FAQS about counselling services
What conditions can counselling help with?
Counselling can help with a multitude of different emotional or psychological issues and conditions, including:
- anxiety
- stress in the workplace
- relationship issues (a breakup, divorce, affairs, choosing inappropriate partners, loneliness, life adjustments or marital problems)
- trauma
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- eating problems and negative body image
- depression
- low self-esteem
- phobias and fears
- addiction
- abuse (including verbal and sexual abuse)
- bereavement
- loss
What is your speciality in dyslexia counselling?
I have a great deal of experience in dyslexia as I am dyslexic myself. I therefore specialise in helping dyslexics overcome childhood educational traumas due to having been seen and treated as ‘different'.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
It is natural for you to feel tentative or nervous about having a course of therapy, and be unsure what to expect.
For this reason, I offer an initial 50-minute face-to-face consultation at a specially reduced rate of £35. This is without obligation to continue.
The session gives us an opportunity to confidentially discuss and identify what brings you to therapy. I will explain what therapy involves and the benefits it may offer.
It also gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and for you to decide if you would like to continue working with me.
What else does the initial consultation cover?
I shall further inform you about my working policy regarding payment of sessions, cancelled/missed sessions, holidays and time keeping.
How long does a counselling session last?
Each session is for 50 minutes and usually take place on a weekly basis, occurring at the same place and time.
Can I arrange longer counseling sessions?
Yes, these can be arranged, subject to prior notice and discussion. Longer sessions will be charged for.
How long will I need counselling or therapy for?
This very much depends upon the depth and nature of the issues that you wish to work on. Usually, I recommend meeting for an initial period of six weekly sessions, which can then be reviewed.
How will my confidentiality be assured?
All sessions are strictly confidential. However, I am professionally and lawfully obliged to disclose information to the appropriate authorities regarding serious criminal activity or intended harm to yourself and/or others, and children.
The professional standards of the BACP require all their members to have supervision to reflect on their work. This will be with a qualified psychotherapist/supervisor. The identity of all clients remains anonymous throughout.
Where are your counselling practices based?
I practice at three locations in South West London: Wimbledon Village SW19, Putney SW15 and Southfields SW18. Please click my location page for maps and details.
Do you offer sessions by phone?
I generally work face-to-face. Sessions can be arranged by telephone in some circumstances. Please ask me for details.
What happens if I need to cancel or miss a counselling session?
I have a minimum notice period of 48-hours. Cancelled or missed sessions will be charged at the full session fee.
If you can provide the notice required, I shall do my best to reschedule to an alternative appointment time during that same week. However, I am afraid that this cannot always be guaranteed. It may also mean that an alternative session time may only be available at one of my other practice locations.
What if I‘m late for my counselling session?
I ask for clients to call or text me to notify me if they are running late for their appointment. Unfortunately, arriving late will mean that the usual session time will be shortened.
What about holidays?
I respectfully ask for as much prior notice as possible of holidays. In any event, this notice period should be no less than 7 days. The full session fee is payable if insufficient notice is given.
Clients who commit to longer term therapy of six months or more have the option to have a period of 3 weeks without payment (to be taken consecutively or singularly) to cover holidays or be used for other unexpected absences.
