How much will it cost?
Our first meeting is at a reduced rate of £20.00 - because this is when we'll talk through your expectations from counselling, and what I'm able to offer you. It's also a time for you to ask me any questions you might have about how the process works.
After that, I charge £50.00 per session for individuals, and £65.00 per session for couples. When working with Lifespan Integration, however, I charge £25.00 for the introductory sesssion, then £60.00 per session.
Once a session has been booked, this time becomes 'yours' in my diary, so if you're unable to attend sessions for any reason, I ask for a minimum of 48 hours' notice; otherwise, I charge a £25.00 cancellation fee.
How long are the sessions?
Each session lasts 50-60 minutes and, when I see clients in my home (meaning I don't have a waiting area) I ask clients to arrive at the agreed time each week.
Unlike some other settings, there's no waiting for appointments, meaning that if you arrive late for any reason, our session will still end at the agreed time.
How often will we meet?
We will usually meet once a week, at a mutually agreed time, but depending on your circumstances, we can also agree a more flexible arrangement.
Most clients attend counselling for 6-12 weeks. However, the time needed for individuals to reach their chosen goals varies considerably, so I currently offer sessions for up to six months; although we’ll review the work on a regular basis to ensure that our time together is proving useful for you.
Ending the work is also important, however, so when you feel ready to finish, it would be preferable to discuss when an ending would be appropriate, rather than stopping abruptly. Sometimes, when people feel they've done enough work, rather than ending straight away, they prefer to meet every 2nd week for a little while, or they might choose to come along for a monthly "check-in" until they feel more confident - and this is quite ok.
Please be aware, though, that I'm looking to relocate in the first half of 2025 and, if our work together isn’t completed by then, we can consider the option to continue remotely. Alternatively, I will endeavour to help you find another suitable therapist, should you wish me to do so.
What are the likely appointment times?
I usually make appointments between 11.00am and 5.00pm, as this seems to suit most people best; but unfortunately, I don't see clients over the weekends.
When can I contact you?
Of course you can email me at any time. However, if you prefer to phone in order to make the first appointment, you're welcome to call me from Monday - Friday from 9.30am - 6.30pm, and on Saturdays from 10.00am - 5.00pm.
If there's no reply when you call, please leave your name, number and a short message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I'm able to.
Normally, there wouldn't be any contact between our sessions, but if you felt the need to phone, the call would usually be kept to a maximum of about 10 minutes.
What about Spirituality?
As a counsellor, I believe in the intrinsic value of every individual, and whilst I personally hold to a worldview that is Christian, there's no expectation that my clients will hold the same worldview, and I'm more than comfortable working with people of any faith - or no faith at all.
This means that if you'd like to bring your own spirituality into the sessions, you are more than welcome to do so.
