The Aim of Counselling is to provide you with an opportunity for you to explore your thoughts and feelings in safety.  My role is to help you through this process without judgment or telling you what to do.  I may on occasions give information or offer suggestions.  If at any time I feel I cannot help you in this way, I will offer to refer you to someone who can.

So that I can maintain standards of good practice, I discuss my work at regular intervals with a clinical supervisor.   I do so without using names.  Anything I say to my supervisor is also treated as confidential, and is not disclosed to anyone else without your permission.

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Couples only: Secrets: This is rare but in the future I may suggest separate appointments. Secrets are very difficult for a counsellor to hold and can have a very negative effect on the counselling work. For this reason, if one or other of you discloses important information at an individual appointment you will be asked to convey this information in a future joint session. This should be conveyed with my support within 3 sessions or I will have to tell you both that we will need to cease counselling

 

On-line counselling: please ensure that you have a private and safe space in which to have your sessions and that you will not be disturbed whilst in session.  Online counselling is not suitable if you are experiencing an enduring mental health illness or are experiencing acute distress. If you feel you are in crisis or are in danger of harming yourself then is it imperative that you contact the emergency services for help or go to your nearest A&E department.  

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Ethical Requirements.  If I have a concern that you are a danger to yourself or others, I would have to contract the appropriate agencies.  This is very rare, but wherever possible, I would let you know that I was doing this.  I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and bound by their ethical code of practice.  These standards are available at www.bacp.co.uk. 

 

Sessions cost £45 (or £50 for couple counselling) and are normally 50 minutes. Sessions of different length may be negotiated individually. Research has shown that regular weekly appointments are the most helpful, but appointment times and regularity are flexible.  Please always give 48 hours notice to cancel an appointment.  Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are charged at full rate. If the session is cancelled by the therapist as much notice as possible will be given.

 

If you are late for a session, please make contact to confirm that you are still attending. The session will still end at the normal time.

 

If there is anything you are not sure of please let me know.