Each session is 50 minutes long and will usually be on the same day and time each week.
Appointments cost £60 for a 50 minute session. I am unable to offer concessions at this time.
Payments can be made by bank transfer anytime before the start of our session.
If you need to cancel a session, we can either discuss that together in therapy, if you have plenty of notice (such as going on holiday). However, if you would rather or you need to cancel between sessions, you can send me a text or email. I would ask that you give me at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel. If it is less than this, I will still need to charge you for the missed session.
Of course, this is fine, and encouraged! I'd just ask that you give me as much notice as you can so that I can plan my time.
Confidentiality is an important part of counselling, especially if you are to feel safe enough to be vulnerable and share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with me. However, there are a few exceptions that apply to all counsellors, where confidential information may need to be shared with outside agencies.
The first is supervision; to practice ethically, and make sure that I am working in the best way for you, I have regular supervision sessions with an experienced counsellor. I will talk about my work with you and will never share personal details or names that could identify you. My supervisor is also member of the BACP and is bound by the same ethical principles and confidentiality that I am.
I may also need to contact an outside agency for support for the following reasons:
You may have asked me to share information with another agency on your behalf.
If I believe you or someone else to be at risk of harm.
If you disclose abuse to a child or another vulnerable person.
If a court orders me to share information that I hold about you.
If you disclose drug-trafficking, money laundering or terrorism; I am required by law to report any disclosures of this kind.
Importantly, if I need to break confidentiality for any of the above reasons, I will try my best to discuss this with you and involve you in the process before I do so, wherever possible. Where this cannot be done, I will let you know at the next available opportunity and discuss this with you.
I work with most clients weekly, on the same day and at the same time. However, it may be that you would feel benefit from more than one session a week during a particuarly difficult period. Alternatively, after working together for a while, you may feel that a session every-other week would be better for you. We can discuss these options where needed and I will try to accomodate your needs but my ability to do this will depend on my availability.
It is possible for us to work online; I use Google Meet for these sessions. This is something that we can discuss to help you decide what might work best for you. I'm afraid I don't offer counselling by phone.