FAQs about Counselling and Psychotherapy
How are counselling and psychotherapy different?
As a Counsellor I will listen to you, reflect back what you have said, paraphrase what you have told me, I will be actively listening to you. As a Psychotherapist I will be actively listening, but also I might ask you questions, draw your attentions to patterns of behaviour, thinking and feeling, and gently challenge you.
How do I choose a Counsellor or Psychotherapist?
It is important that you see the right person for you. Look online, speak to friends or family if you feel comfortable to do so, for any recommendations.
If you are interested in seeing me then call me or send an email with any questions and we can arrange a time to meet up. If you decide after our first session that I am not the right person for you we can agree not to meet again. If we are a good fit we can arrange a second appointment.
How long do people stay in therapy and how often should I come?
This varies according to the reason for having your sessions. Sometimes people only need 5 or 6 sessions, others may go for months or years.
It is wise to arrange for a number of sessions then a review. I see my clients weekly, it is widely accepted that weekly Counselling or Psychotherapy enables the client to get the most from the sessions. Sometimes it may not be possible for you to get to a session, if this is the case please let me know the session before or give me at least 24 hours notice, if I have less than 24 hours notice I will need to charge for the missed session.
What should I expect from the first session and how much do you charge?
My sessions are 50 minutes and cost £40 per session (we can discuss a lower rate if needed). In the first session we complete a simple form with some of your personal details on it. If at the end of the session we decide not to continue I will destroy the completed form.
In our first session together I want you to get a feeling for the way I work. I also need to understand the reasons for you coming to therapy at this point and what you hope to get from our sessions. If we decide to continue working together we will plan the time and date of our next session.
Is information about me shared?
I work within the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of the National Counselling Society (NCS) and as such I am bound by their rules regarding confidentiality. As a member of NCS I am required to have regular supervision with a qualified supervisor and I will only share your personal information with my supervisor. I may wish to record our sessions for this purpose but I will ask for your signed permission before sharing any recording.
How much will my Therapy cost?
Each session is £40, if you are on a low income or on benefits we can negotiate a lower rate. You can pay in cash, BACS or PayPal. Obviously if we are seeing each other online the payment will have to be electronic.
What is the difference between online and face to face therapy?
Good question. There is an obvious difference, online we are in separate places, where as face to face will be held in my therapy room. Online can be more convenient for you as a client, but you will need to have a quiet confidential time and space to ensure you get the best out of the session.
Even if you are in a different room, I am still with you, actively listening and feeding back. You may find that I ask odd questions like "are your feet on the floor" though because I can't see them.