Therapy with Samantha Coleman: agreement for ages 16–17

Version: 26 September 2026
Contact: samanthacoleman@recognitionloops.com

Please read this before deciding whether you want to begin therapy. We will talk through it together. You can ask questions, take time to decide and say if something does not feel right. Completing the enquiry form does not commit you to therapy.

What therapy involves

Therapy gives you regular time to talk about what is happening in your life and relationships. We can explore experiences and patterns you want to understand. You choose what to bring to a session; Samantha will also ask questions and help you think things through. You can tell her if you want to slow down, pause or stop. Therapy does not guarantee a particular outcome.

Samantha is a BACP member and has practised since 2013. She will discuss whether this service suits your needs and whether other support would be useful. Therapy is not an emergency or crisis service.

Your choice and the adults around you

Samantha will speak with you directly about what therapy involves and whether you want it. She will consider your understanding, your wishes, your circumstances and any safeguarding concerns before deciding how to proceed. You can invite a parent or carer to give background information, or discuss that possibility with Samantha first. A parent or carer may help with practical arrangements or payment; this does not give them automatic access to what you say in sessions.

If a parent or carer made the first enquiry, Samantha will still talk with you about what you want. Before therapy starts, she will agree with you who may receive appointments, payment and other practical messages. Do not use a shared email address unless you are comfortable with others seeing those messages.

Privacy and safety

What you tell Samantha is treated as confidential. She does not routinely tell a parent, carer, school or anyone else what you say. She discusses work in professional supervision to support safe practice, sharing only what is needed.

Sometimes Samantha may need to share information to protect you or another person, address a safeguarding concern or meet a legal duty. She will consider who needs to know and how much to share. Where it is safe and possible, she will speak with you first. She will explain the limits of confidentiality before therapy begins, including how she would handle contact from a parent or carer.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent mental health help, call NHS 111 and ask for the mental health option where available. You can contact Childline on 0800 1111. Samantha may not see email between sessions straight away.

Sessions, contact and payment

An introductory meeting usually lasts up to 20–30 minutes on Zoom and costs £15. If you decide to continue, Samantha will agree the length, format, frequency and fee for your sessions with you before you book. The current fees and cancellation arrangements are at Therapy Fees and in the Therapy Agreement. Samantha will explain which practical terms apply to your arrangement, including who is paying, before either of you commits to a paid session or block. You will receive the agreed terms to keep.

Please use email for arranging appointments and other practical matters; it is not a replacement for a therapy session. If you meet online, choose a space where you can speak without others listening. Neither of you will record a session unless you have separately agreed how and why.

Notes, recordings and reports

Samantha keeps records needed to provide therapy safely. You can read how she handles them in the Therapy Privacy Notice and ask her to explain anything unclear.

A decision to start therapy does not give permission for Zoom recording or transcription, AI analysis, or Recognition Loops® reports. Each of these is a separate choice. Samantha will describe what information would be used, who would receive it and how it would be stored before asking for an answer. You can receive therapy without agreeing to these optional features.

The Recognition Loops® app, Substack and other educational materials are separate from therapy. Using them does not create a therapy relationship.

Before we begin

Please discuss with Samantha any part you do not understand. You can change your mind about therapy, and you can raise a concern about how the work is going. Samantha will confirm the arrangements with you before the first paid session. If you turn 18 while in therapy, she will review the agreement with you.

Your agreement

I have read this agreement or had it explained to me. I have had the chance to ask questions. I want to discuss starting therapy with Samantha under the arrangements we agree on together. I understand the privacy and safety limits above. I understand that optional recording, transcription, AI use and reports each need a separate decision.