Will counselling work and what is your approach?

I feel that counselling can be very effective. Counselling works best when you have realised that you are struggling and are ready to do the work and make some changes. Often the time in between the sessions is when you gain insight into how you are feeling and you can think more deeply about what came up in your sessions. We can then explore how you feel about these realisations in subsequent sessions and work on the changes that you need to make to feel better. Counselling is about creating change for the better. Therapy is hard work and often it will stir up painful memories and past hurts. However sharing these feelings and gaining a clearer understanding of why they still affect you can help lessen the pain and help you to recover. Doing work on yourself can bring long lasting results. Small shifts in your behaviour and feelings can ripple out and create changes in those around you that are often unexpected and welcome. I offer an integrated approach to therapy which draws on a combination of therapies designed to be the most effective way to help you. My core training is Person Centre Therapy which puts the client at the centre of the work and allows time to explore complex feelings. I also use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which looks at ways to change your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. I also use Brief Therapies that use a short term, solution focused approach to help resolve a current and pressing problem. Existential Therapy allows you to explore why you are here (why you exist) and what your purpose is in life. This can be particularly helpful if you have suffered a bereavement or are at a cross roads in your life and wondering where you fit in to the world or which direction you should take. Relationship Therapy helps to explore the dynamics in relationships whether romantically, within the family, socially and at work. Mindfulness can relieve stress and anxiety and quieten your mind. We may also do some Art Therapy which can unlock feelings in a different way to the traditional talking therapy approach. I am able to tailor using these theories for you to create bespoke counselling that is personal to your needs.



Should I have long term or short term counselling?

This is entirely up to you and will be something that we will discuss in the initial consultation. Sometimes 6 sessions can be very beneficial to help you through a current crisis. Long term counselling can help you explore your problems in depth and help you understand how they originated and support you during the exploration of this. How many sessions you have is directed by you and it generally becomes clear when we are drawing to an end of our work as you will be feeling better and you will be making changes in your life. We can discuss how your therapy ends with perhaps having sessions fortnightly and then monthly so you have a safety net for a while. We will work with whatever feels right for you.



How much do sessions cost?

The initial 50 minute consultation costs £20 and after that sessions cost £50 for 50 minutes. I do offer some reduced rates places for counselling depending on certain circumstances which we can discuss in our initial consulation. During the consultation I will take some general details about you like your address and the details of your GP. As we talk I will gain an understanding of what has brought you to counselling and we will make a plan for how we will work together. The consultation is a chance to see how well we will work together as it is important that you feel that I am the right counsellor for you. If you feel that you would work better with another counsellor then we can discuss this and I can recommend other counsellors that may suit you better. I charge a reduced rate of £35 per session for CPCAB student counsellors wishing to attain their 40 hours of personal therapy and a £20 fee for an initial 50 minute consultation.



How long are the sessions and how often are they?

Sessions are 50 minutes long and are usually weekly depending on your circumstances. I can be flexible around your work patterns though generally I will see you at the same time each week. Please ring the buzzer at the time of your appointment so that I can let you in.



What happens if I need to cancel a session?

I ask for a minimum of 24 hours to cancel a session without me having to charge you the full price for your missed session. I charge my normal fee for last minute cancellations however if it is an emergency or circumstances have overtaken you then I will not change you. Please try to let me know as soon as you realise you will not be able to make it and we can book you in for an alternative session.



How and when do I pay?

You can pay by bank transfer, cash or cheque. I usually take payments at the end of the session when we are booking in for the next session. However is completely up to you when you would like to pay and if paying at the start of the session suits you then that's great.



What happens when I want to stop counselling?

Often it will become clear that you are coming to the end of your counselling as you will feel stronger and are more able to cope. We will discuss when you would like to finish and perhaps incorporate a final review to look at your progress and look at how you will build on this progress after the counselling has ended. We could also move to fortnightly sessions and then monthly sessios to provide a safety net for a while. You can stop your counselling at any time. You may get to a stage where you need to take a break for a while and you are welcome to come back and continue the work when this suits you. If you are unhappy with your counselling then we can look at why and discuss what you would like to do. I can refer to you on to another counsellor. Untimately your wellbeing is paramount.



What happens when I arrive at your building?

When you reach Bayside Business Centre please park on the right hand side as you enter the car park. I have two reserved parking spaces with signs saying "Reserved for Sarah Davenport". Come through the first set of doors into the atrium. On the right hand side of the second set of doors there is an entry system. Press the bottom buzzer for 'Sarah Davenport' and I will answer and buzz you in. I will meet you and take you to my counselling room which is in a private and discreet corridor on the ground floor a few metres from the entrance.



Is there parking?

Yes. There are two designated parking spaces for clients under the name Sarah Davenport on the right hand side as you pull into the car park. Bayside Business Centre is situated opposite the parking spaces so please head towards the building, come through the main doors and press the bottom buzzer on the right hand side marked Sarah Davenport. I will come and meet you and take you to my room which is in a discreet, ground floor corridor a few metres from the entrance.



What is accreditation?

After three years of being a qualified counsellor we are able to apply for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accreditation. This is a thorough and meticulous process which takes about six months to complete. As well as demonstrating high standards of training, competence and ethics, counsellors must demonstrate personal awareness and an understanding of how the way they work helps clients. To apply, counsellors must be able to demonstrate that they meet the required standards of practice and complete a rigorous application and assessment process. Being an accredited counsellor helps clients, employers, practitioners and students to make an informed decision when choosing a therapist because it verifies that their counselling practice is of a high standard.



Frequently Asked Questions