What to Expect

Your first full session will involve going through some paperwork such as the counselling agreement and privacy statement, which I’ll talk you through. I will also be asking you a few more questions than I may do in the subsequent sessions. This is because I will be interested in finding out more about you, your current situation and life experience, and what you hope to gain from therapy. I understand that you may feel anxious and you will not be pressured into sharing anything that you are not comfortable with. I recognise that talking about anything that really bothers you can be difficult, and you may need more sessions to feel safe enough before you mention what troubles you the most, so I will always look to work at your pace.

The number of sessions required varies from individual to individual. For most, a series of short-term sessions, between 8 and 16 sessions is what is needed for goals which have been set for therapy to be achieved. Some clients may also have a very focused issue they want to address and find that they need even less sessions, whilst others may feel their goals are more complex and so require being accompanied on their journey for months or more. We will regularly review your requirements together as the therapy progresses, and the choice to choose how long you are in therapy for, and when to end it, will always remain in your control. The key thing is that that you are free to work at your own pace, without having to worry about going too quickly, too soon.

Counselling normally ends when a client feels they no longer need it, and the purpose of therapy is to support you in developing your own ‘toolkit’ to help you manage life’s challenges. Hopefully, this will mean that at the end of your journey in therapy you will no longer need a therapist to accompany you, being more independent, and taking your toolkit with you.

Yes, it is, with a few exceptions where I am legally bound to share information. These relate to when you or another person is at risk of serious harm, or where drug trafficking, money laundering or acts of terrorism are disclosed. It is important that our work together feels safe, so you always have the choice of what to share with me. We will discuss confidentiality further in our initial conversations.

Not at all. I provide counselling and psychotherapy via secure video conferencing to your home, office or even your car, as long as it is parked safely. The only things you need are a stable internet connection and a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You will also need to find a safe, confidential space where you will not be disturbed or at risk of being overheard. For this purpose, I also encourage the use of headphones or earphones to increase the feeling of privacy and improve sound quality. During our initial consultation I will give you the opportunity to explore if this feels like the most suitable way of working for you.

Many difficulties people are facing can be worked with online. Online therapy can be just as effective as therapy in person and there are many additional advantages to accessing support in this way:

• You are not restricted by location – you can choose the right therapist for you, rather than having to base your choice on them being geographically closest to you.
• Therapists who work online are often able to offer more flexibility in appointment times (early mornings or evenings for example). Some clients are also able to do online counselling during the workday, which suits them better than travelling from work or having to arrange childcare.
• Accessing therapy from your home means you can be comfortable in your own surroundings with no need to travel to a counsellor’s premises.
• Physical disabilities or psychological difficulties are no barrier to you getting the support you need.
• You may feel safer to talk and more at ease, in the comfort of your own home, with a cuppa.