FAQs
What happens in a counselling session?
We talk together - sometimes you might come with something specific you’d like to discuss, other times we might just see which direction the conversation takes.
I won’t tell you what to do or make decisions for you, but I will ask gentle questions to help you to reflect on what’s going on for you, and to explore what's important to you.
Sometimes I might invite you to try things out in the sessions, such as relaxation techniques or creative exercises using postcards and other materials. I might suggest we try some of these things, but I’ll never pressure you to do something you don’t want to do.
Ultimately, each session and each person is different - which is one of the things I love about therapy.
Read my blog post: 10 Useful Things To Know About Counselling
Is counselling guaranteed to help me?
There are no guaranteed outcomes of counselling, but I know from experience that it can be life-changing - sometimes in unexpected ways.
No single type of therapy, and no single counsellor, is a perfect fit for everyone. This is why the initial consultation appointment is important, as we get to meet each other and decide if and how we would like to work together.
Counselling is also an evolving process; I will regularly check in with you to see how you feel the therapy is going, so we can adapt our approach as needed.
How frequent are the sessions and how many will I need?
To keep the continuity of the counselling, sessions take place weekly or fortnightly.
Each person is different, so we will decide together how many sessions to start with, or you may choose to leave it open-ended.
You're free to decide to end therapy at any time, I just ask for one session’s notice so that we can address any outstanding issues and finish in a helpful way.
How much do the sessions cost?
The initial consultation session is £20 and subsequent therapy sessions are £45 - all are 50 minutes long (visit my Services page to find out more). I review my session rates annually.
What if I have to cancel a session?
If you cancel with more than 24 hours’ notice, no charge will be made. Cancellations within 24 hours of the scheduled session are charged at the full rate.
Do you offer counselling to children and young people?
I am qualified to work with adults, so my sessions are for anyone aged 18 and over.
If you are a young person looking for counselling, or you are looking on behalf of a young person, here are some local organisations that might be able to help:
You can also ask your GP for a referral to your local NHS CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) team.