FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I offer individual face to face, online (via Zoom) and telephone person-centred counselling for adults and young people (16 to 18 years).

Each session is 50 minutes in duration, usually at the same time each week.

I like to start with a complimentary telephone call.

This is an introductory chat to enable you to ask questions to help us decide if we are able to work together.

It is an opportunity for you to tell me what brings you to counselling and what you would like to gain from it.

Together we will work side by side to find a unique and personal way to fulfil your needs.

If you decide that you would like to begin counselling with me, I shall take some details and we will agree the practicalities of our working commitment and book your first appointment.

In following sessions, we will discuss whatever issue that is important to you on that day, working at your pace. It is up to you what you choose to share with me; as our relationship develops you may naturally want to tell me things that you have never been able to talk about before.

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HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?

This will be up to you.

This is a difficult question to answer because when you first start your counselling sessions the depth of your concerns maybe not be fully apparent.

Short term counselling - usually up to 6 sessions.

Long term counselling -  for as long as you feel that you are benefiting from the counselling.
                  
To help make this decision, we shall review the situation every 6 sessions before ending or continuing with further counselling. However, you can decide to end counselling at any time if you feel its not for you.

IS IT CONFIDENTIAL?

Confidentiality is very important to the counselling relationship.

However, I would like to make you aware of the EXCEPTIONS below.

I work within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, therefore, what you say in counselling is confidential UNLESS you tell me of:-

•  Harm to yourself or others.

•  The law requires me to report acts of terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering. 

I also regularly attend obligatory professional supervision to maintain good practice where I discuss non identifiable client work.  This ensures that I am providing a professional, safe, effective and ethical service to the best of my ability and that I am accountable for my actions as represented in the BACP Ethical Framework.

Personal information and records are kept safely and destroyed after use according to the GDPR guidelines. 

Please note that as I do not have a waiting room, it would be appreciated if you arrive on time to prevent meeting another client at the door to ensure confidentiality.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE COUNSELLING SERVICE?

If you are not happy with your counselling service or you are unsure about my conduct, I would like us to address it together to see if we can resolve the problem.

If you feel that you are unable to discuss your complaint with me then please click on the link below for guidance from the BACP.

http://www.itsgoodtotalk.org.uk/about-bacp/ask-kathleen

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NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE URGENTLY??

You can contact the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Call 116 123 for free or email jo@samaritans.org

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