Frequently asked questions about counselling
What concerns can I bring to counselling?
People come to counselling for many different reasons. These may include:
- Emotional wellbeing: anxiety, stress, panic attacks, depression, low self-esteem, perfectionism and burnout.
- Relationships and family life: relationship or family difficulties, affairs, separation or divorce, pregnancy, miscarriage and menopause. I offer individual counselling rather than couples counselling.
- Trauma and abuse: the effects of trauma, domestic abuse, and emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
- Neurodiversity: experiences connected with ADHD or autism.
- Health and everyday life: chronic illness, insomnia or sleep difficulties, health anxiety, adjustment to change, motivation, self-care, and changing habits or behaviour.
- Loss and life changes: bereavement, redundancy and loneliness.
If you are unsure whether I am the right person to support you, we can talk about that during the free consultation.
What happens during the free consultation?
The free consultation is a 20-minute video or telephone conversation before any full counselling session is booked. It gives us a chance to meet, talk briefly about what you are looking for, discuss availability and fees, and consider whether working together feels right for both of us.
It is not a therapy session, so you will not need to go into detail or tell me your whole story. There is no obligation to continue.
What happens in the first full session?
We can begin with what is happening in your life now and what you would like help with. I may ask some questions to understand more about you, your circumstances and any relevant background. We can also talk about what you hope to gain from counselling and how we might work together.
You do not need to prepare anything or know exactly where to start; we can take it from there together.
What if I don't know what to talk about?
You do not need to arrive with the right words or a prepared account. We can start with where you're at in your life now and let the conversation develop from there. If something comes up that feels important, we can take our time and explore it together.
Do I have to answer every question?
No. You do not have to share anything before you are ready, and you can tell me if you would rather not answer a question. You are also welcome to ask me questions. If there is something I cannot answer, I will explain why as clearly as I can.
Will you give me advice or tell me what to do?
I understand why it may feel as though it would help if someone could give you the answers. My role is not to fix you or tell you what to do. I will listen carefully and we can explore what is happening together, so that your own understanding and way forward may become clearer.
At times we may agree to try a practical or creative exercise, but we will talk about it together and you can decide what feels right for you.
What happens between sessions?
There is nothing you have to do between sessions. You may notice thoughts, feelings or patterns during the week. If it helps, you can make a note of anything you would like to return to, but this is entirely your choice.
How will we know whether counselling is helpful?
We will check in regularly about how the sessions feel for you and whether they are meeting your needs. You can tell me if something does not feel helpful or if you would like us to try a different way of working. We can then decide together whether to continue as we are, make a change or begin thinking about an ending.
How long does counselling last?
There is no set number of sessions that is right for everyone. You may want to focus on one concern over a shorter period, or you may prefer open-ended counselling with more time to explore. We can discuss what may suit you and review it together rather than deciding everything at the beginning.
How long are sessions, and what do they cost?
Each counselling session lasts one hour and costs £60. Payment is made by bank transfer at least 24 hours in advance to secure the appointment. I keep track of the time during the session and will let you know when we are approaching the end.
What is pluralistic counselling?
Pluralistic counselling is based on the idea that there is not just one right way to help everyone. Instead, it is a collaborative approach in which we talk about what you find helpful and adapt the way we work to suit you.
I draw on different therapeutic approaches, including person-centred and psychodynamic ways of working. Where appropriate and agreed with you, this may also include a gentle hypnotherapy technique. We will check in as we go, and you can always say if something does not feel right for you.
