Frequently Asked Questions

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What can you expect from counselling?  How 'scary' is it to go for counselling?  Am I able to read your thoughts?

Don't worry about anything like that at all.  I won't be able to 'read' you without having a conversation with you.  Of course, I am aware of body language/nonverbal communication, but so are you - without a doubt.  Even if you don't necessarily realise that.  And I will really help you to feel at ease in the shortest possible time, whether you come on your own, or as a couple, for relationship advice and counselling or for help with personal problems.

For starters - here are some questions you might like answered, even if you had not thought of asking them:

1. What kind of problems can you help with?
2. How many sessions will I need?
3. How long does a session last?
4. How much does it cost and how can I pay?
5. Will I be charged if I have to cancel my appointment?
6. Do you have a waiting list?
7. Do you give advice?
8. What is your ‘success’ rate?
9. Do you offer email counselling?
10. What will we be working on?
11. Do you use a particular theory?
12. What about ending counselling?
13. Can I come on my own/with my partner?
14. Will you be writing reports or notes about me?
15. Is it 100% confidential?
16. Do you belong to a professional organisation?
17. How did you build this website?

Are you a health provider/professional? Discover how you can improve outcomes with my Working With Couples Workshop.  See: Working With Couples Workshop testimonials.

1.  What kind of problems can you help with?

• Adult couple relationship problems
• Other relationship problems
  
• Endings: separation/divorce, bereavement, terminal illness
• Depression
• Trauma - accidents, victims of violence, work-related incidents, etc
• Other traumas
  
• Stress, anxiety, phobias
• Anger
• Work-place issues: bullying, organisational change
• Exam/interview preparation

Some of these problems cannot be helped by telephone counselling, but do call me to talk it over.

Can you imagine what it will feel like once you have given me a call and started the process?  Can you imagine what you will feel like once you have finally got it off your chest and sorted that problem?

For testimonials - click here.

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2.  How many sessions will I need?

At the end of your initial session we may negotiate a limited number of sessions to start with.  However, ultimately you decide on whether you want just one session or more.  We will work to get you feeling well again as soon as possible.  There is every chance that you feel much better after just two or three sessions, even if you are not out of the woods yet.

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3.  How long does a session last?

Sessions are fifty minutes, or you can book an hour and a half—you decide. You may want to book 1.5 hour at least for the first session.

If you are living quite a distance away from me, we have decided that telephone counselling is not appropriate and you really want to see me, I can schedule for you to come for a day (4.5 hr - 3 sessions, not including breaks).  I have also on occasions arranged for a series of sessions over two days.

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4.  How much does it cost and how can I pay?

Weekdays	50 minutes	50 GBP
	90 minutes	80 GBP -  best value and better for a first session

Many counsellors charge more when they work with a couple.  My fee is the same whether you come on your own or with your partner.  For my fee for telephone counselling, please visit this page: Telephone counselling.

You can pay by cash or cheque at the end of your session.  If you prefer you can pay right here in advance of your session.

Personal or couple counselling

50 Minutes £50.00 90 Minutes £80.00 50 Minutes on Saturday £80.00

Want to start straight away?  Brilliant!  Give me a call now to set up an appointment as soon as possible: Tel. 01634 856176.

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5.  Will I be charged if I have to cancel an appointment?

I will only charge you the full fee if you have missed an appointment or have canceled with less than 48 hours notice (not including Sundays). Equally if I have to cancel at short notice - your rescheduled session will be free of charge.

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6.  Do you have a waiting list?

I can often offer an initial appointment within a few days.

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7.  Do you give advice?

I am happy to give advice and/or information, if requested - depending on whether or not we can help you to find the answers. 

However, it would unethical for me to advise you on whether you should separate or end a relationship.  I can help you to explore your options.

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8.  What is the ‘success’ rate?

Anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, trauma, and anger problems can mostly be very successfully treated. You may be surprised at how soon changes can start to take place.

With regards to relationship counselling: for some people success means the survival of their marriage.  For others it means the recovery or maintenance of their self-esteem and dignity, and the children in the middle, even though their relationship has broken down .

It is important to discuss your hopes and expectations during your first counselling session.
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9.  Do you offer email counselling?

I do offer telephone counselling, but I regret I am unable to offer email counselling.

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10.  What will we be working on?

Some people find it really hard to even start to tell me what has been happening and how they feel.  Don’t worry - we will take it gently.  We will work together to achieve your goals in as few counselling sessions as necessary, but on the whole - you set the pace and I will gently guide you.

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11.  Do you use a particular theory?

Don’t worry if you have no idea - most clients just want to feel better soon, regardless of the approach the counsellor/psychotherapist uses. I include this information for people who for whatever reason have insight into different theories. 

As a human givens therapist, I will ensure that your therapy/counselling sessions are unique, to suit your individual circumstances, your needs and your resources.  The human givens approach is an organising idea, based on existing theories that have been proven to be most useful.

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12.  What about ending counselling?

You may be surprised to find how quickly the time flies during counselling.  Most counsellors will keep to the exact time, as do I.  That helps me to make sure that there is no chance of your 'bumping' into the next client and prevents you having to worry about being late for other commitments.

I aim to leave sufficient time at the end of the session for you to re-orientate yourself to the 'outside world'.  We will take that time to look back over the session and summarise what we have been talking about.  Then follow payment and scheduling your next appointment if appropriate. If you feel that the endings come too quickly for you, do feel free to discuss this.

We will book the next appointment for whenever it suits us both, taking into account your needs at the time.

You can have weekly sessions, or spread them out further, depending on what you feel able to commit to, what you have come to see me for, your financial situation and where we are in the counselling process.

I usually suggest that we aim for 4-6 sessions initially, as often quite a lot can be achieved in that time.  However, you may want to start with fewer, or more sessions and you do not have to commit yourself to that number.

Clear feedback from you helps me to offer what is right for you.  It would be perfectly OK for you to say that you would like either to finish at this session or, ideally the next or following session. You can find further information about ending counselling at the bottom of this page: How to find a counsellor.

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13.  Can I come on my own/with my partner?

If you are considering relationship counselling, but your partner is not keen, then do please make an appointment for yourself.  We can discuss how we can include your partner - even a single session can be helpful.

When you feel better, then that potentially can have a positive effect on your relationship and your partner.  For further information on relationship/couple counselling visit my page: What to expect in couple counselling.

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14.  Will you be writing reports or notes about me?

You have access to the counselling notes I keep, they are short, an ‘aide-memoir’ for me, recording only a summery of what you have told me.

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15.  Is it 100% confidential?

Counselling is a private and confidential form of help. I will not pass on any information from or about you to anyone else with the following exceptions: when there is a risk of someone being seriously hurt (that may include yourself) and when it is in the public's interest.

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Clinical supervision Counsellors / psychotherapists have 'supervision' - regular consultations with another experienced counsellor.  Counsellors have different needs in supervision, depending on their approach, theory, experience and personal preferences.  However, in general supervision is for their own learning and support.  It also ensures that a knowledgeable person is overlooking the well-being of the counsellor and their practice. (A supervisor offers support, but does not counsel the counsellor.) If your counsellor wants to speak to her/his supervisor about you, he/she will we not use any personally identifiable information.

16.  Do you belong to a professional organisation?

I belong to two organisations.  As a registered counsellor I am bound by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy code Ethics and Practice.

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17.  How did you build this website?

I built this website with a programme that includes all you would ever need to build a site, attract traffic (no minor time and money saver!) and monetise it.

You may also be interested in:	Food affects your mood!
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