Individual counselling
Individual counselling session normally takes place once week on the same day and at an agreed time, and usually lasts for an hour. The length of therapy is different for everyone – it can take a few sessions or many months, depending on your situation and your needs.
During that hour, you will decide what you want to talk about – it is your space and you are in charge of the process. My role will be to hear and understand what is going on for you and help you find a way forward by reflecting back, asking questions and sometimes, making suggestions.
Everything you say to me will be completely confidential with the exception of situations when I am worried about your harming yourself or someone else, or if there are concerns about the welfare of a child. Cases of breaking confidentiality are extremely rare and I will always raise the concern with you first if possible and before taking any action. I regularly discuss my work with a clinical supervisor, which is an ethical requirement for all professional psychotherapists. This will involve talking about some issues that may have come up for you (without identifying you in any way) with the objective to ensure that I am as effective as I should be while supporting you.
Telephone support
If you are going through a particularly challenging and tough time and need to talk to me outside of the session time, I will be available to speak to you on the phone, free of charge. Typically, I will ask you to text me or to leave me a voicemail and will return your call as soon as I am able to.
E-mail support
E-mail contact will never be a substitute for a counselling session, but can serve to provide you with information between sessions, brief support or be a way to make, change or cancel arrangements.
Online Therapy
Online therapy is not a substitute for a face to face contact when you and your therapist spend time in the room together, but can still be a powerful and effective way of accessing support and making changes. We do live in challenging times, and sometimes it is not possible to conduct therapy in person. In those cases, I can offer you therapy sessions via ZOOM, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype or telephone.
Referrals
One person cannot be an expert on all topics. This principle also applies to therapists. If you approach me for support with an issue which lies outside of my area of my training or experience, I will make every effort to help you identify an appropriate alternative source of support and suggest an individual or organisation better equipped to effectively support you. This may be instead of, or in addition to our individual arrangement.
What it costs
I charge between £65 and £85 per session (please enquire about concessions, as some may be available!) Anything I do to support you outside the sessions’ time, such as researching resources to help you, supporting letters, referrals, producing training and information sheets, communication on the phone and e-mail support will be free of charge.
