How To Begin
I understand that the thought of starting counselling may cause you to feel nervous, anxious or uncertain. But, once they have made the first step, my clients often report that they feel relieved to have begun.
You can contact me by email, text or call, whichever you are most comfortable with. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
I will aim to get back to you as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.
It can sometimes help to have a brief, 10 to 20 minute phone or video chat to get an idea of how you feel talking with me - free of charge. One of the most important aspects of successful counselling is the relationship between therapist and client. It is important that you feel comfortable talking with me.
The next step is to book in an initial assessment session. This is your opportunity to explore in more depth what brings you to see me. The session will last for approximately 50 minutes and will be charged at my usual rate. You may have a specific goal in mind that you want to work towards or more of a general need to share and talk with someone about life experiences that you want to try and make sense of.
After the assessment session I normally suggest taking some time to think about next steps. There is no obligation to continue; and you will not be put on the spot to book another appointment.
If you decide to start therapy with me, we will initially work together to identify your objectives in seeking counselling. Sessions usually take place weekly at the same time. Therapy works best when there is a commitment to the work. Having regular weekly sessions also allows time for both of us to process and reflect upon the session.
If regular, weekly sessions do not work for you, we can arrange to have sessions at different times or on different days from week to week. If we work in this way, I will need as much notice as possible to arrange appointments.
It can take several sessions to get to know each other and to develop a trusting, therapeutic relationship. You may find that you talk about something that you did not expect to talk about. And you may find that your objectives for what you want to achieve from therapy change over time.
Every client's approach to therapy is unique; yours will be too.
FEES
My fee is £100 for a 50 minute session either face-to-face or virtually.
PAYMENT
I ask that my clients pay for every session 24 hours before the start of the session via a bank transfer, which acts a way of confirming your attendance. An invoice is available upon request for each session.
DURATION AND TIMING OF SESSIONS
All sessions last 50 minutes and usually occur at the same time each week. Once we have agreed an appointment, I will keep this time available for you.
CANCELLATION POLICY
I require at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel a session. If you do not give me the required notice, the full fee is still payable as the session time has been reserved for you.