FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about counselling?
Starting counselling can feel unfamiliar, and it’s completely natural to have questions before deciding whether it’s right for you.
Below you’ll find answers to some of the questions I’m most often asked about counselling, sessions, fees and how I work.
If there’s anything else you’d like to know, you’re always welcome to get in touch.
Where are you based?
I offer face-to-face counselling from a private therapy room in central Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Sessions currently take place at:
10 Bath Street
Cheltenham
GL50 1YE
The location is convenient for the town centre, with nearby public transport and parking.
I also offer online counselling for clients across the UK.
Do you offer online counselling?
Yes. Alongside face-to-face counselling in Cheltenham, I offer online counselling sessions across the UK.
Online counselling provides the same confidential and supportive therapeutic relationship while allowing you to attend from somewhere that feels comfortable and private.
It can be particularly helpful if you live further away, travel regularly or simply prefer the flexibility of meeting online.
What can counselling help with?
People come to counselling for many different reasons.
You may be experiencing anxiety or stress, low mood, grief or bereavement, relationship difficulties, significant life changes, low self-esteem, or feelings of being overwhelmed or disconnected.
You may also simply feel that something in your life isn’t quite right or want to understand yourself more deeply.
You don’t have to be experiencing a crisis for counselling to be helpful.
What type of counselling do you offer?
My approach is primarily person-centred, integrative and humanistic.
This means I don’t work from a rigid formula or tell you what you should do.
Instead, we work collaboratively, with your experiences, needs and goals at the centre of the counselling process.
Being integrative also allows me to draw on different therapeutic ideas where they may be helpful to you.
What happens in the first counselling session?
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin exploring what has brought you to counselling.
We can talk about what you are experiencing, what you would like support with and what you hope counselling might help you understand or change.
You don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what to say or having everything worked out.
The first session also gives you an opportunity to experience how I work and decide whether you feel comfortable continuing.
How long does a counselling session last?
Each counselling session lasts 50 minutes.
If we decide to work together regularly, sessions will usually take place at the same time each week.
How often will we meet?
Counselling sessions usually take place weekly.
Meeting regularly can help create continuity and allow trust and the therapeutic relationship to develop over time.
In some circumstances, fortnightly sessions may also be possible, and we can discuss what feels most appropriate for you.
How many counselling sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number of sessions.
Some people come to counselling for a relatively short period to explore a particular difficulty, while others find longer-term counselling more helpful.
We will regularly review how things are going and whether the sessions continue to meet your needs.
Counselling is open-ended, so we can work towards an ending together when you feel ready.
Do you offer both short-term and long-term counselling?
Yes.
Counselling can be either short or longer term depending on your circumstances and what you would like to explore.
Short-term counselling may be helpful when there is a particular issue you would like to focus on, while longer-term therapy can provide more time to explore deeper patterns, experiences and feelings.
There is no requirement to decide how long you will attend before you begin.
How much does counselling cost?
Individual counselling sessions are £60 for 50 minutes.
If you prefer to book a block, six sessions are available for £324, which represents a 10% saving of £36.
Ongoing sessions are payable in advance.
Do you offer reduced-fee counselling?
I hold a small number of concessionary spaces for counselling students and people on a low income.
Availability is limited, so please feel welcome to contact me if you would like to ask whether a reduced-fee space is currently available.
Do you offer a free introductory call?
Yes.
I offer a free, no-obligation 15-minute phone or video call before you decide whether you would like to book a counselling session.
It gives us an opportunity to briefly discuss what has brought you to counselling, answer any questions you may have and see whether speaking together feels comfortable.
There is no pressure to book afterwards.
How do I know if you’re the right counsellor for me?
Finding someone you feel comfortable talking to is an important part of counselling.
Qualifications and experience matter, but so does the relationship you have with your counsellor.
The free introductory call gives us an opportunity to speak before you make any commitment. You can ask questions, tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling and get a sense of whether I might be the right person to support you.
Is counselling confidential?
I offer a confidential, professional counselling service and work in accordance with the ethical framework of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Confidentiality is an important part of creating a space where you can feel safe talking openly.
We can discuss how confidentiality works and any questions you may have about it before we begin working together.
Do I need to know what I want to talk about before I begin?
No.
Some people come to counselling knowing exactly what they want to explore. Others simply know that they are struggling or that something doesn’t feel right.
Both are completely okay.
We can begin with whatever feels most important to you and allow the work to develop naturally from there.
Will you tell me what I should do?
My role isn’t to make decisions for you or tell you how you should live your life.
I believe that you are the expert in your own experience.
I will listen, ask questions and work alongside you to help you understand your thoughts, feelings and experiences more clearly.
The aim is to help you discover your own understanding and way forward.
Do you use creative approaches in counselling?
Sometimes.
I have a background in Fine Art and have undertaken additional training in art therapy and creative counselling.
For some people, creative approaches can provide another way of exploring feelings or experiences that are difficult to put into words.
This is entirely optional. You don’t need to be artistic, and there is never any expectation that you use creative materials if you would prefer simply to talk.
What happens if I want to stop counselling?
There is no fixed number of sessions that you are required to attend.
We will regularly review how counselling is going, and when you feel ready to finish we can talk about this together and work towards an ending that feels thoughtful and comfortable.