What is counselling?
Counselling is sometimes called talking therapy. It offers you a safe and confidential space to talk with a trained practitioner about your issues and concerns. Counselling can help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. A counsellor won't give advice or opinions, they will help you to understand yourself and your way forward.
Choosing a Counsellor
There are many different counsellors and types of counselling. Perhaps you know what might be a good fit, or perhaps you don't know where to start. It can be helpful to think about your own goals, how long you might want to have therapy for, and what you think might suit you. Some people find it useful to reach out to a few counsellors and ask some questions.
Beginning the Process
If you have questions or want to hear a bit more about me I can offer a short initial phone call or can answer questions and respond via email, whichever you prefer.
After that, you would book in for an initial session, either in-person or online. My working days for client sessions are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
After the initial session if it feels like a good fit, then we would agree to a regular time and day for sessions moving forwards.
Counselling Sessions
Initial Session
During our first session (often called an 'assessment'), I will ask you some questions about what brings you to counselling, your background, and your goals. I explain more of how I work, and answer any questions. The initial session is a chance for us to see if I'm a good fit for you, and to discuss how we might work together.
In-person Sessions
In-person sessions are one-to-one meetings between myself and a client, usually at the same time and day. Sessions last 50 minutes and usually happen weekly or fortnightly.
Online Sessions
Online sessions use video calls to facilitate the one-to-one meeting in an online 'therapy room'.
It's important you have a space which is safe and confidential for you to have the online session.
Counselling Process
Practical Information
How many sessions?
How much does it cost?
I offer both shorter term and longer term work, and discuss timescales with clients to understand what you want from the process. Often a good starting point is to begin with 6 sessions, and then review together moving forward.
The initial session is £25.
Session fees are £50 per session, payable by BACS in advance.
What is the room like?
For in-person work, I am in a comfortable space called 'The Therapy Room' in Quadrant, Beeston.
The room is on the first floor, with a lift available for access.
What happens in a session?
Sessions can vary based on the issues we are working on and your own preferences. Once you have got settled into the room, we might start to talk about one of your goals for therapy, perhaps a thread of a conversation from the previous session, or maybe something you noticed in the week you have just had. We might work on something specific, or talk in a more open way. I will listen, perhaps ask some questions and hold space for us to explore whatever you are bringing together.
'Thin places'
In ancient Ireland the mystics spoke of 'thin places' where the boundary between this tangible world and whatever they believed was beyond became porous. This term has come to represent the threshold places, places of duality and connection to ourselves and the world around us.
At times the counselling room can become almost like a 'thin place', where we explore the client's experiences of life and themselves. These threshold moments can be times when perhaps a client experiences a deep compassion and connection to themselves, perhaps when they release some of the pain from the past, or perhaps when they find the beginnings of hope for the future.
