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Terms & Conditions for Akhtar Counselling

Last Updated: 31 August 2026

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These Terms & Conditions apply to counselling and psychological therapy services provided by Akhtar Counselling, together with the use of this website.

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By booking or purchasing a therapy service, you confirm that you have read and accepted the relevant terms below.

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1. Counselling & Psychological Therapy

Akhtar Counselling provides professional counselling and psychological therapy for individuals, couples and families.

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Therapy provides a confidential and supportive environment to explore emotional difficulties, relationships, behaviours, experiences and personal development.

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Therapy is collaborative and individual outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Counselling and psychological therapy do not replace emergency, medical or psychiatric services where these are required.

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2. Sessions

Individual and couples therapy sessions are normally 50 minutes unless otherwise stated or agreed.

Sessions may be provided:

• In person in London

• Online

• By telephone

• As an agreed home visit

• Outdoors where arranged in advance

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The appropriate format will depend upon the service booked and individual circumstances.

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3. Booking & Payment

Appointments must be arranged and confirmed in advance.

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The applicable session fee will be shown when booking or agreed with the therapist before the appointment.

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Payment may be required in advance to confirm an appointment or Therapy Programme.

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Where payment is required in advance, an appointment is not considered secured until the required payment has been received.

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4. Cancellations, Rescheduling & Missed Appointments

Appointment times are reserved specifically for each client.

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Payments made for confirmed appointments are non-refundable.

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If you are unable to attend, please contact the therapist as early as possible.

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Requests to cancel, reschedule or change an appointment are subject to the practice's Booking Policy. Missed appointments may result in the full session fee being retained.

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Exceptional circumstances may be considered at the therapist's discretion but cannot be guaranteed.

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5. Therapy Programmes

Discounted Therapy Programmes are available for clients who wish to undertake a structured course of therapy.

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Current programmes may include:

• 6 Sessions for the Price of 5

• 13 Sessions for the Price of 10

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Therapy Programmes must be paid for in full before the programme begins.

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Programme payments are non-refundable and non-transferable and apply only to the therapy service purchased.

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Sessions are normally arranged in advance to support consistency and continuity of therapy.

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Planned breaks, including holidays or work commitments, should be discussed and agreed with the therapist in advance.

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Missed appointments, cancellations and requests to reschedule remain subject to the standard Booking Policy and do not automatically replace or refund a programme session.

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6. Confidentiality

Information discussed during therapy is treated as confidential and handled in accordance with professional and ethical responsibilities.

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There are, however, circumstances in which confidentiality may need to be limited. These can include:

• Serious concerns regarding your safety or the safety of another person

• Safeguarding concerns involving a child or vulnerable person

• Circumstances where disclosure is required by law

• Other serious circumstances where professional or legal responsibilities require appropriate action

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Where reasonably possible and appropriate, concerns about confidentiality or disclosure will be discussed with you before action is taken.

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7. Couples & Family Therapy

When working with couples or families, the therapeutic relationship involves more than one participant.

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Information disclosed within joint therapy may become relevant to the therapeutic work with the couple or family.

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The therapist will seek to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and impartiality rather than acting as an advocate for one participant against another.

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The approach to confidentiality within couples or family work may be discussed at the beginning of therapy.

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8. Online & Telephone Therapy

Clients attending online therapy are responsible for having a suitable internet connection, device and private environment for their session.

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For telephone therapy, clients should ensure that they are somewhere private and able to speak safely and confidentially.

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If a session cannot proceed because of a technical problem affecting the client, the appointment may still be treated as a scheduled session.

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Where a significant technical problem originates from the therapist's side and prevents the session from proceeding, an alternative arrangement will normally be offered.

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9. Home Visits & Outdoor Therapy

Home visits and outdoor therapy are offered subject to suitability, location and availability.

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The therapist reserves the right to decline or discontinue these arrangements where the environment is considered unsuitable, unsafe or inappropriate for confidential therapeutic work.

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Alternative arrangements may be discussed where appropriate.

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10. Professional Boundaries

A professional therapeutic relationship requires appropriate boundaries.

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Clients are expected to communicate respectfully with the therapist and to respect the agreed therapeutic environment.

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Akhtar Counselling reserves the right to decline, suspend or end therapy where professional boundaries cannot be maintained, where the therapeutic relationship is no longer appropriate, or where another service would better meet the client's needs.

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Where appropriate, alternative sources of support may be suggested.

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11. Emergencies & Crisis Support

Akhtar Counselling is not an emergency or crisis service and cannot provide continuous or immediate crisis support.

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If you or another person is in immediate danger, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E.

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For urgent health or mental health advice, contact NHS 111.

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Further crisis-support information is available on the Mental Health Crisis Helplines page of this website.

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12. Privacy & Personal Information

Personal information is handled in accordance with the Akhtar Counselling Privacy Policy and applicable UK data protection requirements.

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Please refer to the Privacy Policy for information about how personal data may be collected, processed, stored and protected.

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13. Website Information

Information provided on this website is intended for general information about counselling, psychological wellbeing and the services offered by Akhtar Counselling.

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Website content should not be treated as an individual diagnosis, medical recommendation or substitute for personalised professional advice.

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14. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, original written content and other materials produced for this website remain the intellectual property of Akhtar Counselling.

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Content may not be reproduced or commercially distributed without permission, except where permitted by law.

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15. External Links

This website may contain links to external websites or services for information and convenience.

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Akhtar Counselling is not responsible for the content, availability, security or privacy practices of independent third-party websites.

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16. Changes to These Terms

These Terms & Conditions may be updated periodically to reflect changes to services, practice arrangements or applicable requirements.

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The latest version will be published on this page together with the updated date.

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17. Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

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18. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms & Conditions, your appointment or therapy arrangements, please contact:

Akhtar Counselling
Telephone/WhatsApp: 07719 271779
Website: Contact page