Common Questions About Counselling
I’m nervous about starting therapy.
It is totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It can be hard to talk about feelings out loud, especially if we have not been able to do that before. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. I know it takes courage to start therapy, but that you are here and reading this right now tells me just how brave at least a part of you is feeling, and how you are beginning to feel stronger about taking that first step to feeling okay.
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Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and bring up whatever is going on for you, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to ensuring yours therapy sessions are as comfortable as possible.
My problems seem really small compared to other people's problems and they are more in need of your time
Other clients have felt like this, but I would like to reassure you that it's all relative.  If you're feeling unhappy a lot of the time, or that something just isn't right but you're not sure what it is, or you know that you have past experiences that you think might be affecting you today, then you deserve to have counselling just like everyone else. You deserve to feel okay and counselling can help you.
What if I don't want to talk about something?
It’s normal if you don’t feel ready to share everything. During our sessions, you never have to talk about something you’re not comfortable talking about. It’s my job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff if you want to. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.
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You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you, whatever you are going through, bring that to our sessions and we can explore it together.
I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m too sensitive.
If you open up to me, I will not think you are over-sensitive, I will think you are extremely brave. Many of my clients have had the same fear that people would think they are too sensitive.
Despite what you might tell yourself, or perhaps have heard from others, you are not being dramatic or "too much."
Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgement.
What can I expect during the first session?
Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.​
Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:​
What brought you to therapy? ​​​​
What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?
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You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about why I'm a therapist or how I've helped other clients like you.
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The most important part of a first session is to experience what therapy is like with me. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Yes. Â Your privacy and trust are of utmost importance. Â Everything you bring in your sessions will remain confidential unless I am concerned about your safety or that of someone else.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can Email me for further information or to ask me any questions you might have.
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During a first session, you’ll be able to share what’s going on for you and I can share my ideas around how I can help you, and you can ask me ask how I work as a therapist, or any other questions you may have.
It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. During the session, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with me. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
How long does each therapy session take?
Each session is 50 minutes long.
How long will therapy take?
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast.
If this is true for you, I want you to know that my clients report feeling positive effects after the first couple of sessions, where they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible, but generally steady and careful and long lasting progress is made over a number of sessions. You are in control of the pace and how long you wish to have therapy for.
The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 6-8 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges and then they want to take a break and come back later for further therapy when they're ready. Other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.
We will work together to find the length of time that works for you. You are always in control of your own therapy.
​Can we meet face to face or is therapy online?
At present I am working online and it has worked really well for all of my clients, but I am looking at adding face to face counselling back in the future because I know that not everyone wants to have therapy online. I will update my website when I start working face to face again.
If you're unsure of online therapy and face to face is what you would prefer, please let me know as I would be happy to keep your details and let you know when I begin working face to face again.
How can I get started?
Send me an email or use the contact form on my website to get in touch, and we can arrange a time for that first initial session where you can share what’s going on for you and I can share my ideas around how I can help you. There is no obligation to continue beyond that if you don’t feel I am the right therapist for you. ​​
Do you offer sliding scale rates?
My therapy sessions are 50 minutes long and my current fees are £65 per session and £55 for those aged 18-25yrs.
Sometimes clients want to book in longer sessions from time to time, perhaps to focus on something in particular, and these sessions are charged a pro rata fee of £97 for a 75 minute session.
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I also offer Single Session Therapy and the sessions are 110 minutes long at a pro rata fee of £130. These sessions are useful for those that don't feel they want to have ongoing therapy but who want to focus on something in particular, or for those that have previously had therapy, with me or another therapist, and do not want to enter into further ongoing therapy but feel they would like to check in and focus on something that is troubling them at the moment.
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I ask that payment is made prior to each appointment and my cancellation policy is 48 hours before the full fee will be due. ​