Complaints and concerns
Psychotherapy is, at its heart, a relationship between therapist and client. As in any relationship, there can be times when something goes wrong, when a person feels misunderstood, disappointed, hurt or let down. When this happens in therapy, it can feel particularly upsetting, because the therapeutic relationship is one in which trust, care and emotional openness matter deeply.
Wherever possible, the first step is to speak directly with your therapist about what has happened. Although this can feel hard, ruptures in therapy are not unusual. Misunderstandings, disappointments and moments of disconnection can form an important part of the therapeutic work when they are able to be thought about together. Working through a rupture can often deepen the therapy and bring something important into view.
There may, however, be times when you feel unable to resolve the matter with your therapist directly, or where you remain concerned about their conduct, their clinical work, or the way in which they have responded to you. In these circumstances, the appropriate next step is usually to contact the therapist’s professional body.
All clinicians working with Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy are registered with a recognised professional body and are required to work within that body’s ethical framework, professional standards and complaints procedures. The relevant professional body for each clinician is listed on their profile page. If you are unsure which professional body your therapist belongs to, you are welcome to contact us and we can direct you to the appropriate organisation.
How Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy is structured
Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy is a practice made up of experienced, self-employed clinicians. Our associates are part of the practice and work from our consulting rooms or online under the Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy name. However, each clinician is independently responsible for their own clinical work, including their therapeutic practice, record keeping, professional conduct and compliance with the ethical standards of their registering body.
This means that, while we take concerns about any clinician associated with the practice seriously, clinical complaints about an individual therapist are ordinarily dealt with through that therapist’s professional body. Professional bodies are responsible for considering complaints about clinical conduct, ethical practice and professional standards.
Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy is not a professional regulatory body and cannot make formal findings about a clinician’s fitness to practise. That responsibility sits with the clinician’s registering professional body, which has its own complaints and disciplinary procedures.
Where a serious concern is raised about an associate, we may also consider whether any internal action is required in relation to that clinician’s association with Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy. This does not replace the role of the clinician’s professional body in considering formal complaints about clinical conduct.
Complaints made to professional bodies
All associates are contractually required to inform Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy promptly if a complaint is made against them through their professional body, or if any formal concern is raised that may affect their professional standing or their association with the practice.
Where a complaint about a clinician is upheld by their professional body, Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy will consider the outcome carefully.
If the upheld complaint raises serious concerns about clinical conduct, ethical practice, professional boundaries, client safety, or the reputation of the practice, we may review whether that clinician should continue to be associated with Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy.
Any such decision would be considered proportionately and in light of the findings made by the relevant professional body, the seriousness of the matter, any sanctions or conditions imposed, and the clinician’s response to those findings.
What we can help with
If communication has broken down between you and your therapist, and you are unsure what to do next, you are welcome to contact us.
We cannot investigate or adjudicate complaints about the clinical work of an individual therapist, as each clinician is self-employed and accountable to their own professional body. However, we can help you think through what may have happened, clarify how the practice is structured, and direct you towards the appropriate professional body where a formal complaint may be considered.
Our role in this situation is not to take sides, make findings, or determine whether professional standards have been breached. It is to respond respectfully, help clarify the correct route for your concern, and ensure that you know where to take the matter next.
Contacting us about a concern
When contacting us about a concern, please include the name of the clinician involved, a brief summary of what has happened, whether you have already raised the matter with the clinician directly, and what outcome you are seeking. This helps us understand the nature of your concern and, where appropriate, signpost you to the correct professional body.
You can contact the practice owners, Mark Vahrmeyer and Sam Jahara, at:
Concerns raised with us will be treated respectfully and sensitively. We will handle information as confidentially as possible, although there may be circumstances where information needs to be shared with the clinician concerned, their professional body, our professional advisers, or another appropriate organisation.
We take complaints and concerns seriously. Our aim is to respond thoughtfully and proportionately, while recognising both the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the professional accountability of each clinician.
If you are in immediate distress or at risk
This page is not monitored as an emergency or crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or need urgent mental health support, please contact 999, attend your nearest A&E department, or contact NHS 111.