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. I will give you the details after our first consultation.



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 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.



How does counselling work on Zoom?

Please don't be put off by using Zoom as a way of having counselling. I understand that using Zoom can be daunting if you've never used it before or don't have much or any experience with it. I have chosen Zoom for how easy it is to use, and especially because it can be used with no installation needed at your end. My Zoom sessions work by sending you an email with a link to the Zoom meeting, all you do is simply click the link, enter the meeting password I provide (to keep them meeting secure) and once I admit you to the session from the virtual waiting room, the session will begin at the alotted time.



My browser doesn't work well with Zoom, what do I do?

Although most browsers do support Zoom, if you continue to have trouble with it I recommend downloading the application. You can do this by going to the download section of the Zoom website (https://zoom.us/download) and selecting the download for 'Zoom Client for Meetings' and then follow the installation process. You do not need to make an account with Zoom in order to join my sessions.



Frequently Asked Questions