FAQ

Do I need a referral from my GP?
No. If you choose to contact a private counsellor/therapist, your GP doesn't need to refer you. It's up to you whether you let them know.

How long are the sessions?
Individual appointments last 50 minutes.

How long will it take?

There’s no standard length of time as everyone is unique. It depends on what you bring and what we might discover along the way. We can work short term for 6 sessions and with others, who want to make profound changes in their lives, for longer. The choice is yours.

Would I need to come every week?
Sessions ideally take place weekly, same day & time but I appreciate life is busy with many of us needing flexible appointments.

Working remotely:

Online counselling offers an ideal alternative to face to face therapy. Location isn't a barrier, you are free to choose the therapist of your choice regardless of distance. Still professional, still caring, still providing a calm, confidential and supportive space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

Working hours:

General hours are 10am - 8.00pm Monday - Thursday.

Can I really talk about anything?
Absolutely. I am committed to providing a confidential, non-judgemental space for you to eventually feel comfortable enough to talk about whatever is troubling you - no matter how 'bad' or 'wrong' it might feel to you. We will take it slowly and I will be guided by you.

What is the fee?
Individual appointments are £70.00

Payments:

Fees are due weekly; you will be expected to pay for each session 24 hours in advance by bank transfer. If you are unable to make a session please provide 24 hours of notice cancellation or the full fee will be charged.

EMDR:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a stand-alone structured psychotherapy that is able to access and process traumatic memories and adverse life experiences so that they no longer need to affect you on a day-today basis. It enables the memory of difficult experiences to reside in the past, where they belong, as opposed to you having to constantly re-experience them in the present. For more information please click here:

How I work:
Initial consultation

We will meet together which will give you the opportunity to decide if you feel comfortable with the me and with my environment. I will explain more about how I work and you can talk about your concerns and ask questions. I may explore the current concerns in more depth and ask about your development, family history and family life. We can then decide whether to go forward and arrange further appointments.

Therapy plan:
We may agree on a therapy plan for short term (6-12 sessions) or long term (a year or more) therapy, depending on your assessed needs and any specific goals you would like to achieve.

Reviews
We will review progress together regularly and amend the therapy plan accordingly. Please note that the content of your sessions will not be discussed with anyone unless you wishes me to do so, or there is a concern relating to a safeguarding issue .

Adolescents 14 - 18

Teenagers are welcomed to come into the initial session unattended unless they want you to be with them. Some teenagers enjoy using creative art therapy whilst others prefer to just talk through the issues and confusions. We will also look at strategies and techniques in order for your young person to move forward with increased self confidence.

Therapy Dog:

The use of therapy dogs, or as is more formally known, animal assisted interventions, are becoming a popular and well regarded method of therapy.

The benefits of this controlled interaction are vast; the therapy dog is non-judgemental, accepting, and can be a soothing therapeutic presence, helping the reduction of stress and anxiety, alleviating loneliness and isolation, and can also help you to re-establish your own sense of trust.

Occasionally, and only on agreement, we may have the option to invite Douglas into session. If this is of interest to you, or if you would simply like more information about Douglas, please just ask.

Throughout all of this, it's important to remember that each individual session, regardless of the persons age, is private and confidential. Each individual's personal thoughts and feelings are treated with the utmost respect. Anything discussed in counselling sessions is kept in strictest confidence.

A typical paragraph from a counselling contract:

I abide by the Code of Ethics of the British Association of Counselling and I am committed to providing a confidential service to all of my clients, except under the following circumstances:
From time to time I will discuss my work with a clinical supervisor. This is a good standard of practice and requested by the BACP. No name, or identifying information is given, your anonymity is assured.
If I believe my client is at risk of harming himself/herself or others I reserve the right to break confidentiality in order to prevent harm. However, I will only do this in extreme circumstances and would always endeavour to discuss this with you first before taking action.
If required by a court of law to give evidence (e.g. criminal proceeding). In such an event, I will discuss it with you before taking action.

If you are unsure of the implications of this policy, or have any other issues or concerns please don't hesitate to discuss it me.

EMDR