I received thorough safeguarding training as a teacher and continue to keep my skills and knowledge updated through regular CPD with the NSPCC. I also have an advanced DBS certificate through the Tutors' Association. In order to comply with best practice and provide a safe coaching environment for your child, I take the following measures:
In person sessions
I will always ensure that I am not sitting between your child and the door, and that I am sitting at an appropriate distance from your child.
I will refrain from physically touching your child except in instances where this is required as part of the therapy being carried out. (An example is the ‘anchoring’ technique, which involves touching the client’s knuckle to link a strong positive state – such as motivation or confidence – with a physical stimulus.) In these cases, I will explain exactly how and why I will need to make physical contact and will ask permission to do so. Your child will always have the option to say no to such contact.
Online sessions
Best practice will always be for your child to have their sessions in a communal room, such as a dining room or study, rather than their bedroom. However, my experience of online teaching during Covid has proven that this is not always possible. If your child is going to be in their bedroom during our video calls, I would request that they use the settings menu to either blur their background or set a different image as a backdrop.
As part of the mentoring process, and with your express permission, I may correspond with your child by email (using the professional email account given on this website) as a means of providing them with accountability or as a way of sharing resources. I will always copy you into any emails I send to your child and will not contact them for any reason other than those pre-agreed with you, or through any other email or social media accounts. Neither will I contact your child by phone.
Hypnosis sessions
It is best practice for hypnosis of minors to be carried out with some form of supervision from a parent or carer. This could involve you being present in the room, sitting outside the room with the door open, or having the session recorded in some way. Please have a think about which option you and your child would prefer and discuss this with me at the time of booking.