FAQS
You Ask - I Answer
WHAT DAYS AND TIMES ARE SESSIONS ON?
I currently offer counselling sessions between the hours of 9 am - 7.30 pm mainly on Monday and Wednesday, although occasionally I can offer sessions on Tuesday/Thursday. The 5 pm and 6.30 pm sessions are the most popular so if you are able to have a session during the daytime it will be easier to fit you in. I don't currently offer sessions during the weekend.
HOW LONG DOES EACH THERAPY SESSION TAKE?
Each session is 50 minutes in duration. As I might have other clients before or after your session, it is important that you attend on time. If you are late or do not attend you may still be charged as that session has been booked for you. You will not normally be charged if you cancel at least 24 hours prior to the session.
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED AND HOW OFTEN?
Sessions are normally held weekly, sometimes fortnightly and normally on the same day and time each week (although this can be flexed in some circumstances, for example for clients working variable shift patterns ).
Many simple issues can be addressed with short-term counselling of
3 -7 sessions. More complicated issues can require medium-term counselling of 6-15 sessions and for others, longer term counselling can be the solution lasting months or occasionally years (although in this situation, counselling may be less frequent, for example monthly or even ad-hoc, when required).
However, you are always in control of the number of sessions and are free to end at any point. We will normally review progress every 2-3 sessions to decide if there is more to uncover and you are willing to progress further.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A SESSION?
In the first paid session I will normal cover contractual terms and the obligations of both parties , including when and how confidentiality is assured. I will also outline the ethical standards I work to and how I ensure your safety at all times.
Much of the first session will involve finding out more about you, the issues you are seeking help for and how they are affecting your day-today activities. I will normally also carry out baseline testing for anxiety and depression in both the first and last sessions.
The following sessions will normally involve exploring issues or incidents in more depth before going on to bring in ideas or techniques that might be tried to help you. At all times you are at the centre of therapy and if there are things that you don't wish to discuss that is completely fine.
At some point, one, or ideally both of us, may decide that sufficient progress has been made and therefore counselling should end. Alternatively, if I feel that you would be better served by another specialised therapist, I will advise you accordingly. I will always work with your best interests at heart.