Frequently Asked Questions

The first session is a chance for you to share with me what has brought you to counselling, and I will ask you questions about your background, lifestyle, early years, family, social life, and general health to enable me to understand you better. I will explain how I work, the Ethical Framework I follow and what you can expect from me, especially in terms of confidentiality. Together we will consider what feels right for you and if you decide to continue, we will agree a time to meet each week.

Please do not bring anyone with you. There is no waiting area so if you are driven by someone they will be expected to wait in the car, or perhaps go for a stroll while you have your session.

It is understandable that you might feel apprehensive about starting counselling and want to bring someone with you, but these sessions are for you. Counselling offers the liberating opportunity to say how you feel in a safe space with no judgement, and however well-meaning, having someone else with you can be inhibiting. You want to be assured that what you say in the session, stays in the session. 

My practice is in a private room on the ground floor of my home. There is a small step into the property. Once inside, the ground floor is on one level.

All sessions are exactly 50 minutes long.

I offer open-ended counselling which means there is no set number of sessions. However, we will discuss together how many sessions would be useful to begin with (usually around 6-8) and review this at around week 4. Things might come up that you didn’t expect as time goes on, or you might need a few weeks to feel truly comfortable to speak freely! This is all perfectly understandable which is why it can be difficult to give a specific number of sessions required. Or you might find you have got what you need and we will plan when to have our final session. In any case, it is always for you to decide what feels right.

I require 48 hours notice of cancellation of a session otherwise the full fee is payable. I reserve the same time for you each week so I cannot offer that time to anyone else.

Ideally, sessions are held at the same time each week. However, I firmly believe working a shift pattern should not be an obstacle to counselling. Therefore, where possible, and with planning, it may be possible to accommodate this. The same 48-hour cancellation policy will apply.

All sessions are confidential, except where there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else. Should there be disclosure of involvement in money laundering, trafficking, or terrorist activities, I am legally obliged to report it. 

I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and I abide by their Ethical Framework. This means I follow their guidelines for good and safe practice. 

Your information is kept safe. Your details are anonymised and I follow GDPR and am registered with the ICO.