What happens during free telephone consultation?

We will talk about what brought you to counselling and how I can help. About the way I work and if you have any questions. During counselling sessions, we work together in an open and honest way, which is an important part of the healing process.

Payment for a session.  

Payments can be made via a bank transfer or through PayPal using the bank details provided to you when booking. Sessions are required to be paid for a minimum of 48 hours before a scheduled session. (Your payment confirms your acceptance of and agreement to these payment terms)

What happens if a session is cancelled?

Please give a minimum of 24-hours-notice for re-scheduling or cancelling an appointment. The full fee will be charged for sessions missed without such notice. If you need to cancel an appointment, please call my mobile or text. I will wait a max of 15 minutes online and face to face after scheduled appointment time, if you do show after this time, session time will be reduced, as I may have another client booked in.

How do we meet online? Currently, I am using a platform called Zoom, for this is secure software recommended for use for therapeutic sessions by the BACP. I will send an email invitation, which will guide you through uploading the software to your tablet/phone or desktop/laptop computer.

How long does counselling last?

Each session is 50-minutes (for counselling or one-to-one) Some clients prefer long-term counselling every fortnight, while others might prefer six to eight sessions. Weekly. We can talk about what feels best for you in the initial appointment and make a plan together. I will regularly check in with you to see how you are feeling about the sessions. You are free to end counselling at any time.

Are the sessions confidential? 

The content of our work together is confidential with a few exceptions. I regularly see a supervisor for confidential sessions during, which I discuss my work to ensure I am working effectively and ethically. I might discuss any issues from my work with a client, this is shared in an anonymised way (no names or identifiable information is ever shared. In some exceptional circumstances, if I felt you or others could be at risk of harm or in some legal circumstances, I may consider speaking about what is shared, however, I would always try to talk about this with you prior to taking any action.

Out of hours contact

I try to reply to phone calls or emails within 24-hours. I am not available outside normal office hours. I respect clients’ privacy and the integrity of the counselling relationship, and its boundaries by not following or connecting on any social media platform.

Can you work with anyone?

I see clients based in the UK. Before agreeing to work together, I would take into account your needs and my ability to meet those needs. If I feel I cannot meet your needs and I do not have the relevant experience for your issues, I will do my best to signpost you to someone who will be more appropriate for you.

How do I prepare for my online sessions? 

A quiet space at home without interruptions. Earphones are a good idea if available and somewhere with adequate lighting. Please turn off devices, such as phones, radio and TV to minimise distractions. After the session ends, it’s important to take some time to chill because sessions can be intense, a walk, listen to some music, stroke your pet, if you have one, any relaxing practice will help to reflect and ground yourself.

In times of mental health or psychological emergencies, please dial 999; or, if possible, attend your local A&E Hospital to be seen by the Crisis Team. You may also wish to contact the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123.