TERMS AND CONDITIONS

CONFIDENTIALITY

At Collywobbles, we understand that therapy and group sessions can involve sharing deeply personal experiences. Your therapist will explain confidentiality at the outset, helping you to understand how your information is kept private, and the circumstances in which information may need to be shared, such as where there are safeguarding concerns.
Your privacy is important. Therapists are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the work you do together as part of their professional and ethical obligations.
Collywobbles securely manages personal information related to enquiries and the use of the platform, in line with GDPR requirements, to ensure your data is protected.

QUESTIONNAIRES

To support understanding of progress, your therapist may invite you to complete questionnaires at the beginning and end of your work together. These can help to measure changes over time and inform the therapeutic process.
Participation is entirely optional, and you are welcome to opt out at any time if you prefer not to complete them.

SAFEGUARDING

Your safety and wellbeing are important. While confidentiality is a key part of therapy, there are times when your therapist has a legal and ethical duty to act:

If there is a risk to others — If your therapist believes there is a risk of harm to another person, they are required to take appropriate steps to protect those involved.
If a child or vulnerable person is at risk — If a therapist becomes aware of concerns relating to abuse or neglect, they are required to follow safeguarding procedures, which may include contacting relevant services such as social care or, in some cases, the police.
If you are at risk of serious harm — If your therapist believes you are at risk of significant harm, they will take appropriate steps to support your safety, which may include involving other services.

Wherever possible, your therapist will aim to discuss this with you and involve you in decisions about information sharing, offering support throughout the process.

TERMINATION OF SERVICES

The aim of therapy is to support a positive and meaningful outcome. Your therapist will regularly review progress with you and will bring the work to a close when the intended outcomes have been met. If further support is needed, your therapist may suggest accessing additional services, such as your GP, local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), or other appropriate providers.

There may be circumstances where a therapist needs to end therapy early, including:

Repeated disruptive or unsafe behaviour
Persistent substance use that impacts the therapeutic process
Attending sessions under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Disclosure of actions or intentions that require the therapist to act in line with legal or ethical responsibilities

If therapy is discontinued for these reasons, your therapist will, where possible, discuss next steps with you and signpost to other relevant services.

Consent to Therapy at Collywobbles

Consent and Working Together

At Collywobbles, we believe that effective therapy is built on trust, clarity, and collaboration. Consent is a vital part of this process and helps ensure that clients and families understand and agree to the therapeutic work being offered.

Therapists working with Collywobbles are guided by the best interests of the client, whether that client is a child, young person, or adult.

Consent for Adults (16 years and over)

Under Scottish law, individuals aged 16 and over are presumed to have the legal capacity to consent to their own therapy, unless there is clear evidence to suggest otherwise.

This means that:

Individuals aged 16+ can consent to therapy independently
Consent can be withdrawn at any time
Where an adult may lack capacity, therapists follow the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and work with any legally appointed guardian or welfare power of attorney to ensure decisions are made in the person’s best interests

Parental Responsibility and Consent

Where a child under 16 is not assessed as having capacity to consent independently, consent must be provided by a person with legal parental responsibility.

Only one parent or carer with parental responsibility is legally required to give consent for therapy to proceed
Parental responsibility is defined by Scottish law and may include mothers, fathers, or others who have acquired responsibility through marriage, registration on the birth certificate, formal agreement, or court order

Working Together as Parents and Carers

While one parent’s consent is sufficient in law, therapists working with Collywobbles often encourage both parents or carers to be informed, supportive, and involved in the therapeutic process where this is safe and appropriate.

Children often benefit when:

The adults around them communicate respectfully
Support is consistent outside of sessions
They do not feel caught between conflicting adult views

Family situations can be complex. Therapists aim to approach each situation with care, sensitivity, and a focus on the child’s wellbeing.

A Child-Centred, Best-Interest Approach

Therapy involving children and young people is guided by:

The child’s emotional and psychological wellbeing
Their voice and level of understanding
Safeguarding responsibilities
What is in their best interests

Where appropriate, therapists may involve parents or carers in a way that supports the child, while also respecting confidentiality and the child’s developing autonomy.

Ongoing Consent and Communication

Consent is an ongoing process. Your therapist will check in regularly to ensure that therapy continues to feel appropriate and supportive. They will also take time to explain:

How therapy works
What confidentiality means in practice
The limits of confidentiality where safety concerns arise

Our Commitment

At Collywobbles, we aim to support families in accessing the right help and to create a space that feels safe, ethical, and grounded in Scottish law and professional standards.

All therapeutic services are provided by independent therapists working through Collywobbles, who are responsible for their own clinical practice.