General Terms & Conditions and Counselling Agreement

The client engages the counsellor for psychological counselling. The client and the counsellor may jointly formulate a topic for the counselling. The shared work comprises one or more conversations, depending on the booking, and on request also other working methods such as relaxation exercises (e.g. progressive muscle relaxation) to improve sensory, mental and/or bodily awareness.

Counselling addresses, among other things, the reduction of aggression, processing of emotions, mental and physical relaxation, personal development, activation of resources and goal-setting, stress management, processing of grief, and coping with all kinds of psychosocial crises and/or challenges.

Counselling sessions take place exclusively online via video call or by telephone. The preferred language for counselling is German, but on request and by arrangement I also offer sessions in English.

The service does not relate to the diagnosis, healing or alleviation of conditions of pathological value, nor to the medical treatment of mental disorders. Instead, the focus lies on coping with and overcoming emotional, mental or social conflicts, as well as other purposes outside the realm of healing professions (cf. German Psychotherapists Act §1(3) sentence 3).

A counselling session generally lasts 60 minutes. There are three different 60-minute session types. The most expensive session is typically for coaching, followed by couples counselling. The least expensive 60-minute session is generally for an individual. When two 60-minute sessions are combined, the result is a double session of approximately 120 minutes.

The current fees are communicated to the client in the first consultation and in writing before the agreement is concluded; they form part of the individual agreement. All fees include statutory VAT where applicable.

Fees are payable in advance.

Booked services are valid for six (6) months. The period begins on the day of the binding booking. After six months, any unused services expire without compensation.

Please note that statutory health insurers do not reimburse psychological counselling services.

Appointments are booked by the client independently via the HalloPsychologe.eu website. If the client arrives late to a scheduled appointment, the session time will be shortened accordingly.

If the client misses a scheduled appointment without notifying me in time, the client owes the counsellor 75% of the agreed session fee.

This payment obligation does not apply if the appointment was cancelled at least 48 hours in advance, or if it had to be cancelled at short notice due to a serious event.

Appointments may be rescheduled up to 3 (three) hours before the start. If more than 3 (three) rescheduling requests occur, the counsellor reserves the right to terminate the agreement with the client.

The counsellor undertakes to maintain confidentiality vis-à-vis third parties. The duty of confidentiality begins at the first contact. Information may only be passed on to third parties, including the partner in couples counselling, with the client's written consent.

If suicidal acts are announced and the ability or willingness to contact a specialist physician, therapist or clinic is lacking, the counsellor will immediately involve the responsible authorities.

The client confirms that they do not suffer from any illness or disorder that impairs their legal capacity or that, for medical-psychological reasons, currently precludes counselling.

If the client is currently undergoing psychotherapy or has been recommended to undergo psychotherapy, this must be communicated to the counsellor without delay.

If, during the counselling conversation, the counsellor gains the impression that the client shows psychiatric symptoms or is confused, the session may be discontinued.

Likewise, clients who are under the influence of drugs and/or whose questions relate to criminal offences may be refused by the counsellor.

The counsellor documents and archives the course of, and relevant insights from, the counselling conversations. Additionally, the client's personal data is stored to the extent required for invoicing, service delivery and accounting.

The client consents to the collection and archiving of this data.

The place of jurisdiction is Schwäbisch Hall.

Mr Patric Pförtner (the counsellor) is liable to the client only up to the amount of the counselling fee paid for any damages allegedly or actually arising from the shared work.

The client acknowledges that they remain, throughout the entire course of counselling, fully responsible for their own physical and mental health.