These terms and conditions outline the framework for our therapeutic contact, ensuring I can provide you with safe, professional, and confidential care.
Ethics
I abide by the ethical guidelines set by the Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (NIP) where I practice, and the Health and Care Professions Council in the UK, where I was trained.
I am committed to maintain professional competency through ongoing education, training and supervision. I aim to provide evidence-based, culturally sensitive care, with respect to your autonomy and the right to make informed decisions about your treatment.
Emergencies
The sessions are not a crisis service. If you feel like you might be in crisis you can contact services that are better equipped to help you in these moments:
- Netherlands:
113 – Specialist Suicide Prevention Line – Online chat at https://www.113.nl/english or call 0800-0113 (free of charge)
Call 112 or visit the emergency services if you feel in immediate risk, or speak to your doctor (huisarts) for appropriate mental health referrals.
- Internationally
You can find crisis support lines as well as helplines for other issues in your country here: https://findahelpline.com/
Call 112 (Europe) or 911 (US), visit the emergency services if in immediate risk, or speak to your doctor for appropriate referrals.
If I am concerned about you or I feel you may need more help than what I can offer, I will suggest other services to you. I collect emergency contact information at our first session which I will use only in case of emergency as explained next.
Confidentiality
Everything you share in our sessions is held in strict confidence, with only the following legal exceptions:
- If there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others
- If there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or a vulnerable adult
- If records are legally requested by a court of law
In these rare cases, I might contact the emergency services and/or the emergency contact you provided, or speak to the court. I will always try to inform you first if I need to disclose information about you, unless doing that will further increase risk.
You may ask me to provide information about our sessions to other people involved in your care. In these situations, you decide with whom and what to be shared.
I have a senior clinical psychology supervisor with whom I discuss my work to ensure I provide the best quality of care that I can. The client information is always kept anonymous in these discussions.
Data protection
I collect only the information necessary to provide you with therapy services, including:
- Personal details – name, contact information, payment and emergency contact details used for appointments and billing
- Clinical records – anonymous clinical notes and treatment information
The clinical records are kept in a secure, password-protected systems separately from any personally identifiable information. All files can only be accessed by me. The files will be securely stored up to 20 years, as required by WKKGZ (Dutch Healthcare Law), to ensure continuity of care, professional accountability and legal protection. After this period they will be destroyed. The record keeping is in line with GDPR and WKKGZ requirements.
You can request to view files containing treatment information and receive copies of this for free. You can request corrections to the data, but not its deletion due to the Dutch legal obligation to retain healthcare records. I will respond to your data requests within 4 weeks.
Our online sessions are held over Google Meet, that’s end-to-end encrypted.
Accessibility
If I do not show up for a session we have arranged and you don’t hear from me within 5 working days you can contact Lienet Oostingh, Lienet@thehealingtribe.nl. If I am suddenly unable to provide care and unable to personally discuss this with you, my Colleague Lienet will contact you within 10 working days.
Complaints and Feedback
I am committed to provide a space where you feel comfortable to bring up any issues about therapy that we can discuss and repair together. If you are not satisfied with my care, please try to discuss with me first. I will be happy to talk about this with you and work towards a solution. If we can’t come up with a solution you can make a complaint through the organisation listed below, that can assist you with your complaint for free.
- You can contact my professional regulatory body – The Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (NIP) – You can submit a complaint by emailing the Central Bureau for Complaints in Healthcare at klachten@cbkz.nl or fill in their digital form.
Note. NIP processing complaints is in line with the WKKGZ requirements as it also includes registration with the government-recognised disputes authority de Geschillencommissie Zorg.
Appointments
We will try to find appointment slots that suit you best. We can meet weekly, fortnightly or if needed once in three weeks. Less frequent than that is possible but can impact continuity and progress in therapy. I tend to work in blocks of six sessions, reviewing progress at the sixth session and deciding together how to continue. Therapy with me often involves practicing things between sessions, which can help a lot with progress towards your goals.
Cancellation Policy
I understand that life can be unpredictable and sometimes circumstances beyond your control may affect your ability to attend sessions. Cancellations made with at least 24 hours’ notice will not be charged. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed appointments without notice, will be charged the full session fee.
Late Arrivals
If you arrive late we’ll continue with the remaining session time available, but we’ll need to end at the originally scheduled time to respect other clients’ appointments.
Insurance
I am not affiliated with any Dutch insurance companies which means that the sessions are self-funded. You can still check with your insurance company whether they will reimburse private psychology sessions. Some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs that may cover session fees.
Payment
Payment are due the day before the session unless alternative arrangements have been made. Payments are done via bank transfer upon booking. I try to keep the sessions affordable and believe financial concerns shouldn’t be a barrier to care. We can talk about payment options if needed and together come up with a solution.
I may need to update my fees from time to time, if this needs to happen while you are in therapy with me, I will give you a month’s written notice.
Changes to These Terms
I may occasionally update these terms to reflect changes in my practice or legal requirements. You will be notified of any significant changes in advance and explain how these might affect you.
Contact Information
If you have questions about these terms and conditions, or any aspect of my services, please don’t hesitate to contact me at hello@nushkamarinova.com
Thank you for your trust!
