Services and Fees
I offer a professional one-to-one counselling and personal development service that provides a safe, quiet and confidential setting in which you can explore and gain a deeper understanding of the issues that brought you to counselling. I will support you in finding your own solutions to the problems that prevent you from leading a satisfying and resourceful life.
I have experience of working with:
- Work, home or family related issues
- Stress, anxiety and panic attacks
- Drug and alcohol misuse
- Survivors of childhood abuse
- Adoption and other identity issues
- Depression
- Irrational thoughts
- Compulsive behaviour
- Relationship difficulties
- Loss and bereavement
- Low self-esteem
- Childhood trauma
- Discrimination and issues of oppression
The initial consultation is an assessment to establish whether counselling is appropriate for your needs and to establish the nature of our future work together. During this session and this session only I will make some notes. The cost for the initial consultation is £65, but this fee will be refunded if you commit to and complete six or more sessions.
Counselling is most effective where there is a solid relationship between the client and the counsellor. This consultation will provide an opportunity for you to get a feel about working with me and if we decide to work together, we will come to a mutual agreement on the time, day and your preferred venue for our sessions.
I will require you to commit to a minimum of six sessions, after which we will review our progress and decide on future work.
My fees are £65 per weekly session of 50 minutes (some concessions are negotiable for students and those on low income.)
At our first meeting we will agree a regular time and place to meet and contract for a minimum of six sessions. I will book that time and space for you. If you miss a session, the fee is still payable. However, if two weeks notice is given, I will do my best to make up the missed session.
Online and Telephone Counselling
Online counselling therapy is a way for you to engage in counselling using internet technology such as telephone, email, online chat and video call. You select the method of communication you feel most comfortable with. Communications are encrypted to provide a safe and secure environment for your online therapy and protect your confidentiality. Online, email and telephone counselling offer the same level of support and confidentiality as meeting face to face. It can also offer suitable solutions to some of the difficulties associated with receiving treatment in a traditional therapeutic setting, such as accessibility and convenience. I do not provide counselling by email or online chat services, but I do provide telephone and video call counselling.
Telephone Counselling
Telephone counselling works in the same way as face to face counselling but is conducted over the phone. The first step is simply for you to call for an initial discussion. If I feel that telephone counselling is going to be an appropriate method, a session can be booked in for a time that is convenient for you. During the initial conversation, I can find out some background information about you and we will discuss the areas that need to be addressed. We will also discuss the number of counselling sessions that may be needed. I will provide information about my confidentiality policy as well as general information, such as cancellation policy.
Online video counselling
This enables us to video chat in real-time over the Internet. The great benefit of this approach over telephone and email counselling is that we can see each other. Online counselling follows the same fundamental principles as face-to-face counselling. It provides a secure alternative if circumstances prevent us from meeting in person. Instead of a weekly appointment in my consulting room, we hold the session from our own separate locations using a webcam and audio link. You will need a webcam and microphone if your computer does not already have one or can use headphones with a mic attached (your mobile phone headphones are suitable).
The process will start with an initial consultation to discuss what has brought you to counselling and details of the service I provide. During this initial session you can check that everything is working correctly and that you feel comfortable receiving counselling in this way. This is also your opportunity to get to know me and ensure that you are happy with my style of working. During sessions, ensure you are in a comfortable position and in a room where you won’t be disturbed.
Do I need to be computer literate to have online counselling?
While individuals considering the option of online counselling will need some basic computer skills, you don’t need to be a 'tech genius' to make online counselling work for you. I will provide a step-by-step simple approach to getting started.
I use the Zoom app to provide this service, which is well-designed, reliable and straightforward to use. I will set up a Zoom meeting at an agreed time and invite you to attend by sending a link through email or text. You follow the instructions to download Zoom and join the meeting. Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Being able to see each other gives you more of the benefits you get with face-to-face counselling along with the convenience of not needing to travel.
How it works
You can use Zoom™ on your computer/laptop or a phone or tablet using the Zoom app, which you can download from your app store. The phone app works in the same way although the screen may differ slightly from that on a computer. You don't need to create a Zoom account. A few minutes before the session starts, I'll send you an email invitation to join the Zoom meeting. This will contain a link that you should click on. Provided you can see the link has come from my email account at the expected time, this link will be safe. Make sure your device is fully charged or have a charging device handy.
- Open my email with the Zoom invitation and click on the invitation link.
- Zoom will prompt you to download the application. Accept the download and follow the on-screen instructions to install.
- Once you've installed Zoom, go back to my email and click on the meeting link. The meeting will open in a new browser window.
- To turn your camera on, tap the camera icon on the bottom left.
- To turn your audio on, tap the microphone icon on the bottom left.
To join the session on your phone or tablet, download the Zoom app from your App store then open my email and click on the Zoom meeting link. The Zoom app will automatically open into our meeting. If your camera is not showing, tap your device and tap the camera icon. If your audio is not working, tap your device and tap the microphone icon.
The first time you open the link, Zoom will guide you through the process. It will ask your permission to download the software to your computer and then take you to the meeting. This only takes a short time.
You'll be asked to ‘Open Zoom meetings.’ You may also be prompted about using your computer audio and video. When you've done this, you'll find yourself in the meeting room, where I'll be waiting for you. This is a confidential and secure space.
I will send an invitation to a new meeting each time. This ensures that the space is never available to any other client.
Security
Although online counselling can never be 100% secure, there are several things you can and should do to reduce any risk:
- Always use a strong password to access your computer and don’t share it with anybody.
- Keep your computer software up to date, including security software such as virus protection and firewall.
- Check regularly for software updates for your video and audio communication software.
- Plan your session for a time when you know you can have privacy, making sure others in the house know not to disturb or interrupt you.
- Find a safe and undisturbed space where you can set up your device and sit comfortably for the whole session.
- Close all other browser windows and apps on your computer as these can affect the connection and either slow it down or cause the screen to freeze.
It's important that we both take confidentiality very seriously. You need to take personal responsibility for your own computer security and ensure that confidentiality is protected. Let me know straight away if you have any concerns that the security and confidentiality of our sessions is or has been compromised.
Paying your feees
Fees for sessions must be paid in advance by bank transfer.
Benefits
Online counselling offers certain benefits but there are also limitations that are worth bearing in mind in deciding which type of therapy is best meets your needs.
- Therapy at a time, place and pace that suits you.
- Access to counselling may be more immediate.
- No chance that you may be seen entering the counsellor’s practice.
- Flexibility to choose the technology you feel is best for you: telephone or video.
Things to consider
- It may feel strange to work without the same ‘cues’ that arise when we're in the same room together and you may find it harder to communicate exactly what you're feeling. In direct face-to-face communication we pick up information from facial expressions, voice tone, body language, and even the clothes people are wearing, which may be less obvious when working online. Are you comfortable using internet technology or would you prefer to see your counsellor face-to-face?
- You may find yourself exploring things that you wouldn't feel able to say when we're together in person. This might lead to unexpectedly heightened emotional responses both during the session and afterwards. It's important to be aware of this and I'll explore it with you regularly as a central and ongoing part of the process.
- Occasionally technological problems can arise which affect the online link. We'll discuss alternative means of contact and have an agreed course of action in case this happens.
- You'll be responsible for ensuring privacy at your end. You'll need to be able to shut the door on any noise, ensure that no one interrupts us and turn off telephones and other forms of contact.
- You may find it confusing to see us both on the screen at the same time. We'll discuss ways to resolve this - for example, I can help you to turn off your own video screen, if you prefer, once we've made contact.
Confidentiality
When using the right technology, online counselling therapy takes place within a secure, encrypted environment ensuring confidentiality and safety.