At our initial meeting, whether via telephone or Zoom, you can tell me briefly what you need support with. I will do my very best to help you feel as comfortable as possible. At this stage, you can tell me as much or as little as you want to.
I may ask a few questions if only to gauge what you hope to achieve from our time together. After the initial 20-minute free consultation, you may decide straightaway if things feel right.
It is entirely up to you then; you can book your first session there, and then you can go away and think; you may even have other counsellors to speak with before you decide.
Seeing a counsellor is a big decision, and choosing wisely is very important as it is your money you are spending and the precious time you will be investing.
Counselling is not an easy journey; I will not mislead you into thinking it is. But being able to be honest with oneself as we start to unpick sections of our lives can leave us feeling vulnerable at first, but it can then make us feel like a new breath has been taken.
You will receive a client-counsellor agreement to read through, and then both of us will sign the agreement. One copy will stay with me in a secure location, and the other will be your copy to keep.
The aim of our sessions is for a strong therapeutic bond to form and for me, as the counsellor, to support you as you explore the things you bring to the sessions.
Your personal information is strictly confidential. Please do not feel afraid to speak to me about everything that troubles you. I am not here to judge your life and any situation you find yourself in, I will feel privileged that you have chosen me to open your heart to. Importantly, it is vital that you are here because you want to explore counselling for yourself and not here because somebody else has sent you or told you that you need to attend.
I believe we will only commit completely to our choices for ourselves. I chose to have counselling of my own some years ago. I know how I felt when I attended my first counselling session, and I really hope I can help to put you at ease.
How long will it take?
Our weekly or fortnightly sessions will be for 50 minutes and can either be a short, focused course of 6 sessions to address a particular issue affecting your day-to-day life, or it can be for a longer period to help you regain your balance and make sense of life. There is no limit to the number of sessions you can attend, and it can be open-ended just as long as it provides you with the support you need.
Over time, I hope that you will experience a greater sense of fulfilment in your life.
