clinicians may work directly with a young person under Gillick competence principles