Frequently Asked Questions
"When are sessions available
and how long do they last?"
I work on weekdays and some early evenings. Sessions last for 50mins and are
normally arranged on a weekly basis.
"How much do you charge?"
Standard fee - £55 for individuals
"How many sessions will I need?"
This varies considerably from person to person and depends very much on what
you are wanting us to look at in your sessions. You may wish to focus on one
particular issue within set time frames or you may be hoping to take more
time to explore less well defined or more long-standing issues. There are
also times when we may begin by looking at one particular problem and other
issues become evident, in which case we will discuss this and work out how
best to proceed. We will have the opportunity to consider what you are
hoping to gain from our sessions and potential timeframes when we first
meet.
"Tell me a bit more about the way you work"
Counselling can be useful in a range of different circumstances and as an
Integrative Counsellor I tailor my approach to best suit your individual
needs.
Within my work I use a range of different approaches (including
Transactional Analysis and Gestalt) but all within a Person Centred base,
where your own needs and preferences are the guiding factor. Often the way
we are in our current relationships reflects a range of factors, including
our significant past relationships and our deeper beliefs about ourselves
and the world around us. I may also use some creative techniques to
help us explore the dynamics of a situation, the relevant relationships and
the factors involved. This may include writing or drawing about aspects of
your thoughts or feelings, or the use of characters to explore parts of
yourself or others.
You may want short term support and input for a particular issue, in which
case a slightly more structured approach would be used. We may then choose
to incorporate elements of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solution Focused
Therapy into our sessions.
Whether the therapy is on a short or longer term basis I will be guided by
your own hopes and needs, where our sessions are a collaborative work that
we engage in together.
It is important to remember that I will not be advising you but will be
working alongside you in helping you to find your own individual solutions.
"What if I get upset during a session?"
Counselling naturally involves talking about areas that are troubling you
and this may include some painful or difficult memories and emotions. This
can result in feelings of upset, however this is a normal part of the
healing process, where feelings need to be experienced and expressed before
they can be resolved. This can seem like a difficult stage in the therapy
process, however counsellors are trained to support you through these
difficult emotions and remember that you are always in control of what you
wish to discuss during our sessions.
Counselling is a journey, with smooth and rough terrain to go through, but
with another person making that journey alongside you to support and guide
you through some of the more difficult parts.
"Where are you?"
I am based in the village of Theydon Bois, in West Essex, which is not far
from Epping, Loughton and Ongar and is within easy reach of the M11 and M25.
Theydon Bois station is on the central line and the underground station is a
10 minute walk away.
"What happens on my first visit?"
It can be a big step to decide to have counselling and choosing the right
counsellor is a very important part of that process. Our first session will
give us a chance to meet, find out a bit more about each other and explore
how we may wish to work together. We will think about what we are hoping to
look at in our sessions and consider the best way forward for you.
This is an opportunity for you to ask any more questions and to discover how
we may work together.