There are a few common questions about counselling, so let's take a look...

 

• What is counselling? Counselling is an opportunity for you to talk to a trained professional about your feelings, thoughts, memories and situations that may be causing you difficulty. It's a safe, confidential space where you have someone to talk to who is not going to judge you, or tell you what to do. It can be helpful to think of counselling being the place where you unload all your troubles with someone who is trained to help you manage them, by asking thoughtful and reflective questions, that may enable you to think about things differently, find new healthy coping mechanisms, or make big internal or external changes in your life. None of us get through life without experiencing some kind of trauma, difficulty, pain or situation that challenges us to our very core. Bringing that material to counselling can provide a sense of peace that isn't always readily available in our every day busy lives. 

 

• How much do you charge?

       £60 per therapy hour (50 minutes)

       £110 for 90 minutes

       Concessional rates start at £35 per 50 minute session for people on a low income - these are only held online

 

• What information do you need from me? I take your name, address, GP details, general idea of what you're looking for from counselling (if you know) and an emergency contact of your choice. Before starting counselling together you will be given an opportunity to read the contract I have created, and ensure that it is right for you. It provides all the information you need and you will be asked to sign and return it to me. You can stop counselling at any time if you choose to. It does not hold you to a certain number of sessions, and you are not limited to the number of sessions you receive. It simply details the boundaries and expectation of both you and I. 

 

• What do you do with my information? Your information is confidential and kept safe and secure under GDPR guidelines. Policies around confidentiality, including limitations around safeguarding can be made available to you at your request and are detailed in the contract signed by both of us. 

 

• I'm a bit anxious and not sure if counselling is for me? That's perfectly normal. I remember in my twenties going to my first therapy session and wondering if my counsellor could read my mind! He couldn't, and neither can I. You're in complete control of what you choose to share with me. 9/10 people feel anxious at first, because it's a new experience and I'm a new person, it throws up all those worries and concerns about being liked, judged, accepted etc... but in my experience people are usually relaxed by the end of their first session.

 

• How do you know if I'm the right counsellor for you?  Well. you never know unless you try but you also have the opportunity to have a free 20 minute chat with me before deciding to move forward with counselling and decide if I'm the person you feel comfortable with. If you're not ready right now, that's okay. You can always come back at a later date should you want to. 

 

• What if I've been abused and never told anyone before - will you make me? No. As an adult is up to you whether you want to tell anyone else, or report to the police. I will never put you under any pressure to do so and if you would like further signposting to services that can provide support, other than counselling I can do this. No one has the right to tell you how to respond to abuse. 

 

                                  There is no such thing as a silly question, so feel free to ask anything I haven't covered here.