Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you charge for counselling?
Please see my fees here. I also offer a small number of ‘Early Bird’ (6 am) and ‘Night Owl’ (10 pm) sessions. These are charged at a slightly higher rate of £80.00 per session.
Payments are to be made by bank transfer and paid prior to the session.
How long is a counselling session?
Each session is 50 minutes long.
How many sessions will I need?
It is difficult to say at the outset how many sessions you will need, as it depends on what you want to work on, how you find the therapy, and what else might come up. I can offer short- or long-term counselling, dependent on your needs. 9-12 sessions are typical for short-term counselling. You can come for as many or as few sessions as you need.
What if I don't feel that the therapy is working for me?
There is no need to carry on if you don’t feel that therapy is working for you, but if this is the case, I hope we could figure out why this might be. You might feel I am not the right fit for you and I would be happy for you to find someone you felt more comfortable with. If I feel, after an assessment session, that I cannot help you I will tell you and point you towards organisations or practitioners who might be better placed to do this.
I work shifts, can my sessions be flexible?
I understand that the same time and place each week isn't always convenient for everybody. However, the frequency, reliability and predictability of the counselling session is important to the therapeutic process itself. I try to offer as much flexibility as I can with regard to times and modes of counselling, to make the service as accessible as possible. Give me a call or email, and we can talk about what you need.
Where are you based?
I am based in Teddington and offer sessions for clients in surrounding areas and online via Zoom. I have completed additional training and assessment to certify my ability to effectively work with you online.
What happens after I make initial contact?
The first step is to have an initial consultation session. In this, I will ask you questions to understand why you are seeking therapy and what you would like to get from it and I will also take a brief history. It is also an opportunity for you to ask me any questions and to see if you feel comfortable working with me. If I feel I can help you, and you are happy to continue I will agree on a regular time for a weekly session. Please feel free to ask me anything that is on your mind, especially if you are looking for something particular in your counsellor.
What if I can’t attend a session?
If you are unable to attend a session, I will try to offer you an alternative. However this is not always possible, and if the session is missed, I do have to charge you for it. Planned holidays that you take will not be charged but prior notice must be given.
I appreciate things crop up or travel can become difficult, however, to ensure all costs and time allocated are considered, cancellation fees apply in the following way.
• More than 24hrs notice no charge,
• Between 24-6 hours notice 50% charge (unless the session is subsequently filled).
• Less than 6hrs 100% charge.
How do I pay?
I prefer payment by bank transfer.
Will my sessions be confidential?
On the whole, yes, absolutely. There are very few circumstances when I might need to disclose something that is said in the session, and we will discuss these in our first session together. If possible, I would always discuss a disclosure with you directly.
What are your qualifications?
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Level 5 Diploma in Young Person Counselling.
I am an individual member of The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and adhere to the Ethical Framework.
If you have any further questions about anything here or have any other questions about counselling, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the details below.