What to Expect from Counselling with Me
Deciding to come to counselling takes courage and it is only natural that the thought of taking to somebody you don’t know about difficult thoughts and feelings may provoke some anxiety and feelings of vulnerability. It is important therefore that together we create an environment of trust where you feel able to express whatever feelings come up safe in the knowledge that I will support you. For this reason I suggest that potential clients have an ‘initial session’ with me. This is a no-obligation, 50-minute paid for session, which takes place online. If you want to get a sense of me before committing to an initial session I also offer a free, 15 minute zoom call.
Initial Session
This session is for us to begin to get a sense of what it would be like to work with each other - they are sometimes called chemistry sessions. Do we have a connection that will enable us to build a good relationship with each other? It is also a good opportunity for you to experience online counselling if you have not done so before. We will talk about the circumstances that have brought you to counselling, how this is impacting you and what changes you would like to see. It is the start of us creating an environment of trust, compassion and honesty so that you can explore whatever challenges you are facing.
Fees and Payment
I charge £75 for a 50-minute session. I ask that payment is made via bank transfer at least 48 hours prior to each session. I will send information about cancellations, holidays and other practicalities which we can discuss prior to the first session.
Working online
Working online might feel daunting for some people at first but here are some things you might find helpful to know.
Research has shown that online counselling can be just as effective as face to face. Working online gives you the flexibility to access counselling support in a place which is convenient to you and where you feel comfortable. However, it is important that you have a space where you will not be disturbed for the duration of the call. Headphones or earphones are recommended to keep the content of sessions private and they also help to minimise distractions.
When you first contact me, we will arrange a mutually agreed time for our initial session. All sessions take place on Zoom which is the video conferencing platform I use. This will usually be weekly at the same time unless agreed otherwise. Once I have received payment I will send you a link via email for the agreed time which you will be able to use each time we meet. You may like to download zoom prior to the session in preparation, however no download is necessary and you can simply connect using the link provided.
What sort of issues can you contact me about?
Online counselling may be able to help with a wide range of issues including: -
Stress
Anxiety
Abuse
Depression
Sexual abuse
Eating difficulties
Loss
Loneliness
Low self-esteem
Relationship issues (self and others)
Issues related to adoption, fostering and special guardianship
Not all types of issues can be resolved through online counselling and I will advise you if face to face counselling, or some other form of support might be more suitable for you. Where I consider that online counselling would not be the most suitable means of support I will make every effort to assist you in a referral to a suitable alternative source of support.
