Client Consent
What you agree to before your first session, and your rights.
This Client Consent explains what you agree to when you begin counselling or therapy with Chum Wellness. Please read it before your first session. By booking and attending a session, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms below. If anything is unclear, you are welcome to ask your therapist before you continue.
1. Voluntary participation
Counselling at Chum Wellness is entirely voluntary. You may ask questions at any time, decline to discuss any topic, and stop or pause therapy whenever you choose. Your decision to seek support is your own, and you remain in control of the process throughout.
2. The nature of counselling
Counselling is a collaborative process that can help you understand and manage emotional, relational and psychological difficulties. Outcomes vary from person to person, and no specific result can be guaranteed. Therapy may at times bring up uncomfortable emotions as part of the work. Your therapist will discuss goals and approach with you and adjust as needed.
3. Confidentiality and its limits
What you share in sessions is kept confidential and is not disclosed without your consent. There are a few legal and ethical exceptions where a therapist may need to act to protect safety, for example when there is a serious and imminent risk of harm to you or another person, where a child or vulnerable person may be at risk, or where disclosure is required by law. Your therapist will, wherever possible, discuss any such step with you first. For full details, see our Confidentiality page.
4. Online and telehealth sessions
Many sessions are delivered online by video or audio. You consent to receiving counselling remotely and understand that a private, quiet space and a stable internet connection help protect your confidentiality and the quality of the session. While we take reasonable steps to keep online sessions secure, no internet platform can be guaranteed completely free of technical or privacy risk.
5. Your data and privacy
Session records and personal information are stored securely and used only to provide and manage your care. We do not sell your data. For how your information is collected, used and protected, please read our Privacy Policy.
6. Fees, booking and cancellation
Session fees are shown at the time of booking. If you need to reschedule or cancel, please give as much notice as possible so the slot can be offered to someone else. See our Pricing and Refund Policy for details.
7. Consent for children and adolescents
For clients under 18, a parent or legal guardian provides consent for counselling. The therapist will balance the young person’s need for a safe, trusting space with appropriate updates to parents or guardians, and will explain how this works at the start.
8. In an emergency
Chum Wellness is not an emergency or crisis service and does not provide immediate crisis response. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call the national emergency number 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department right away.
9. Your rights
- To be treated with respect, without judgement or discrimination.
- To ask about your therapist’s approach, and to understand the goals of therapy.
- To decline any intervention and to withdraw consent at any time.
- To confidentiality within the limits described above.
- To raise a concern about your care and have it addressed.
Your agreement
By booking and attending a session with Chum Wellness, you confirm that you have read and understood this Client Consent and agree to it. If you have any questions, please contact us through our Contact page before your session.