Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy Services
Terms & Conditions
Welcome to The Blue Lotus Practice. By booking and attending sessions, you agree to the following terms and conditions. Please read carefully before starting therapy.
Nature of Service
Therapy at The Blue Lotus Practice is offered by qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who are members of professional bodies such as the BACP/UKCP/BPS.
Therapists are also working towards their doctorate in counselling psychology, along with a Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) registration and chartered status with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Sessions are provided either online (Telehealth by default) or in person (by arrangement only).
Therapy is not a substitute for medical treatment, psychiatric care, or emergency support.
New Clients:
New clients are required to begin with an initial assessment (see booking terms below). This provides the practice with an opportunity to understand needs, gather relevant background information, and plan the most suitable therapeutic approach moving forward.
Individual Psychotherapy: One initial assessment is required (unless further sessions are deemed necessary) before ongoing sessions can commence.
Couples Therapy: Each partner is required to book their own individual initial assessment separately. Couples will then attend sessions together, starting from the second session.
Special Services: For in-person sessions, home visits, bespoke services, and concessionary rate sessions, please contact the practice directly.
Initial Assessments booking terms:
Each booking is for one Initial Assessment session only.
Booking an Initial Assessment does not guarantee ongoing therapy. A decision about next steps will be made collaboratively following the assessment.
Couples should book an initial assessment session separately, using their own details.
Appointments are subject to availability at the time of booking.
Cancellations must be made with at least 7 days' notice to receive a full refund.
Cancellations made with less than 7 days’ notice, or failure to attend the appointment, are non-refundable.
If you arrive late, the session will still end at the scheduled time, and no partial refunds will be given. If lateness prevents us from completing the Initial Assessment, you may be required to book and pay for an additional session to complete the process.
Beginning Therapy
After your Initial Assessment, a decision will be made regarding whether The Blue Lotus Practice can support you or whether you will be referred to a more appropriate service.
Once accepted, you may proceed with your first therapy session. Please choose a day and time that suits you, as this will become your reserved weekly slot moving forward.
Before therapy begins, you will be issued a Therapy Agreement to read and sign.
Therapy is a long-term process, and by booking ongoing sessions, you are committing to engage consistently, allowing time and space for meaningful work to unfold.
Sessions and Fees
Standard session fees are agreed at the time of booking.
Sessions booked via the website are paid for at the point of sale via our secure booking system (Zanda), which uses Stripe as the payment provider.
As per the Therapy Agreement, Stripe will securely store your card details for ongoing charges for subsequent therapy sessions. These details are encrypted and not visible to The Blue Lotus Practice or any staff.
Stripe is an industry-standard provider, meeting the highest levels of data security and compliance. You can read more at Stripe Security and Stripe Privacy Policy.
We offer a limited number of concessionary rate slots (from £40) for those on a low income, seniors, and students (subject to availability).
Payment and Charges
For initial assessments and session:
Payment is processed at the point of sale via our secure booking system (Zanda), which uses Stripe as the payment provider. Appointments are subject to availability at the time of booking.
At least 7 days’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a session without charge.
Sessions cancelled with less than 7 days’ notice, or missed without notice, will be charged in full.
Late arrivals will be charged the full amount.
Exceptions may be made in the case of NHS emergency appointments (proof required) or emergencies, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
For ongoing therapy sessions:
A regular time slot on the same day will be reserved for you every week to support progress and continuity.
Sessions are pay-as-you-go, and your stored card will be charged approximately 48 hours before each session.
If payment has not cleared within 24 hours before the session, the appointment will be cancelled, but still be owed.
Unsettled bills may result in discharge from the practice.
Clients must ensure that sufficient funds are available each week for payment to be processed.
At least 7 days’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a session without charge.
Sessions cancelled with less than 7 days’ notice, or missed without notice, will be charged in full.
Late arrivals will be charged the full amount.
Exceptions may be made in the case of NHS emergency appointments (proof required) or emergencies, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
If you do not contact your therapist within 48 hours of an unplanned missed session, you will be discharged.
Holidays and Absences
Clients may take up to 5 holiday sessions per calendar year, with a maximum of 2 consecutive sessions.
Therapists will provide as much notice as possible of their own absences.
Confidentiality and Data
Sessions are confidential. Your therapist may discuss your work anonymously in supervision to ensure best practice.
Confidentiality may be broken if:
there is a serious risk of harm to you or others,
we are required by law to disclose information, or
your GP needs to be informed of significant risk to self.
You will be notified of this breach in advance, unless there are concerns about harm or risk.
Notes and records are stored securely in line with GDPR and our [Privacy Policy].
Communication
Communication outside of sessions is limited to practical matters such as scheduling or cancellations.
We may contact you by phone, text, voicemail, or email for administrative purposes.
Practitioners do not communicate with clients via personal phone numbers; all contact is managed via Zanda.
Crisis and Emergencies
The Blue Lotus Practice is not a crisis service.
If you are in immediate danger or unable to keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
You can also contact Samaritans (116 123) or text SHOUT (85258) for 24/7 support.
Safety Planning and Risk
Your safety is our utmost priority. As part of our ethical responsibility, we must assess when risks can be managed within the practice and when it may be in your best interests to be referred to other services better equipped to provide the necessary support.
If your therapist identifies that you may be at risk, they will work with you to create a safety plan. This will take priority over continuing therapy.
Transparency is essential: your therapist will need accurate and honest information from you in order to gauge risk appropriately and to support you accordingly.
If you decline to participate in safety planning, you may be discharged and referred to other services better equipped to support your needs.
In some circumstances, it may be agreed that your therapist will contact an emergency contact or crisis service to support your safety.
Providing up-to-date emergency contact information and your current location (for Telehealth sessions) is essential to ensure we can act if urgent help is required.
All actions taken in relation to safety planning are guided by professional ethical standards and a duty of care.
Termination of Therapy
You may end therapy at any time by giving at least 7 days’ notice.
Your therapist may suggest ending therapy or referring you to another service if they believe your needs are beyond the scope of what can be offered.
Clients who fail to contact their therapist within 48 hours of missing a scheduled session without prior notice may be discharged from the service.
Complaints
If you have a concern, please raise it with your therapist in the first instance.
If unresolved, you may contact The Blue Lotus Practice directly at therapy@thebluelotuspractice.com.
Therapists are members of professional bodies (BACP/UKCP/BPS), and you may also contact these organisations if necessary.
Acceptance of Terms
By booking and attending sessions at The Blue Lotus Practice, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
Policies
Here you can find The Blue Lotus Practice’s key policies, which outline how we work, how we protect your information, and how we keep our services safe and ethical. Please note that policies may be updated from time to time, so we encourage you to check back here for the most up-to-date version
➡️ Disclaimer
➡️ Record keeping and retention policy
➡️ Complaints Policy & Procedure
➡️ Cancellation & Refund Policy
