Frequently Asked Questions

Counselling/psychotherapy is a unique process for everyone who takes the brave first step in seeking support.

It is a collaborative process where I am as much of a participant as you and, whilst I believe that you are the expert in your own life, you can expect authenticity and honesty from me when we work together.

The aim is to build a trusting relationship where you feel safe to bring your whole self to our sessions and to empower you to build self-awareness, self-love, resilience and to develop coping strategies that move you towards your goals.

Therapy can bring up some difficult emotions and it is my hope that I can provide a safe space for you to work through these emotions without fear of judgement or discrimination.

Being integrative means that I draw from a variety of counselling theory to enable me to tailor my work to each client’s individual needs. I do not believe that there is such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to therapy as we are all different and completely unique, meaning that what one person needs may differ from the next.

An initial consultation is not a therapy session, but a free video or phone call which allows us the opportunity to meet and get to know if we are well suited to working together.

Typically, I’ll explain a little bit about myself, how I work and what our sessions may look like together. I’ll then give you some time to explain what you are looking for or ask any questions that you may have.

After the initial consultation, you will have some time to decide whether we feel like the right fit and, if so, we can arrange our first session.

If this is your first time in therapy, know that feeling unsure or nervous is totally normal. I’ll guide you through each step and check in as we go. I view therapy as a partnership and, from the start, we’ll work together to shape the pace and direction of our work.

The first session is an opportunity for us to begin building a foundation. I’ll ask questions to understand what brings you to therapy, what you’re hoping to work on, and some history that might be helpful.

We’ll also go over any questions you have, talk briefly about how therapy works, and review things like confidentiality and scheduling. Most importantly, it’s a space for you to start feeling comfortable and heard – there’s no rush, and you’re welcome to share as much or as little as you’d like.

Sessions typically run for a ‘therapeutic hour’ which is 50 minutes, unless otherwise discussed.

Sessions are typically held weekly at first as this allows for the development of a strong therapeutic relationship.

However, if weekly sessions are unfeasible for you, please let me know and we can arrange a frequency that suits you and your life better.

If finances are difficult, I reserve the right to offer reduced price sessions but the number of these sessions that I can offer at any one time is limited and may not be available.

Therapy is a highly personal experience and could last from weeks to years depending on the client. As I offer open-ended therapy, this means that we can work at your pace until we reach an ending.

As a registered member of the BACP, I am required to attend regular clinical supervision.

Clinical supervision helps counsellors/psychotherapists to work ethically with their clients and develop skills and awareness of how to work best with anything that arises.

Any client work that I take to my supervisor is non-identifiable and they are also bound to confidentiality.

Just like in any professional relationship, having a clear agreement helps us avoid misunderstandings.

The contract covers things like confidentiality, how sessions are scheduled, fees, cancellations, and what you can expect from me as your therapist. It’s there to protect both of us and to support a strong, trusting relationship.

We’ll go over it together, and you’re always welcome to ask questions.

Some of the personal details I ask for – like your address, GP details, or emergency contact – are part of my ethical and legal responsibilities as a therapist. They help ensure your safety, allow me to contact you if needed, and give context to the care I provide.

All information is kept confidential and stored securely, in line with privacy laws and professional standards.

As some data is stored electronically, I am registered with the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) and adhere to the UK GDPR requirements.

Your data will never be used for marketing purposes or distributed to third parties.

Any paper records will be kept in a locked filing cabinet that only I have access to. Any electronic records will be kept on a laptop that only I have access to and will be password protected and, where possible, encrypted.

Data will be kept for 7 years as recommended by the BACP, after which all paper records will be shredded and electronic records permanently deleted.

Information that I will store and why:

• Brief session notes – typically non-descriptive and anonymised to ensure that no one reading the records could trace the information back to you.

• Minimal personal details – for emergency situations and business operation.

• Payment details – to help me to track payments.

As a client, you have individual rights regarding the way that your data is stored and processed. For further information, click here to access the ICO’s guide.

If you’re making an inquiry through any third-party services, such as directories, any data that they collect from you is under their GDPR and privacy policy. If you are uncomfortable with a third party holding your data, it may be best to contact me directly.