New Horizons Counselling
Cerrie Lantrua. Person-centred counsellor
Information & Policies about Counselling in Brighton & Hove
Thank you for considering working with me. I aim to provide a transparent, safe, and ethical service, and the information below outlines key policies that help support our work together. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Privacy, GDPR & Data Protection
I take your privacy and data protection seriously. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and adhere to GDPR guidelines to ensure your personal data is collected, stored, and used safely and lawfully.
- What I Collect: When we begin working together, I may collect your name, contact information, emergency contact or GP details (if provided), and brief session notes.
- How I Store Your Data: Any digital records are encrypted and password-protected. Paper notes are stored securely.
- Confidentiality: What you share with me in our sessions is confidential. The only exceptions to this are:
- If there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others
- If required by law (e.g. terrorism, money laundering)
- If I am subpoenaed by a court of law
You have the right to access, amend, or request deletion of your data at any time, unless I am legally required to retain it (e.g. insurance or professional obligations).
Contact Between Sessions
I’m happy to respond to brief emails relating to appointments, cancellations, or practical matters. I do not offer counselling or therapeutic support via email, phone or text outside of our scheduled sessions. Please note that I do not provide an emergency or crisis service. If you are in distress or feel unsafe between sessions, it’s important to seek immediate support. You can contact your GP, go to your nearest A&E, or use one of the following services:
- Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7, free)
- NHS 111 (non-emergency medical advice)
- Text SHOUT to 85258 (free, confidential crisis text support)
While we can explore strategies and support your wellbeing within our sessions, it's important we also build a plan for how you stay safe and supported between them.
Online Working Agreement
- Sessions are held via a secure, agreed-upon platform (e.g., VSee, Teams).
- Please ensure you are in a quiet, private space for your sessions to protect your confidentiality.
- I will do the same from my side.
- If there are technical issues, I will try to reconnect with you. If this isn’t possible, we will agree to continue via telephone.
- Note: I currently do not provide telephone counselling
Payment Policy
- My fee is £50 per 50-minute session.
- Some concessional session slots are available upon request. These are reserved for individuals on low incomes or trainees.
- Payment is due in advance via bank transfer to secure your session time.
- I will provide bank details when we agree to begin working together.
- If you require a receipt or invoice, I’m happy to provide one on request.
Cancellations and Rescheduling
- If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please give at least 24 hours' notice.
- Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice will be charged at the full session fee.
- If you request to reschedule with less than 24 hours' notice and we can mutually agree on a new time within the same week, the fee will be transferred to the new session.
- Repeated late cancellations or no-shows may result in our reviewing our work together.
Ending Counselling
You are welcome to end counselling at any time. Ideally, we plan for a closing session to reflect on our work and say goodbye. I also reserve the right to end our work together if I believe that counselling is no longer beneficial or appropriate, and I will support you with appropriate referrals if needed.
