Over the last two decades I've been fortunate enough to run my counselling and supervision private practice on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, managing to spend any spare leisure time indulging in my twin passions of sailing and walking.      

As a young child I contracted a serious life-changing illness, and it was only much later, when I started my training to become a therapist, that I realised how much spending time in the natural world had aided my recovery and helped me to deal with the daily challenges of living with its consequences. This is an experience that I have incorporated into my work by offering my clients wilderness therapy.

Moving out of the safety of the counselling room into an outdoor environment demands careful planning and a robust and individualised contracting.

Working as a supervisor has also taught me just how important a well-crafted contract needs to be, in order to establish a successful working alliance and provide a high standard of effective and ethical therapy.    

During my time as a therapist, I've watched how BACP has evolved to meet the changing needs of its members and the society we serve. Therefore, I was excited to become involved in its latest private practice project and to write a toolkit on contracting, which I hope can pass on some of the lessons that I've learnt whilst working in private practice.

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Views expressed in this article are the views of the writer and not necessarily the views of BACP. Publication does not imply endorsement of the writer’s views. Reasonable care has been taken to avoid errors but no liability will be accepted for any errors that may occur.