Only you can decide whether you want to try counselling. But if you are struggling to cope and are finding day-to-day life difficult, you may benefit from professional help. Just talking to someone in confidence who is not a friend or family member can make all the difference. Counselling provides a regular time for you to explore your feelings and talk about problems you're experiencing. A counsellor can help you develop better ways of coping, allowing you to move forward and get the most out of life.
All therapy sessions are for 50 minutes with sessions taking place weekly at an agreed day and time. Initially, you would require a 4 week commitment.
Sessions are provided either face-to-face in Preston or online via Zoom - whichever you prefer. The sessions are guided by your needs, so if you wish you can have a combination of both. Just let me know and we can discuss your individual needs.
Before we start to work together we will have a phone conversation where I will talk to you about what you're looking for and you can ask me anything you wish to know. This will usually last 15-20 minutes. If you decide you would like to go ahead we will agree to an initial 30 minute contact session, which is free. This is an opportunity for us to meet and for you to get a feel for the environment and decide if you feel working with me is right for you.
The sessions are guided by you and your needs, but normally each weekly session would be for 50 minutes. The number of sessions can vary from person to person, and we'll talk about this at your initial appointment. I do, however, ask for a 4 week commitment at first.
Please let me know by ringing or texting, giving 24 hours' notice where possible.
If you are attending an in-person session, I ask that you turn up at your appointed time. As these sessions are held at my home address, there is no waiting room and this ensures you will not have an uncomfortable wait outside.
For online sessions, if you log in early you will be put into a virtual "waiting room" until the session is ready to start.
Please ring or text. I may not be able to respond straight away as I may be with another client, but I will contact you to let you know that I have recieved your notice as soon as I am free.
You can pay by cash or mobile banking in advance. I ask that these are paid in 4 weekly blocks, but please don't hesitate to talk to me if there are any issues with this.
I will keep very brief notes from our sessions and some information will be collected from you at our initial session. All records are kept securely locked. Under GDPR clients have the right to access all their notes.
What you share during counselling will not be divulged to anybody else, except under certain exceptions:
These can be explained in further detail during the initial appointment. All counsellors must take their work to supervision. This is to make sure they are taking care of you professionally. The supervisor will not know who you are, as a codename will be used.