Have Questions?

We know there are a lot of questions that come up when you’re thinking of counselling, we’ve tried to answer some of them here, but if there’s anything else you’d like to ask, please just get in touch.

General questions about counselling

What is counselling?

There are many definitions of counselling, but at it’s heart it’s a conversation, one where the focus is on you, listening to what you have to say, and focussing on what you need.

Who can benefit from counselling?

The short answer – anyone!  It’s not limited to people in crisis, having someone to talk to when things are getting a little tough can stop things spiralling and getting worse.  

What sort of problems can counselling help with?

Having someone to talk to can help with lots of different issues, including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, low self esteem, low confidence, bereavement, work stress, redundancy, infertility, becoming a parent, relationship issues, family issues, friendships, dealing with illness (your own and others), childhood trauma and abuse.

Do I need a specific problem to come to counselling?

Just knowing that you need some sort of help is enough reason to think about counselling.  There doesn’t need to be a specific thing or event, sometimes we just have a sense that something’s not right with us, we’re stuck, or generally struggling with life, but we don’t know why.   Counselling can also help if there are patterns or habits in your life that you’d like to break or change.

Whatever it, is, counselling can help with working out what’s going on, and help you to deal with it.  

Will the counsellor share what I say with anyone else?

Confidentiality is one of the foundations of counselling, knowing that what you say will stay private, and away from anyone in your every day life means it can be easier to talk about things that you wouldn’t otherwise feel able to.

However, there are some limits on confidentiality, for example if there is a belief that there is a risk of harm to yourself or someone else we might need to contact emergency services, or another health professional.  Your therapist will go through this with you in your first appointment, so you know where the limits are.

Will my counsellor give me advice?

Therapists don’t give advice, and steer away from saying what you “should” do, that’s one way a conversation with a therapist is different from talking with friends and family.

If you’re struggling to work out what to do, they may suggest different options for you to think about and talk through, but there’ll be no pressure for you to act on whatever you talk about (another way counselling can differ from chatting with friends and family).

Am I too old for counselling?

Another short answer – no! There’s no age limit, we all have stresses no matter our age, and sometimes getting older with all the changes that can come with it is stressful in itself.  The important thing is that you want to speak to someone.

Why can't I just talk to friends or family?

Friends and family can be great sources of support, and if you have people in your life you can trust to talk to, then that’s great.   But sometimes they can also come with their own perspectives and views, which might make it difficult to talk openly.  And there are just some things you might prefer to talk about with someone away from your everyday life, and with no risk of what you say getting back to people you know.

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How much will it cost?

Sessions fee vary, depending on the therapist, but you can expect to pay £45 – £55 per session for a fully qualified therapist. Sessions with our trainee colleagues are £20 per session.

How do I pay?

Payments are due in advance of the session, so the first payment will need to be made by bank transfer. After that, payments can be made by bank transfer or cash. Some therapists use a card reader, but they will discuss details of how and when to pay with you.

When are sessions available?

Appointment slots are available at most times, including evenings and weekends, but exact availability will depend on the individual therapist.

How many sessions will I need?

This really depends on you – what issues you’d like to talk about, what you’re hoping to get out of therapy, and when you feel you don’t need or want sessions any more. Expectations around the number of sessions can be discussed with your therapist, but these often change as therapy progresses, with some people finding they need fewer sessions than they thought, and others finding there was more to talk about than they expected.

How often are the sessions?

When starting therapy, we’d suggest meeting weekly, as this helps to build the relationship with your therapist, and enables you to deal with any emotional issues that come up from the sessions in a timely manner. As time progresses, sessions may space out to fortnightly or even monthly, depending on what’s going on for you.

However, it is possible to start therapy with fortnightly sessions, and this is something you and your therapist can discuss when you meet.

I can’t commit to a regular weekly timeslot, can I still book sessions?

Of course! We know that life can get complex while working around life commitments, so many of our therapists will be able to accommodate irregular schedules, eg around shift work. However, there may be some weeks that your schedules don’t align, and so we can’t guarantee an appointment every week. If this applies to you, let us know when you’re booking your first appointment, and we can make sure your therapist has the flexibility that you need.

What happens when I make an enquiry?

We aim to get back to you as soon as possible, and within 24 hours of your enquiry (during the week). If there’s a specific therapist you’d like to work with, we’ll put you in touch so you can talk to them directly about what you’re looking for, and to book an initial appointment.

If you don’t have a preference of therapist, we’ll need to know when you’d be free for appointments so we can see who’s available at those times for you, and you can choose who you’d like to work with.

What happens in a first session?

Therapists work differently, so there is no definite answer, but they will start by talking through the “ground rules”, so confidentiality and the limits, payments and cancellation policies and how to contact them if you need to cancel or rearrange appointments.

Once that’s been covered, you’ll be able to start talking to them about what’s on your mind, and what’s brought you to therapy

What if i don't like my therapist once we've met?

You’re in charge of your therapy, so you can change your therapist at any time. However, if you feel things aren’t working with your therapist, or you’re not seeing the change/progress that you’d hoped, we’d encourage you to talk about it with them in the first instance as it might be something that your therapist can adapt to.  Just having that conversation can be useful, even if you still feel you’d like a change at the end of it.

If that’s not possible, then we’re happy to look at who else might suit you better, so that you get the right support for you.

How do I end therapy?

Often one of the goals of therapy is to end therapy, as you’ve dealt with whatever brought you, or you feel able to deal with your circumstances.  You’re in charge of your therapy so you can end at any time, you don’t need to give a reason, but we would encourage you to discuss this with your therapist, so that you can end your sessions in the best way for you.

I can’t commit to a regular weekly timeslot, can I still book sessions?

Of course! We know that life can get complex while working around life commitments, so many of our therapists will be able to accommodate irregular schedules, eg around shift work. However, there may be some weeks that your schedules don’t align, and so we can’t guarantee an appointment every week. If this applies to you, let us know when you’re booking your first appointment, and we can make sure your therapist has the flexibility that you need.