Terms of Use (last updated March 2023)

In order to operate at the highest possible ethical standards, James has a number of Terms of Use for clients of the service.  By booking a session you are agreeing to these terms of use, and will inform current clients when these Terms of Use have been updated.

  1. Ethics & Confidentiality: James fully adheres to the BACP Ethical Framework.  James is happy to discuss this at any point.
    1. James will always do everything he can to maintain total confidentiality.  This means not disclosing to any third party not only the content of the sessions you undertake, but also that you are attending therapy at all.
    2. However, if James has a concern about an immediate risk to life of a client or another person then he is ethically bound to take necessary steps to protect life.  James will always seek to work with clients to explore options to minimise risk of harm.  James uses the RAMP guidelines to assess and manage risk (see below).
    3. James is required to keep notes and he does so securely - these notes are covered under the confidentiality agreement.  However, if you are involved in criminal proceedings there may be a court ordered requirements for James to produce these notes as evidence.  James will assess compliance with this on a case by case basis and will seek specialist advice; he will always try not to breach confidentiality.
      1. You are entitled to see your notes at any time.  It may take James a short amount of time to produce these - typically these will be emailed to you via Tutanota™ within 72 hours of your request, but by no later than 28 working days.  To ensure secure delivery, these notes will require a password to access.  This password can only be given verbally - either face to face, by video or VOIP or by telephone.
        1. If you have received copies of James' notes related to his work with you - you are solely responsible for the security or destruction of your electronic copy of these notes.
    4. James hopes that you are satisfied with the service that you receive whilst working with him.  However, if you have a complaint regarding his professional conduct you are entitled to raise a complaint with the BACP.​
    5. Similarly James is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office - if you have a concern regarding the handling or processing of your data, you can contact ICO.

  2. Client Agreement: James currently only works with clients who are aged 16 years and older.  It may be possible to work with young people aged 12-15 years with parental or guardian consent.  However, this will be on a case by case basis and there will be a different level of confidentiality when working with younger people than with adults.  Similarly James has an ethical duty to work within his clinical competence - if you are currently experiencing acute distress due to an ongoing mental health diagnosis it may not be appropriate for James to work with you at this time.  James is happy to discuss this and if - for any reason - James is unable to work with a client, he will work with you to help you find another therapist who may be able to help.

  3. Bookings & Cancellations: Clients can only book sessions with a minimum of 24 hours notice, and are required to provide 24 hours notice if they cannot make a session.  Failure to provide this notice will result in no refund being offered for the booked session.  There are no exceptions to this policy.
    1. Bookings are to be placed online through James's website (www.jamesaknight.co.uk).
    2. In exceptional circumstances bookings can be taken by email.  However, these bookings are tentative bookings and are only confirmed upon receipt of payment.  Email bookings are subject to an extended booking notice period of 36 hours (rather than 24) to accommodate the manual booking element.
      1. Tentative bookings will be cancelled 24 hours after being made if payment has not been received.
    3. Bookings are only confirmed upon receipt of a Booking Confirmation email.

  4. Fees: Sessions are to be paid for in full at the time of booking if booked online or within 24 hours of the session start time if booked by James.

  5. Sessions: All sessions are up to 50 minutes long and are undertaken using Zoom™ (Video, VoIP and IM).

  6. External Software & ICT Services: James uses a number of software solutions to facilitate his online working, notably Zoom™ (for Video, VoIP and IM therapy) and Tutanota™ (for Email).  James also uses a secure, encrypted, local digital filing system to keep his clinical notes.  James uses these platforms and software to ensure maximum privacy and confidentiality in compliance with both the BACP and ACTO ethics.

  7. Boundaries: To ensure that the work between James and his clients remains professional at all times James will undertake the following:
    1. Digital Boundaries:
      1. James will not look for clients on any social media or community platform.  If someone James recognises as a current or past client appears on his "People You Might Know" or similar, or if a current or past client likes, retweets, comments or otherwise interacts with a post of his, or in his personal life (for example James's friends or family members) James will immediately block the current or past client.  This is done to ensure that both the client and James have a private digital life outside of the therapeutic work.
      2. If James is contacted by a current or past client on social media, James will not reply and he will then block the current or past client.  Contacting includes commenting on posts, liking posts, retweeting, favouriting, sharing and also direct or private messages.  There are no exceptions to this - again this is to ensure professional boundaries.  Similarly communication through social media does not meet the ACTO required privacy settings and therefore it would be unethical for James to communicate with clients in this manner.
    2. In Person Boundaries:
      1. ​It is possible that a current or past client will see James in person, but not in a therapeutic space.  Whether this is undertaking normal activities (such as shopping) or in a social space, if a current or past client contacts James then James' response will be to acknowledge the current or past client in a polite and friendly way and then to cease interaction with the client.  This is done to ensure that both the current or past client and James himself have privacy in their life outside of the therapeutic work.  Whilst James will be cordial, no discussion of work within the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship will be undertaken.  Similarly, James may well elect to vacate the current premises if he does not feel it will be possible to maintain an appropriate space to protect these boundaries.
      2. If James sees a current or past client in person, not in a therapeutic space, James will not normally acknowledge the current or past client.  This is done partly to protect the mutual privacy of both the current or past client and James himself, but also to protect the confidentiality of the current or past client.  For example, if the current or past client is with someone else, James does not want to invite speculation as to how he knows that person, in case the current or past client has not disclosed to the person that they are or have accessed therapy.
    3. Negotiation:
      1. Boundaries within the context of a small community (either geographic, interest or affiliation based) may be difficult to keep entirely distinct.  If you are a current client, it may be that James needs to discuss with you in the therapeutic space how to manage these boundaries.  If you are a past client, if necessary James may contact you remotely - for example, by email - to initiate discussion regarding these boundaries.
      2. Negotiation of these boundaries may not be possible; whilst James will make every effort to ensure that your wishes are accommodated, his first duty is to work to the BACP code of ethics.  He will seek the support of his supervisor in protecting the wellbeing of both the current or past client and himself.
      3. If negotiation around challenging boundary issues is not successful, James will need to terminate therapy with a current client.  This is to ensure mutual wellbeing and professional conduct.
    4. Record Keeping:
      1. To maintain professional and ethical standards, James will record each instance of boundary challenge (whether intentional or otherwise).  This will be shared in detail with his supervisor, and this record will be held with the notes of the current or past client.  Therefore the notes of past clients could be updated numerous times even after work has ceased.
      2. As per the confidentiality agreement, these notes can be accessed upon request by any current or past client.
RAMP Guidelines
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