Usually a consultation is all about us meeting and outlining your reasons for coming to counselling and psychotherapy. It is an informal chat to see if counselling is for you and if I am the right therapist for you to work with. The important thing is for you to feel comfortable talking to me.
There is no pressure for you to continue sessions with me after an initial consultation, coming to counselling has to feel right for you.
Counselling offers an opportunity for you to explore difficulties you may be having in a confidential setting.
We may just spend the time talking and looking at things in different ways, or I may suggest trying some specific counselling methods together or even devising some homework that can be worked on outside of sessions. It is your time and your space to use as you wish. You will never be asked to do something you feel uncomfortable with.
Sessions can vary depending on your needs, usually we would meet once a week, however this can change to fortnightly or even monthly if it is more appropriate.
For each person who enters counselling the length of work we do together can be different so I cannot give you a definitive answer. Open ended counselling has no set time limit. This means that when you feel you might want to end counselling we will discuss ending together.
Yes, of course I can help you. Counselling can be a very daunting experience, which it needn't be at all. Making contact and coming for the initial session is often the hardest part. If you are willing, open and honest, then of course I can help you. However counselling is not advice giving and its role is to help you look at things objectively and from different perspectives allowing you to help yourself.
In short yes, but these are only for legal reasons. You will be able to have access to these notes at any point you wish. At no point will your name or personal details be kept with the notes so you will not be identifiable via any notes kept.
Not unless you tell them. Counselling is a very personal thing and I take client confidentiality very seriously.
There are limits to this however as I abide by the codes and ethics as set out the the BACP - more information on this will be given to you at your session and can be found on the BACP website.
Not if you give me 24 hours cancellation notice. The reason for this, is that another client may urgently be waiting for an appointment, who I could reschedule in with enough notice. If there is not sufficient notice then you will be charged for the cancelled appointment.
No - It would be unethical of me to tell you want to do. It would also defeat the point of counselling, which is to empower you to be able to make your own choices and decisions. I can however make suggestions or signpost you to other relevant organisations.