Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need counselling?
Only you can decide whether you wish to try counselling or psychotherapy. Just talking to someone confidentially who is not a friend or family member can make all the difference. Counselling or psychotherapy provides you with a regular time and safe space to explore your feelings and talk about your problems. A counsellor can help you develop better ways of coping, allowing you to live the life you deserve.
How could counselling help me?
- help you to explore your feelings and thoughts about your situation
- they can help you to look at how to deal with your feelings
- they can help you to explore your feelings within yourself and your relationships
- they can help you to explore how you might deal with things differently in the future
Counselling isn’t a magic solution – but it can help you to understand what is happening to you and explore different ways of dealing with things in the future.
The first appointment
Counselling is a process in which two way communication takes place and it is important that both counsellor and client feel comfortable with each other. I generally use the first session to gather information about peoples’ motivation for seeking counselling and whether I am the right person to work with them.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions is individual and will depend upon the issues that someone brings.
Generally though, clients come at least once a week, preferably on the same day and time, so that we maintain continuity and we both have our meetings worked into our regular weekly schedule. Experience tells me that when sessions are not fixed, people end up missing sessions (having a negative impact on the therapy process) or they schedule themselves out of therapy altogether. Having said that I am also flexible if necessary.
How long are the sessions?
Individual sessions are 50 minutes long and couple sessions are 60 minutes.
What do you charge?
My fees vary depending on individual financial circumstances. Please see the fees page to find out more about my rates and methods of payment.
What happens if I miss a session?
Given the importance I place on continuity of the work and the fact that my world revolves around my session schedule, I charge 100% for any missed sessions. However, if you inform me one week or more in advance of our session, you will not be charged. If, for some reason, you can’t physically get to my practice, we can do a phone session. Or, if necessary, we can try to reschedule within that week.
Are our sessions confidential?
Yes. However there are certain exceptions, such as, if I am mandated to report if I believe you are a danger to yourself or others, especially child abuse and terrorism.