What happens during the free initial assessment?
I offer a 20 minute assessment, free of charge. This gives us the opportunity to talk and decide if we want to work together. It allows us time to talk through your reasons for coming to therapy and gives you an opportunity to ask any questions. We can also talk about appointment times and how the sessions will work. Then if you decide you want to work with me I would suggest an initial trial period of six sessions. This gives you a chance to see if therapy is right for you.
How much does counselling cost?
Each session costs £50.
How long does a session last?
A counselling session is 50 minutes.
Which issues can be explored?
Clients come to counselling for many different reasons. These may include anxiety, depression, bereavement, grief and loss, relationship breakdown, retirement, personal injury or illness, job loss and change in living conditions, amongst others. This list is by no means exhaustive but merely a few examples of reasons people may decide to see a counsellor.
How many sessions will I need?
We can discuss how many sessions you would like during your introductory session. Some people have around 6-8 sessions whereas others prefer to have long term counselling. Whatever you decide, we will regularly review our work together every 6 sessions to check how you want to proceed.
Are our sessions completely confidential?
Everything we talk about in our time together is confidential unless I feel that you or another person is at risk of serious harm. This can be discussed during our initial session. Also, I have a legal obligation to report any matters related to drug trafficking, money laundering or terrorism. I have regular supervision sessions where I discuss casework with my supervisor but all client information is anonymous.
What happens if I cancel our appointment?
I understand that, from time to time, life takes over and you may need to cancel an appointment. If possible, please try to give more than 48 hours’ notice. If you cancel our appointment with less than 48 hours’ notice, I will still charge the full fee as I will be unable to offer the slot to another client at short notice. If you do not attend our appointment and do not inform me, after 48 hours I will assume you no longer wish to attend counselling and I will release the time slot for future clients.
Will my personal information be protected?
I store all client notes and personal information in securely locked cabinets, accessible only by myself. Client notes are anonymised and personal information is stored in a separate location so clients cannot be identified from their notes. I am registered with the ICO and follow GDPR regulations. You can learn more about my Privacy Policy.