What happens during the free initial phone consultation?
We'll have around 15 minutes to talk about what has brought you to counselling and for you to get a sense of me and how I work. You can choose to book a first session then or take some time to think about it – there is no obligation to continue.

 

How do I know if you're the right counsellor for me?
Finding the right counsellor is personal – it's important that you feel comfortable, understood and that the way I work feels right for you. The initial consultation should give you a good sense of this, and if I feel that another type of support would better meet your needs, I'll help signpost you where I can.

 

I've never had counselling before – what do I need to do?
You don't need to prepare anything or know what you're going to say. I'll send you our Working Together Agreement beforehand so you can read it and bring any questions, and we'll go through it together during our first session.

 

What if I don't know what to talk about or what I want from counselling?
That's absolutely fine – you don't need to arrive with a clear goal or know where to begin. I can ask questions to help us explore what has brought you to counselling, what's happening in your life now and, where relevant, experiences or relationships that may help us understand things more fully.

 

How often will I have counselling?
Sessions are usually weekly and last 50 minutes. Having a regular time gives us continuity in our work together.

 

How many sessions will I need?
Counselling with me is open-ended, so there is no set number of sessions. We'll review our work every six weeks to reflect on how things are going and whether counselling continues to meet your needs.

 

Can I stop counselling whenever I want?
Yes. You can end counselling at any time, although where possible I encourage us to have a final session so we can reflect on our work together and bring it to an ending.

 

What happens if I need to cancel, rearrange or miss a session?
Please give at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or rearrange; with less notice, the full session fee is payable. Missed sessions are also charged in full, and if you arrive late, we'll still finish at our usual agreed time.

 

Is counselling confidential?
Yes, what you share in counselling is confidential, although there are some circumstances where I may have a legal or ethical responsibility to share information. I also attend regular clinical supervision, where client work is discussed anonymously to support safe and ethical practice.

 

Do you keep notes about me?
Yes. I keep brief, factual and anonymised notes about our sessions, which are stored securely and confidentially in accordance with UK data protection requirements. You can find more information about how I manage your information in my Privacy Notice.

 

Do I have to talk about my childhood?
No. Sometimes earlier experiences can help us understand what is happening in our lives now, so we may explore these when they are relevant to what you bring to counselling. How much you choose to explore is always up to you.

 

What if I don't feel that counselling is helping?
Counselling isn't always a linear process and not every session will feel like something has changed; sometimes it is between sessions that we begin to notice a difference. We'll review our work every six weeks, but if you have concerns about how counselling is going we can explore these together and, if another form of support would better meet your needs, consider what might be more helpful.