Welcome!

Before we begin our therapeutic journey, I would like to openly share with you how our work together will be structured. I am confident that a clear understanding of the process is the foundation of trust and a productive dialogue. To make our interaction comfortable and effective, I have prepared information on the key points: the stages of therapy, practical arrangements, as well as our mutual expectations and areas of responsibility.

FORMAT

The duration of an individual session is 50 minutes.

The frequency of individual meetings is a minimum of once a week. This is important for the depth and continuity of the therapeutic process. If necessary, I may recommend increasing the frequency to twice a week.

Sessions with couples or families last 80 minutes, with a frequency of twice a month.

We will find a regular time slot that is convenient for you. If your schedule changes, I am always ready to discuss it personally and find the best solution for us.

Our sessions begin strictly on time. This allows me to provide the same quality of work to all clients. For this reason, the duration of the session, unfortunately, cannot be extended in case of lateness.

FLEXIBILITY

The total number of sessions is determined individually: it depends on your initial request, personal characteristics, and the goals we will gradually explore together.

By mutual agreement, the frequency of sessions can be increased or decreased. Any changes are discussed in advance—you have the right to agree or refuse if you do not see the need for them.

As a Gestalt practitioner, I am oriented toward long-term work, where we don’t just alleviate symptoms but explore the deep-rooted causes of difficulties. This approach is based on scientific data on the step-by-step processing of a request, and for sustainable changes, it may take from several months to several years.

“BOUNDARIES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF INTIMACY”

ENDING THERAPY

Ending is an important and meaningful part of the life journey. If you decide to end therapy, I suggest allocating 2-3 final sessions for this. This time will help us to summarize the results, consolidate the changes, respectfully conclude our relationship, and draw valuable experience from it for the future.

MISSED SESSIONS

I value your time and prepare for each of our meetings. If sessions are missed more than 2 times in a row without prior notice, I am responsible for terminating our work and offering this time to other clients waiting for a consultation. To resume our work, it will be enough to write to me.

VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS

Both the therapist and the client can take vacations up to 4 times a year (preferably for no longer than 3 weeks at a time). I ask you to notify me in advance. I also usually do not work on official public holidays in the country where I practice (Russia). Therefore, it is important for us to coordinate our schedules in advance so that it is clear and convenient for both of us.

FINANCIAL TERMS

The cost of a session and payment details are discussed in private correspondence.

To secure a time slot in my schedule, a prepayment is required:

Payment made 24 hours before the scheduled time guarantees your presence at the session.

You can reschedule or cancel a session free of charge by notifying me 24 hours in advance.

If notification is received later than this term, the session is paid in full – as I can no longer offer this time to other clients. Please be mindful of this rule. I encourage you to reflect on the reasons for cancellations, especially when they happen just minutes before the 24-hour deadline, as while technically the agreement is followed, it practically puts me in an inconvenient position.

CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING ARE ONLY POSSIBLE WITH 24 HOURS’ NOTICE.
IF CANCELLED WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS’ NOTICE, THE SESSION IS PAYABLE IN FULL.

Regularity of meetings is the foundation of the therapeutic process.
While you always have the option to reschedule a session (in accordance with our agreements), frequent cancellations might indicate underlying processes. If you regularly need to postpone our meetings, we will definitely explore this together. Perhaps it is related to resistance to change or other significant processes that are important to recognize and explore – after all, this is what psychotherapy is about.

In case of an emergency cancellation on my part, the next session will be compensated at half the regular cost.

The cost of a session may be increased no more than twice a year.

“CONSTANCY AND CONSISTENCY CREATE A SPACE FOR DEEP AND EFFECTIVE WORK”

ONLINE COUNSELING

I work online on the Zoom platform, which allows me to conveniently manage my schedule and keep a permanent link for you in the program’s calendar. If specially needed, we can consider video conferences on Google Meet or a video call in popular messengers.

Personal Space

If possible, choose a private place where you won’t be disturbed. If you are at home, you can inform your loved ones in advance not to distract you for an hour.

Comfortable Environment

Settle in a way that is comfortable for you: you can have a pillow, a blanket, or prepare a glass of water. If you feel you might need tissues, it’s better to have them nearby.

“CONTACT GIVES RISE TO AWARENESS” (F. Perls)

Technical Details

Please arrange in advance:

Stable internet connection;
A camera and microphone (good lighting and clear sound will help us understand each other better);
A charged device.

Devices
Any device convenient for you will work: a laptop, tablet, or phone. If you have headphones with a microphone, it will help reduce background noise.

Freedom of Movement
Secure your device so you don’t have to hold it in your hands – this way you can fully focus on the conversation.
Stabilizing your communication device is very important, because if the camera is moving, it might make me motion sick – and you need a focused and attentive therapist :)).

CONFIDENTIALITY

Your safety and trust are my top priorities.

Privacy Guarantees
Everything that happens during sessions remains strictly between us. The only exception is professional supervision and intervision – discussing complex cases with colleagues to improve the quality of therapy. Your personal data remains completely anonymous in these cases.

Therapist’s Notes
During sessions, I may take brief notes. They are kept in an encrypted form (my handwriting is sometimes illegible even to me) and are not archived.

Limits of Confidentiality
I am obliged to break confidentiality only in three situations:
If there is an immediate threat to your life or health (I will contact your trusted person or emergency services);
If there is a risk to the life/health of other people;
Upon reporting a planned/committed serious crime (I will contact law enforcement agencies);

These rules are dictated by professional ethics and concern for safety. I would be grateful for your understanding – this way we can build a cooperation based on mutual respect.

THERAPEUTIC PROCESS

Initial Stage (3-5 sessions)

The first meetings are dedicated to a deep acquaintance: I carefully study your situation, ask clarifying questions, and we jointly formulate the main therapy request and explore the framework of our cooperation.

Regular Progress Monitoring

During the therapy process, we will periodically return to discussing: the relevance of the initial goals, your current states and changes. If necessary, we will adjust the direction of our work and set new therapeutic tasks.

Support Between Sessions

I do not engage in correspondence with clients, except for technical details about rescheduling, scheduling, and payments. If you wish to contact me between sessions, please be prepared that I may respond with a delay and do not respond outside working hours or on weekends.

“WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP, THERE IS NO HEALING” (R. Resnick)

During Sessions

I commit to reflecting on the processes happening in therapy, noticing resistance, supporting changes, and creating a safe space for you, so you can discuss any thoughts and ideas with me without facing judgment or misunderstanding. Also, I will share my observations concerning you and your state with you.

During our work, you may encounter various difficult feelings and emotions (shame, pain, guilt). The more sincerely (without a filter) you communicate about them, the more beneficial the entire therapeutic work will be.

You can always stop discussing a topic if it makes you uncomfortable. Also, if you feel discomfort from any techniques I use – please inform me immediately.

All decisions about changes in your life are made solely by you. I can help you better understand your desires and goals as a psychologist, but I do not influence your decisions and cannot make them for you.

Our Relationship

The Gestalt approach is based on understanding and becoming aware of relationships with the world, the environment, people, and one’s therapist. Our contact is a representation of habitual patterns that can be re-experienced and transformed into new relational experiences during the session.

We do not enter into any other relationships (romantic, friendly) besides the therapeutic one. If you feel a desire for closer communication, please talk about it, as it is a wonderful opportunity to understand yourself better and gain new experience in exploring vulnerable topics.

Working State

To ensure the safety and effectiveness of the therapeutic process, it is important that both parties are in a clear state of consciousness during sessions. On my part, I guarantee complete sobriety before, during, and for 24 hours after our meetings. Clients are also advised to refrain from using psychoactive substances before consultations.

Flexibility of Agreements

The therapeutic contract can be adjusted as our joint work progresses, if a professional need arises. I suggest openly discussing the need for changes, any inconveniences, and disagreements on any issues; this is an important skill for progressing towards self-awareness and creating a comfortable and sustainable life.

“WE EXIST IN DIALOGUE” (L. Jacobs)

Exploring Difficulties

If situations arise between us that do not align with our agreements, as well as any sabotage in the work, I commit to creating gentle conditions for you to explore their causes within the therapeutic field. I suggest that right now, after reading this informed consent, you pay attention to your feelings and any dissatisfactions, and share them with me at our meeting.

Possibility of Ending

In case we encounter unresolvable difficulties, you find that you don’t like me or I’m not a good fit for you, we can’t find a compromise on critical issues, and the cooperation brings too much discomfort, you have the right to discontinue the work. I ask you to do this in an ecological and beneficial way for yourself, referring to the rule about final sessions.

All these conditions might seem complicated, but experiencing them in life and in relationships is much easier than reading about them! I invite you to test this in practice.

Respectfully,
Nastasya Andriadze
arsenovna2211@gmail.com
+79164953360
andriadzetherapy.com