Great question!  The short answer is Yes and No! Read on for the details.

Confidentiality is very important in counselling. Knowing that what you share in our sessions will remain private helps build a trusting relationship allowing you to feel safe and secure enough to talk openly and honestly about sensitive, difficult or personal issues. 

Being aware you wont be judged and that there will be no negative consequences can allow you to talk about things you have never felt able to share before.

There are only a few instances were confidentiality may not be possible and it is important you know what these are.

1. Serious crimes - such as terrorism, drug trafficking or money laundering.
   

2. Imminent risk of harm - if you are in imminent danger of causing serious harm to yourself or others.
   

3. Supervision – all UK counsellors are required to attend supervision, where they discuss their work with clients. However, your name and identifying details will not be shared.

We will, of course, discuss this more in our first session, but if you have any questions now or then, just let me know.

It's perfectly okay not to have everything figured out right now.

It's quite common to feel uncertain, confused, or overwhelmed and seek counselling without knowing exactly what the issue is. Sometimes, it takes time to recognise the underlying issues and understanding what's bothering you is a process of connecting the dots and we can do that together.

Counselling sessions provide a safe, confidential space to explore your thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment. Together, we can work through whatever comes up, helping to gain insights and identify and understanding any underlying issues.

We will arrange an introductory call for a time when you can be somewhere you are able to talk freely.  I can introduce myself to you and tell you a little about the way that I work. You will have the opportunity to tell me what brings you to counselling and what you would like to achieve.

Don’t worry though if you’re not sure about the answers to these questions, you might be experiencing overwhelming, persistent, or confusing emotions that are affecting your daily life, relationships or well-being that are difficult to put into words.  Please don’t let that stop you making the call, I am happy to work together with you on the call to make sense of where you are at.

You will have the opportunity to ask me any questions and get a feel as to whether I am somebody you would be comfortable working with and I can make sure I believe I am the right person to work with you.

There will be no obligation to book further sessions on the call, I will give you my availability and it’s completely up to you.

Ideally, yes, particularly in the early stages of counselling. 

Weekly sessions help to establish a trusting therapeutic relationship which is key to effective therapy.  They provide a steady rhythm to your therapy and help you stay connected to the things we are discussing and make progress in a manageable way.  With a shorter gap between sessions, you're better equipped to build on the insights gained from each session, which may lead to more significant progress over time.

The frequency of sessions can be adjusted over time based on your needs, goals, and circumstances. Some people may reduce the frequency as they start feeling more confident in managing their issues.

However, I am aware that your availability may vary due to shift work, other work or family commitments or finances, so whilst weekly is advisable I understand it is not always possible and will happily discuss your specific needs and circumstances with you.

The number of sessions you choose to have is entirely up to you.

It’s hard to predict how many sessions you might need, as everyone’s journey is different. The length of therapy depends on what you bring to it and what you hope to achieve. Sometimes, simply being heard and understood can provide significant relief and allow you to work through a specific issue in a few weeks. For more significant changes, longer-term work may be needed.

Our work together will always be collaborative, and we’ll review your progress every 6-8 weeks. There’s no obligation to continue therapy, and you’re free to stop whenever you feel ready.

Once you’ve booked a session, that time is reserved for you. There’s no requirement to book blocks of sessions unless you choose to. At the end of each session, I’ll check in to see if you’d like to schedule for the following week.

Our counselling sessions will not aim to ‘fix’ you because I do not believe you are broken.

Counselling helps you feel better by providing a confidential space where you can be completely yourself and talk freely about whatever feels important or is troubling you, safe in the knowledge you will not be judged.

It is your time to talk about your feelings and challenges and you will be supported as we work together to understand and navigate them.  We might look at identifying patterns or triggers, tools to manage them, develop healthier coping strategies or gain new perspectives through deeper exploration.

Over time therapy helps you better understand yourself and your struggles and work towards positive change. 

Remember, you are not broken, but therapy can promote personal growth and emotional healing and help you learn how to cope more effectively.

Unlike well-meaning family, friends or colleagues I will not be giving you advice or telling you what to do—Therapy is about working together to explore your thoughts, feelings, and challenges. I’ll support you in finding your own answers and making choices that feel right for you.

That’s okay! If you’ve never had therapy before you might not be sure what it’s all about and if it will help, it might feel quite daunting or you might feel your problem is too trivial or small. 

Therapy isn’t just for those in crisis, it is a safe space for self-reflection, support and growth.  You don’t have to have a big clear problem to benefit from talking to someone.

Simply feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or curious about yourself is reason enough.  Therapy can offer valuable insights and coping tools, even if you're not sure what you need right now. It’s a space where we can explore and figure things out at your own pace.

If you’re unsure whether you need therapy or if it would help you I’d be happy to have a free introductory call with you for you to get a feel as to whether this is something you think you might like to explore. Remember there is no obligation to book further sessions or blocks of sessions, if you decide to book a session we can take it week by week.

There are no rules about preparing for your first counselling session, you do not need to worry about having everything figured out, making notes or  saying the ‘right’ thing.  The thing about therapy is it’s a space where you can come exactly as you are without pressure or expectations and you can be completely yourself.

Whether you’ve thought a lot about what you want to talk about or have lots of questions about therapy, made notes or have no idea where to start, that’s all completely okay.

Our first session is mostly about us getting to know one another better and beginning to work together to explore what’s important to you at your pace.  At the end of the session we can discuss how we might work together and whether you would like to re-book for a further session.  There will never be any pressure for you to do so.

Counselling sessions are 50 minutes

No, you don’t need a referral! You can reach out and book a session directly whenever you’re ready.

I do, however, the referrals from GPs, social prescribers, EAPs and other agencies and services.

Absolutely, your therapy session is your time to discuss whatever feels important to you.

While you may come in with a specific issue or goal in mind, the content of each session is flexible and can be whatever feels significant to you in the moment.  Therapy is your space, and it evolves with you—there’s no need to stick to one topic.

I’m here to listen without judgment and help you navigate and make sense of whatever arises, so you’re encouraged to bring anything to our sessions. And remember, aside from a few specific exceptions, (see above Will what I tell you be confidential?), everything you share will remain confidential between us.