Frequently Asked Questions

Counselling is a broad term but essentially, it is a private space in which to feel safe enough to express aspects of your life that are causing concern. It's a place where the counsellor will help you to make sense of your thoughts, emotions, and issues in a range of supportive ways. The aim is to leave you with more clarity and equipped at managing the challenges you face. You can find more information about the counselling process here. 

I have experience and training in a range of issues. Some of these are listed below: 

• Abuse including sexual & physical 
• Anger 
• Anxiety (including PTSD, Panic Attacks, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social & Health Anxiety) 
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Childhood Trauma 
• Depression or low mood  
• Disassociation
• Domestic Abuse (including Trauma Bonding, Gaslighting & Coercive Control)
• LGBT 
• Loss & Bereavement  
• Low self-esteem/confidence/worth
• Mid life crisis or life purpose  
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder 
• OCD (including Trichotillomania) 
• Relationships (family, romantic or friends, including attachment issues and co-dependency)
• Self-Harm
• Stress
• Suicidal Ideation
• Work Related Issues 

Yes, I provide face-to-face and remote counselling (telephone or webcam). You can find more information about how I work online here.

Face to face counselling is conducted in a private soundproofed room, which is not overlooked. Remote counselling (e.g. webcam or telephone) would be conducted via highly secure platform. Everything you say will be treated with the upmost confidentiality. The only time that confidentiality may be broken is if you or another person are at serious risk of significant harm. Disclosures are usually made with your consent only. However, please be aware that by law, counsellors have a mandatory duty to disclose information regarding terrorism. For more information about your privacy and confidentiality please review the Serenity Counselling Privacy Statement.

Initial consultations are conducted via a paid for assessment session. Although, a brief telephone conversation can take place beforehand to clarify any questions you may have. It's worth bearing in mind that it may take a number of sessions to assess whether this type of counselling is appropriate for you, and if we are able to work together.  

The counsellor will greet you and either lead you to the private counselling room (if face-to-face) or securely lock the session (if via Zoom). If you are connecting via Zoom, the counsellor will check the connection, picture and sound is working correctly, and the space is private. The counsellor will then briefly go through the counselling agreement to clarify you understand and are happy with the terms. You’ll then be invited to discuss what your concerns are. The counsellor will listen carefully and may ask you some questions to clarify understanding of your situation or to ask for more information. Towards the end of the session, the approach would be to explore together what you would like to obtain from counselling (if it is possible at this stage) and how this might be accomplished. This includes how often you’d like to attend counselling and what type of approach would suit you best (e.g. Person Centred, Psychodynamic, CBT, Solution Focused, or a combination. See counselling process for more information about this). Finally, booking the next session would be discussed if you feel ready to commit to the process. However, you might want to go away and think about this before you are ready to book.

Counselling sessions last for 50 minutes. It is unusual to extend beyond this time, although in exceptional circumstances an extended session can be negotiated.

This is your decision. However, it will depend on your particular issue and how much you feel able to engage in the counselling process. Short term counselling can last anything from a few sessions up to approximately 12 sessions. This tends to be for a particular individual issue. Long term counselling or psychotherapy, can last over a year and potentially deal with multiple issues where the counsellor will explore and unearth unconscious dynamics. This may involve exploring challenging childhood experiences, or significant traumas that occur in either childhood or adult life. However, your autonomy in the process is paramount and you can choose to end at any point.

Sessions are normally attended on a weekly basis. In some cases this can be increased. However, you may wish to reduce this frequency from the offset or after a short period so that sessions are attended less regular (for example, fortnightly or monthly depending on your needs). 

Appointments can be arranged by phone or email. I will then send you confirmation of your booking and further details about the process.

At certain times during the year, an initial appointment can involve waiting several weeks before one becomes available. At other times, appointments can be offered in the same week of making first contact. Once an appointment has been offered, regular weekly slots will then be available. However, if you are in crisis and in need of urgent support please contact your GP, emergency services (999) or the most appropriate helpline listed on the resource page. Add an answer to this item.

The price of sessions vary depending on the type of counselling and the time of appointment. A list of prices can be found on the session fees page.

The table below provides the days and times that sessions are available between:

• Monday 09:30 – 18:00
• Tuesday 09:30 – 18:00
• Wednesday 09:30 – 18:00
• Thursday 09:30 – 18:00
• Fri - Closed
• Sat - Closed
• Sun - Closed

While counselling is best approached in a consistent way by attending regular appointments, other demands or unexpected events can sometimes take priority. Therefore, if you are able to provide 72 hours notice, no fee will be charged. If you are unable to provide adequate notice, it may also be possible to rearrange the appointment for another day in the same week to avoid having to pay for a non-attended session. However, it is important to note that you hold full responsibility when deciding to cancel or miss a session. If you miss or cancel without giving the required notice (regardless of reason), and we are unable to rearrange, payment of the full session fee will be required. 

Payment is made on a session by session basis (although you can pay for a block of sessions in advance if you wish).

FACE to FACE Sessions - where you meet the counsellor in person, payment is kindly asked for at the end of each session. This can be made in person, by cash or debit/credit card. You can also use BACS and details of how you can do this will be provided to you after you meet with the counsellor.

ONLINE Sessions -  payment is kindly asked for before each session. This can be made by credit/debit card, PayPal or BACS.

Yes, free parking is available directly outside the practice address or within a minutes walk.  

Unfortunately, the practice does not have a waiting room so clients are advised to arrive no earlier than the agreed appointment time. There is a coffee shop nearby at the local supermarket should you arrive a little early. 

You may still be unsure about certain aspects of the process and have further questions before making your decision to enter counselling. You can either ask the question via email or phone on 01633 505225 to discuss.