Frequently Asked Questions

I offer a free 15-minute Introductory Consultation either online via Zoom or by telephone.  Please use the ‘Contact’ section to get in touch and then we can book in a mutually convenient date/time.

During your Introductory Consultation I will listen carefully and also ask relevant questions to help understand what is going on for you, discuss the time-frame you have in mind and of course, you can then decide if you would like me to work with you. 

In short there is no set minimum or maximum number of sessions.  There are a number of factors to take into consideration, eg. the nature and severity of the issue, the type of therapy, goals of therapy, your progress. 

During the initial couple of sessions, I will carry out an assessment of your issues and together we can then decide what you would like to specifically address, how many sessions you can commit to, and from there I can give you an estimate around how many sessions you might need.

I generally offer weekly sessions initially, as consistent attendance is key to the best therapeutic outcome.   Each session lasts between 50 and 60 minutes. 

• Individual Counselling: £55.00 per session
• Individual Counselling: £300.00 for a 6-session block booking
• Couples Counselling: £65.00 per session
• Couples Counselling: £350.00 for a 6-session block booking

Once you have had your free of charge Introductory Consultation, your first and future sessions need to be paid 24-hours in advance by bank transfer (alternative payment options are available if needed).  Your confirmation of booking email will include the information you will need to make payments.

Any sessions that need to be cancelled or re-booked can be done so with a minimum of 48-hours’ notice, free of charge.  Any sessions that are cancelled or not re-booked within that time-frame, will be chargeable in full.

Yes.  Zoom offers a fully encrypted, safe and secure platform for counselling sessions.  It offers the flexibility to log on wherever you are, so long as you have privacy.  You can be confident that what you say will be kept private.

My counselling room is completely private, and I follow the guidance of my professional bodies in the way I take and store notes.

I will talk through the principles of Client Confidentiality with you during our Introductory Consultation, including the limited number of occasions when this can be legally and ethically broken. 

Please read my ‘Privacy Policy & GDPR’ document.

Unfortunately not.  For insurance purposes, I can only work with people living in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

Many clients don’t know what is causing them to think or feel a certain way. My aim is to explore your current problems and concerns with you, to help you gain more insight and awareness; what needs to come out or be addressed will surface naturally.

No, I only work with adult individuals and couples.

For the most part it is the client’s choice when counselling comes to an end. In order to end the work safely and usefully I advise that we openly discuss potential end dates and work towards the end session thoughtfully. Counselling is a big commitment both in terms of your time and your money, and because of that you deserve to have an ending to reflect that.

Working together in a counselling context forms a relationship that is quite different to any other relationship you may have in your life. Outside of our arranged session time you can email/text me to let me know if you can’t make our session, are running late, or for other administration queries. However, if you feel you need immediate emotional support or safeguarding outside of our time together it is important that you reach out to a service designed for that purpose, such as The Samaritans (https://www.samaritans.org/), The Big White Wall (https://www.bigwhitewall.com), the emergency services (999 in the UK) or your local A&E department.

Yes, absolutely.  People often find that they may want or need counselling at various point in their life; it does not need to be a once in a lifetime experience.  There are many layers to the issues brought to counselling and it can take time to work your way through those.  Counselling can be used as a way to look after your long-term mental health and not just at a time of crisis.

No, couples counselling is available for couples at all stages of their relationship, including married, unmarried, dating, or considering separation.