Common questions

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a core value of the counselling profession and is something that I personally take very seriously. I am professionally required to attend regular supervision, who works to the same ethical standards, and is bound by confidentiality. Full names are never disclosed.

If I thought you may be at risk to yourself or others, I may need to disclose this information to the appropriate service. I would always aim to discuss this with you first and is not something I take lightly.

What to expect

A first appointment is an opportunity for us both to meet and see if we can work together. During this appointment, we can discuss what you want to get out of therapy and offer an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. This will take 50 mins, so we can both see if working together is the right thing for us. There is no charge for the first session

Moving forward from the first session, I will ask you to sign a contract.

All further sessions will be weekly (when possible) for 50 mins.

Why Weekly?

Research shows this is the most affective time frame to leave between appointments, especially when working with complex issues and when establishing a therapeutic relationship. This might change as we work towards an ending.

Payment and Fees

You can pay in cash at the end of each session. Alternatively, you can pay via PayPal.

The initial 50 min session is free. Ongoing appointments cost £60 and will last for 50 mins.

Lower fees are considered for students and those on a low income. Please email for details.

Cancellations

If you are unable to attend a session, please give the plenty of notice. A minimum of 24 hours notice is required. Failure to do so, or non-attendance will result in incurring the full fee of the session.

From time to time, I may not be able to attend sessions, usually due to training workshops, conferences or holidays. I will give you as much notice as possible. If I am unwell, I will inform you as soon as possible and try to offer you an alternative appointment. Sessions missed due to my unavailability are not chargeable.

How long are appointments?

A first appointment lasts for 50 minutes. All follow up appointments are 50 minutes long. The whole 50 minutes is your time. This is an industry standard.

I offer both short and long term therapy. Everyone is different, so it is difficult to give a timescale on therapy. It would be advisable to work together for a minimum of 8 weeks and then review the work together. Its is important we have a planned ending session.

Accessibility

My room is on the ground floor, there is one step into the house. There is a downstairs bathroom, however this is not wheelchair accessible.

I have designed my room to have contrasting colours, to support people with sight loss.

I am very open to discussing any additional needs you may have.

Transport

BUS- The property is a short distance (approx 270ft) from the bus stop on Goring Road. Brighton and Hove buses 2/2B stop there and compass travel 100.

TRAIN- The nearest station is Shoreham-by-Sea. There is a bus connection next to the station.

CAR- There is free on-street parking directly outside and I have permission to use the catholic church car park next door.

Insurance and checks

I am fully insured with Balens and have a comprehensive DBS (disclosure and barring service) certificate.

What is an Integrative Humanistic Therapy?

“Humanistic” is the modality that I follow and am predominantly trained in, however, I have undertaken further education to help me provide an integrative approach to therapy, meaning I draw upon theoretical ideas from theories such as cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic and psychoanalysis. This means I can adjust my way of working to best suit the individual needs of the person I am working with.

I decided to train as a humanistic practitioner because I feel the theory supports my worldview. Humanistic therapy is based existential and phenomenological philosophical foundations, which explore the meaning of life and being human. Within therapy this can be used to help the client develop a stronger, healthier sense of self, as well as access and understand their feelings to help gain a sense of meaning in life.

What age do I need to be?

I work with a wide range of age groups. The youngest person I will work with is 18.

My belief is that there is no such thing as “too old” for therapy and have worked with clients in their 90’s.

What technology do I need for online counselling?

You just need a device that connects to the internet and has a forward facing camera, so you can see me and I can see you at the same time. This can be as simple as a mobile phone. Just before the session, I will send you a link via email, so you can connect to zoom.

What happens if there is a technical problem?

I would work with you to try and resolve the issue. If it is not possible to fix the issue, the back up plan would be for me to give you a call instead and we can work together on the telephone. Most of the time this is a one off tech glitch and can be resolved by the next session.

Where do I go for online counselling?

It is entirely up to you. The optimum space is somewhere you feel comfortable talking openly and are not going to get disturbed or overheard by others. It is important that the space is safe.