asked questions

frequently

What will happen in the first session?

We will talk about what has brought you here and what you are looking to get out of counselling. We will make some agreements about what we are doing – which we will review as we go along.

It's important to trust your judgement as to whether you feel comfortable enough talking with me about your thoughts and feelings. If it doesn't feel right, it is likely that you will find a different therapist who you feel better about working with.

Questions to think about in preparation are :

Why am I seeking counselling?
How do I think counselling is going to help with that?
Why now?
What things in my life/myself would support me to do this work? What might get in the way?

How long is a counselling session and how many will I need?

Counselling sessions are 55 minutes long.

Usually, it takes a number of sessions for counselling to make a difference. However, in some circumstances it may be that one session is enough. You may be quite certain about how many sessions you are looking for, or it may be difficult to know; this is something we can discuss at our first session and come back to throughout.

I strongly suggest meeting weekly to begin with - for at least 4 sessions if possible - to help us get a good grounding in our relationship; this can really help us make the most of further sessions. Thereafter, if fortnightly is preferred, this is an option.

How much does it cost?

My standard rate is £50 for a 55-minute session.

I reserve some spaces at a reduced rate for those where this is not accessible. Please do get in touch and we can discuss what is affordable/possible.

Pay It Forward

If you in a position to comfortably afford a higher rate, even £55 per session, I heartily invite this as part of a pay it forward system. This enables me to provide more sessions to those that would not otherwise be able to access a private therapist of their choice - decreasing the perpetuation of mental health inequalities, whilst still meaning I can make a living. This is an open invitation to those that it truly fits – I appreciate that £50 per session is a significant amount for most people.

Can we talk before arranging a session?

I offer a free phone or video call - up to 20 minutes - to check anything out to help you in deciding whether to make an appointment.

Is it confidential?

It is confidential that you are a client in counselling with me, as is anything you talk about in your sessions. There are however some limits to confidentiality that I am bound to ethically and legally:

If I am concerned that you or another person are at serious, imminent harm, I may seek additional assistance on your behalf or on the behalf of vulnerable others. I will make every effort to discuss this with you before any action is taken.

I may also have to lift confidentiality when a serious crime has been committed or threatened.

What’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

These terms are often used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Psychotherapy is extensive and in-depth work often working with the root sources of your situations. Sometimes counselling refers to a briefer process focusing on patterns of behaviours and recurring difficulties in your life. I see them being very much connected; counselling is part of a psychotherapeutic process.

This policy is about how I store and use any information you may give me – as an enquiring, current and past client, or as a visitor to my website. It also states your privacy rights. This is in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

My privacy policy can be found in full here: