Many people often have questions about counselling so I have tried to cover the most frequently asked questions here, of course if there is something I haven’t answered please just ask.
General Information
How much do you charge? My current fee is £65 per 50 minute session. I have a limited number of concessions for people experiencing financial difficulties let me know if this applies when enquiring.
What payment methods do you accept? You can pay by cash or bank transfer.
Do you offer an introductory session? Yes. I can offer you either a free telephone consultation or I am happy to meet you for a 30 minute session for £30 this helps us both to see if we would work well together and it will give you more of an idea how counselling works.
What if I contact you and you don’t have any spaces? You can choose to either be added to my waiting list or I can refer you on to another trusted therapist
How long do sessions last? Each session lasts 50 minutes.
Can I have longer sessions? Sometimes you might feel you need more support so it may be appropriate to have more than one session a week and we can discuss this if necessary, however as therapy can be emotionally tiring I don’t feel it is beneficial to extend sessions beyond 50 minutes.
How many sessions will I need? Some clients only need a handful of sessions, other clients come for a year or more, usually I recommend 8 sessions initially where we review this mutually in the 7th session.
Do I have to come every week? For therapy to be effective, weekly sessions are best, however some clients find bi-weekly sessions work for them. Initially weekly sessions are useful as it’s important to have the support you might need while talking about things that are emotionally challenging.
Where are you based? I have a counselling room in Chobham Surrey, and also in Shepperton Middlesex.
Do you have disabled access? My main room is on the first floor and unfortunately due to the age of the building there is no lift. If you have mobility issues and wish to discuss accessibility so that we can work together, please contact me.
Do you offer evening sessions? Yes my latest evening session begins at 8pm.
What if I need to miss a session? You can just let me know either during a session or by telephone or email, if you need to cancel a session a minimum of 24 hour notice is required otherwise the session fee will have to be paid.
Do you have insurance? Yes I am insured and I hold the appropriate level of professional indemnity insurance.
Are you registered with a professional body? I am an accredited member of the BACP. This stands for British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapist. BACP is a professional body representing counselling and psychotherapy with over 44000 members and works toward a better standard of therapeutic practice.
What experience do you have? Aside from my private practice I have worked as a counsellor and psychotherapist in primary and secondary schools and 6th forms and university. I have worked with adults and families when they have had a cancer diagnosis, and with people who have experienced loss or bereavement. I have worked over the years at a number of charities as a counsellor.
What do counselling sessions involve?
What can I expect in the first session? I aim to provide a relaxed safe and private environment. To start I take some notes and a brief history and discuss the reasons you would like to have therapy, we take it step by step at your pace. When I have a picture of what it is you need from therapy, and if you decide you are ready to continue we will go over the therapeutic contract, which covers things such as session length and frequency, fees, cancellations etc. You are able to take the contract away before you sign it during our second session.
Do you make notes during the session? I only usually make notes during the initial session where I like to take a history. I also make brief, anonymised notes after our session that are held securely.
Will you keep what I tell you confidential? Yes, confidentiality is very important during therapy and anything you tell me will be kept confidential. There are only a handful of exceptions to this – either that you or someone else is at risk of significant harm, or if I have a legal obligation to. If I feel I need to break confidentiality I will discuss this with you first. I will also discuss our sessions during clinical supervision to ensure you are getting the most effective therapy and that I am working ethically.
LG Counselling 07895 933393 