Frequently Asked Questions

Seeking therapy or counselling can be an intimidating or confusing experience and so it’s entirely understandable that you may have some questions about how it works.

Although I’d encourage you to contact me for an initial phone call so that I can answer your questions personally, I have tried to answer some that people generally tend to wonder about.

I’ll cover the finer details in our first full session where I will introduce you to my therapeutic framework which explains the practicalities in more detail.

  • The process of counselling is as individual as the issues you might be bringing to the counselling, and so there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

    At the start of our work we can discuss together what you might have in mind and what pressures there might be around this, and then we can review this at intervals throughout our work together. Our progress and thoughts about ending can be brought in to think about at any time that you feel is right.

    However, like any other relationship it naturally takes time to build, as well as to conclude at the end, and so my way of working allows for this.

  • All I’d recommend is for you to have thought about what your main issues are and what might need or want from therapy, as well as having an idea of your weekly availability. If you have any questions about me or the therapy then feel free to bring those too, otherwise there’s nothing else just bring yourself.

  • It might seem unlikely that someone can work with you if they don’t share your exact experience. However, my role relies not on factual details, but on my ability to understand the emotional meaning and impact of your experiences on your feelings. 

    So, although I may or may not have direct experience of the specifics of your problem I am most keen to hear from you about your experience of your problem. Often, I find that our differences can mean we can discover fresh thoughts and ideas.

  • You can reach me anytime via my contact page or via email. I aim to respond within 3 working days. You can also contact me via phone but if I don’t answer please leave a voicemail and I’ll get back to you when I’m available.

  • At any point you can decide to stop working with me, though I ask that you give me a month’s notice during which time we can work towards a healthy and positive ending for you. If we feel we are not working together, I may be able to refer you to a colleague if you feel this is desired and appropriate.

  • No, I do not set you tasks to do between sessions, though you may be left with some things to mull over.

  • Any queries related to logistics like data storage, complaints procedures, holidays/breaks, and payment will be discussed in our first session and will be detailed within my therapeutic framework which I will give you a copy of in our first session. If there’s anything else you’d like to know just reach out and ask and I’ll gladly get back to you.