Open 2 Talk Counselling
Addiction CBT and Domestic Abuse Counselling Services
CRISIS HELPLINES & RESOURCES
Crisis Lines and Resources
In a Crisis…
General mental health helplines
Samaritans
Samaritans offer a listening service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Samaritans also have a Welsh language phone line open every day between 7pm - 11pm: 0808 164 0123.
Mind
Mind offers advice on mental health problems and where to get help Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm except bank holidays. Call 0300 123 3393, email: info@mind.org.uk or use their webchat.
Shout
Shout is an anonymous, free mental health text support service, available 24/7. Text 'shout' to 85258.
SANEline
SANEline offers support and information from 4pm - 10pm on 0300 304 7000. You can also email support@sane.org.uk.
Switchboard
Switchboard is an LGBT+ support line, open from 10am - 10pm. Call 0800 0119 100 or chat online (from 2pm).
The Silver Line
The Silver Line is open 24/7 for over 55s looking for support. Call 0800 470 8090.
Young Minds
Young Minds offer a text support service for young people, 24/7. Text YM to 85258.
If you’re a parent worried about a young person, you can call Young Mind’s parent helpline on 0808 802 5544 from 9:30am - 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Childline
Childline is a confidential line for children to call if they need help or advice about any topic. You can call 0800 1111 from 7:30am - 3:30am - Monday to Friday and 9am - 3:30am Saturday to Sunday. You can access one-to-one counselling from 7:30am to midnight Monday to Friday and 9am to midnight Saturday to Sunday. You can also send emails by signing into your Childline Locker.
Abuse helplines
Refuge
Refuge supports those who have experienced domestic violence by offering refugees and recovery services. You can speak to them any time, day or night on 0808 200 0247.
The Survivors Trust
The Survivors Trust aims to support and empower survivors of rape, sexual violence and/or childhood sexual abuse. You can reach them on 0808 801 0818 Monday to Thursday from 10am - 12:30pm, 1:30pm - 5:30pm and 6pm - 8pm, Fridays from 10am - 12:30pm and 1:30pm - 5:30pm, Saturday from 10am - 1pm, and Sunday from 5pm - 8pm. You can also email them at helpline@thesurvivorstrust.org.
Respect Men’s Advice Line
Respect Men’s Advice Line is a helpline for male victims of domestic abuse. You can call 0808 801 0327 Monday to Friday from 10am - 8pm or email info@mensadviceline.org.uk Monday to Friday from 10am - 8pm. You can also access their web chat support Wednesday from 10am - 11:30am and 2:30pm - 4pm.
NSPCC
The NSPCC offers support to those worried about a child. You can call 0808 800 5000 (currently this is temporarily unavailable, do check NSPCC website for up to date information) or email help@nspcc.org.uk. If you are under 18 and need help, call Childline on 0800 1111.
Hourglass
Hourglass offers support to those experiencing elder abuse, or those worried about someone. You can call 0808 808 8141, text: 0786 005 2906 or email helpline@wearehourglass.org 24/7.
Addiction helplines
We Are With You
We Are With You is a drug and alcohol charity working with adults and young people, in community settings, in prisons, in residential rehab and through outreach. You can speak to them via their web chat Monday to Friday from 9am - 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 4pm.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous run support groups and provide a helpline for those struggling with alcohol addiction. Call 0800 917 7650 or email help@aamail.org.
Talk to Frank
Talk to Frank offers honest information about drugs for anyone worried. Call their helpline any time on 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or email using this contact form.
Anxiety helplines
Anxiety UK
Anxiety UK is a charity that supports those living with anxiety by offering information, support and understanding. Call their infoline Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays) from 9:30am - 5:30pm on 0344 477 5774, text 0753 741 6905 Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays) from 9:30am - 5:30pm, or email support@anxietyuk.org.uk.
No Panic
No Panic offers support and information for those who suffer from anxiety disorders including panic attacks, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Call their helpline, open every day from 10am - 10pm on 0300 772 9844. If you’re under 18 years old, you can call their youth helpline on 0330 606 1174, open every day from 10am - 10pm. You can also email sarah@nopanic.org.uk for support.
Bereavement helplines
Cruse
Cruse is a charity offering support for those who are going through bereavement. You can call their helpline on 0808 808 1677, open Monday and Friday from 9.30 am - 5 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:30am - 8pm, and weekends 10am - 2pm. You can also access their chat support and talk to a bereavement counsellor 9am - 9pm, Monday to Friday.
Bipolar disorder helplines
Bipolar UK
Bipolar UK offers a peer support line with an emphasis on self-management. You can book a call via their chat box or email info@bipolaruk.org.
Carers helplines
Carers UK
Carers UK offers help and advice to those caring for someone else. You can call their helpline on 0808 808 7777 Monday to Friday from 9am - 6pm or you can email advice@carersuk.org.
Disability helplines
Scope
Scope is a charity offering advice on issues that matter to disabled people and their families. Call 0808 800 3333 or email helpline@scope.org.uk, available Monday to Friday from 9am - 6pm and Saturday and Sunday (and most bank holidays), 10am - 6pm.
Eating disorder helplines
Beat Eating Disorders
Beat offers support and information for those living with eating disorders. Their helplines are open 9am to midnight during the week and 4pm to midnight on weekends and bank holidays. Call their adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
If you're a student, you can call their Student line on 0808 801 0811 or email studentline@beateatingdisorders.org.uk. Alternatively, you can call their Youth line on 0808 801 0711 email fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk or connect through their one-to-one webchats.
Maternal mental health helplines
PANDAS
PANDAS offers peer to peer support for those affected by perinatal mental illness. You can call 0808 1961 776 every day from 11am - 10pm or email info@pandasfoundation.org.uk.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) helplines
OCD Action
OCD Action offers support and advice for those living with OCD. You can call them on 0300 636 5478 Monday to Friday from 9:30am - 8pm or email support@ocdaction.org.uk.
Suicidal thoughts helplines
Papyrus UK
Papyrus UK is a charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. Those aged 35 and under can call their Hope line on 0800 068 4141, text: 0786 003 9967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org, 9am to midnight every day.
Depression UK : Help for depression. https://www.depressionuk.org/
Switchboard : Helpline for LGBT+. https://switchboard.lgbt/
Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
Narcotics Anonymous https://ukna.org/
Rape Crisis https://rapecrisis.org.uk/
Prenatal/antenatal Depression
Pandas Foundation https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/
PTSD
PTSDUK https://www.ptsduk.org/
Birth Trauma
Birth Trauma Association https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/
Post Natal Illness http://www.pni.org.uk/
The Association for Post-Natal Illness https://apni.org/
Post Natal Illness. org
PND Support
Post Partum.net https://www.postpartum.net/
The UK Postpartum Psychosis Network https://www.app-network.org/
Miscarriage
The Miscarriage Association https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
Premature. Sick Baby
Bliss https://www.bliss.org.uk/
Still Birth. Neonatal Death. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sands https://www.sands.org.uk/
The Lullaby Trust https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/bereavement-support/?gclid=CjwKEAjwhdOwBRDFsYTfhvzX1hYSJAAfCUcLpQnvv2sCQ__eCrJz1v_bO-dhWXhSl4xzFiVMSZD2tBoC9ZXw_wcB
Domestic Violence
Womens Aid https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
Domestic Violence UK https://www.domesticviolence.co.uk/
Refuge https://refuge.org.uk/
Mens Domestic Abuse Helpline
Respect https://mensadviceline.org.uk/
Women’s Health
Red School: The Future of Feminine Spirituality and Leadership (and all things powerfully menstrual). https://www.redschool.net/
Other
Relate : Relationship counselling. https://www.relate.org.uk/
Counselling Directory : Directory of professionally accredited counsellors and psychotherapists. https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/
Doula : Find a birth and/or post natal doula to support you through birth and the weeks after your baby has arrived. Doula UK also offer a hardship fund for those on low incomes and gift vouchers so friends and relatives can help pay towards the costs. https://doula.org.uk/
NCT : National Childbirth Trust. https://www.nct.org.uk/
GDPR AGREEMENT
GDPR AGREEMENT
My GDPR agreement sets out how any personal data I collect from you, or that you provide to me, will be stored and processed confidentially.
How I gather your personal information
Information that you provide by emailing me via my website and via various therapy directories and platforms (BACP, UCKP, Counselling Directory, Better Help, Registered Therapist, ) or by phone to request further information about my counselling service.
Email at jacqueline@open2talkcounselling.com or phone 07577461445
The pre-counselling questionnaire form.
Brief session notes.
Regarding online therapy, I use the platforms Zoom and MS Teams. All these platforms are securely encrypted. Zoom has the facility to record sessions which I will not use. Chat transcripts and therapeutic email exchanges will be destroyed either after the session or after therapy has finished and which will be agreed by both of us.
Where I store your personal data
Personal data that I collect from you via any form of contact by email or phone will be kept securely.
The pre-counselling questionnaire form, your contact details, and brief session notes are stored on a computer and password protected.
The brief session notes are anonymised, using your initials only and are password protected.
I take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this privacy policy.
Uses made of the information.
I use your contact details to allow me to provide you with information of the service that you request from me, to allow you to tell me about changes in your availability and to notify you about changes to my availability and any other relevant administrative changes.
I use the brief session notes to carry out my obligation arising from the agreement entered into between you and me (separate to this policy).
As part of my commitment to providing a professional service, I attend supervision regularly. This is bound by a confidentiality contract (separate to this policy) and to protect your identity I only use the initial of your first name.
How long I keep your information/notes for
Text communication is deleted immediately while emails are purged once a month. After therapy has finished, your phone number will be deleted from my smart phone.
I will retain your pre-therapy questionnaire and brief sessions notes for as long as we are working together. After therapy has finished, I will retain these documents for a further five years in case you decide to return to therapy with me, and which is also a requirement of my indemnity insurance, and then after which the documents will be destroyed.
Your rights
You are entitled to view, amend, or delete the personal information that I hold. All requests have a month to be carried out.
In the event of a data breach
I have a legal obligation to report a data breach to you and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) within 72 hours.
Disclosure of your personal information
In the event of my incapacity or death your personal contact information will be disclosed to my two clinical executors of my Professional Will so that they can notify you. In the event of my death my executors will also destroy all contact information and notes on my computer.
If I am under a duty to disclose or share your personal data in order to comply with any legal obligation. For example, if I am subpoenaed to court, or as a legal requirement such as safeguarding children or vulnerable adults, terrorism or money laundering.
Changes to the GDPR agreement
I will notify you of changes I may make to this privacy policy in the future.
Consent to the GDPR agreement
Your use and undertaking of the services of Jacqueline Gordon Open2Talk Counselling constitutes your approval and acceptance of this agreement, and are consenting to my use, and storage of your personal information, you have disclosed to me, as detailed above. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
THERAPY AGREEMENT
THERAPY AGREEMENT
Please find details of my therapy agreement which sets the parameters for working safely and confidentially.
As a counsellor and Auricular Acupuncturist my purpose is to create a comfortable, safe and confidential space in which you can explore whatever you decide to bring to therapy. My role is to offer as much care, attention and expertise as I can.
Therapy usually takes place on a weekly basis excluding pre-arranged holidays and illness and is generally open-ended unless you would prefer a fixed number of sessions. The length of a session is 50 minutes.
If I plan to take time off, I will notify you at least a month ahead or with as much advance warning as possible.
The fee is payable either by cash on the day of the appointment or via banks transfer before the appointment.
If you need to cancel a session, 48 hours’ notice is required, or the full fee becomes payable.
Contact between sessions (unless a life threatening emergency) should be minimal and used for the purposes of administration only.
In an emergency I will endeavour to return your call as soon as possible. If an emergency arises that is life-threatening or needs immediate attention you agree to contact the emergency services on 999, go to your nearest hospital A&E department or phone a crisis help line such as the Samaritans on 116 123 (for UK Residents). Non UK Residents please get the necessary support in your country via emergency services or known crisis help line.
While the therapeutic relationship is friendly, it is a professional relationship and in order to protect its boundaries and work in an ethical way, it is considered inappropriate to engage either formally or informally through social networking sites or forums. This protects the confidentiality of the counselling relationship.
You can terminate therapy whenever you wish but suggest committing to at least six sessions once therapy is embarked upon before you decide not to continue. In the case of longer term-therapy, I also suggest spending a number of sessions working towards an ending. Our relationship will potentially be a significant one and an important aspect of our work together is to address the ending of the relationship.
Therapy is a fully confidential activity. As part of my professional ethical code of practice I have regular clinical supervision where I discuss my work. Your identity is kept anonymous, and confidentiality maintained. I also record session notes, and these are also anonymised and kept securely for five years after you have left therapy in case you decide to return. Any other personal information e.g., address, telephone number, information disclosed on the pre-therapy questionnaire is also strictly confidential and stored securely. If, however, I feel the need to consult anybody else about your case e.g., your GP, I will only do so after discussion with you first, and with your written consent.
The limits to confidentiality include the following: 1. Where you give consent for the confidence to be broken. 2. Where I am compelled by a court of law. 3. Where the information “is of such gravity that confidentiality cannot be maintained” i.e., in cases of fraud, crime, terrorism and where there is a case of “serious physical harm” to others. 4. Where there are risks to children as defined under the Child Protection Act. 5. Where there is a risk of suicide or serious harm to self in which case, I may need to discuss this with my supervisor and/or someone else outside and wherever possible, would endeavour to inform you first. If I need to contact your doctor, I will need written as well as verbal consent.
Code and ethics of practice: I work within the, BACP, Addiction Professionals and ACTO and ethical frameworks, details of which are available on their websites.
In addition to these points, for online therapy:
Online therapy is delivered either by video, voice, instant messaging and email. Video, voice and chat are delivered via Zoom, while email sessions are delivered via Zoom and MS Teams. Both platforms are securely encrypted. Video and voice sessions are never recorded and the content of instant messaging sessions, deleted.
Only communicate through a computer that you know is safe and where confidentiality can be ensured. Be sure to fully exit all online counselling sessions and emails. It is advisable to delete your browsing history after our communication.
It is important that the environment you choose to work in allows for your physical and emotional safety as well as your privacy. This helps to ensure our work together remains confidential.
Working online means you don’t necessarily travel to and from your appointment and so may not have the travel time to prepare yourself before and after a session. With this in mind, it is good practice to prepare yourself for a few minutes before you start an online session so that you feel ready to start our work together. Likewise, after a session, it is a good idea to give yourself some time to re-adjust before you go back to your daily life. If we are working via video, it is also a good idea to have your screen set to full view. This helps to create the experience of presence or ‘being there’ in the therapeutic space.
There is a concept in online therapy known as the disinhibition effect whereby we tend to be less inhibited in the way we present ourselves and to relate to others online. This might mean that you share things about yourself when you aren’t completely ready to. Therefore, I will regularly check in with you to make sure you feel comfortable with what you are disclosing and that the pace of therapy feels right and safe for you.
It is important that you are aware of what we agree to do in the event of a technology breakdown. Should either of us experience technical difficulties, we both endeavour to text straight away and try to reconnect online within 10 minutes. If after 10 minutes you or I are still unable to connect, we can re-schedule free of charge. Please note I will never intentionally end a session prematurely.
As the client you understand that online therapy is a different experience compared with in-person therapy. These differences can include the lack of visual and audio cues and the lack of immediacy in responding if using e.g., email or text.
As the client you understand that online therapy is not appropriate if you are experiencing a crisis or having suicidal or homicidal thoughts. As stated previously, if a life-threatening crisis should occur, you agree to contact a crisis helpline, call 999 or go to a hospital A&E department, or go to appropriate services.
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