A counselling contract is the working agreement between practice and client: what the sessions are, what they cost, what happens when one is missed, what is confidential and what is not. It is a short document and it prevents most of the awkward conversations a practice has. This page is the clauses, in the order they matter, and the two that are usually missing. The cancellation clause is the one with a number attached: on the worked example missed sessions are $29,146 a year.
The clauses every contract needs
Who is providing the service and their registration; what a session is and how long; the fee and how it is paid; the cancellation and non-attendance policy with its notice period; confidentiality and its limits; how records are kept and for how long; how to complain. Seven clauses, plainly written, on one or two pages.
The cancellation clause is the one with money in it
State the notice period, the charge and how it is applied, and then apply it consistently. A policy that exists and is waived every time is worse than none, because it trains the expectation. On the worked example an 8% non-attendance rate is $29,146 a year and this clause is the practice's only lever on it.
The two clauses usually missing
What happens when the clinician is unavailable, which clients ask about only when it happens; and what happens to the record when the client stops attending or the practice closes. Both take three sentences and both prevent a difficult conversation at the worst moment.
Questions people ask about counselling contract template
Does the client have to sign it?
A recorded agreement is what matters: a signature, an online acceptance with a timestamp, or a note that it was discussed and agreed.
Can we change the contract mid-way?
Tell the client, agree the change and record when it took effect. Version the document rather than editing it silently.
Is a template enough?
As a starting point. The clauses that are specific to your profession, insurer and regulator are the ones to check with them rather than with a template.