Frequently asked questions about counselling
Whether you’ve had counselling before, or this is the first time you’re thinking about trying it, it’s likely you’ll have some questions. I want to help make the process feel less daunting, and will always take the time to answer any questions you have. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about counselling.
Questions about counselling
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Counselling is where you sit together with a therapist to discuss the issues you’re experiencing. The counsellor is there to listen to you, and help you reflect on your difficulties so you can move forward. As part of this they may suggest helpful tools or techniques you can use, and ask questions to help you explore and understand your experiences, relationships, behaviours, thoughts, and feelings. A counsellor won’t tell you what to do, or diagnose you with a medical or mental health condition.
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During a counselling session you’ll get to talk about your experiences, thoughts and feelings. You might want to explore things from the past, as well as what’s happening for you in the present. This can be helpful in understanding the roots of your issues and behaviours. You might also want to discuss your thoughts and feelings about the future, as well as consider any goals you want to plan and achieve.
As your counsellor, my role is to help you explore your difficulties by asking questions and reflecting what I’m hearing. This can help you to reframe your experiences and find ways to move forward.
Each counselling session can look and feel different, depending on what you want to discuss. There’s no set agenda for your sessions, which means we may talk about something different in every appointment, or pick up from a previous session.
You can read more about what happens in counselling on my What To Expect page.
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Yes, what you discuss in counselling is completely confidential. However there are some exceptions to this, when your confidence may need to be broken. For example, if there was a need to keep you or another person safe. This is something we talk through in more detail in your first counselling session (also known as an initial consultation appointment) so you know the limits of confidentiality.
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Research has shown counselling can be very beneficial in reducing anxiety, improving depression, growing self-confidence, managing bereavement and loss, and improving relationships, among other things.
Counselling isn’t a “fix” for these issues, and there are no guarantees about how you’ll find the process. Some of how well counselling works for you will depend on the relationship you have with your counsellor, how much you engage with the process, and how competent your therapist is.
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I use a type of therapy called integrative therapy. This means I use a variety of different counselling models and theories - including person-centred therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - and I adapt these for each individual person depending on their issues and preferred way of working. The benefit of this approach is you get counselling that’s tailored to suit you and your needs.
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As a counsellor I work with a wide range of mental health issues, including:
Abuse
Anxiety
Bereavement and loss
Cancer and illness
Childhood issues
Confidence and self-esteem
Depression
Family issues
Fertility and pregnancy
Menopause
Panic attacks
Relationship issues
Stress and burnout
Suicidal thoughts
Trauma
Work-related issuesYou can read more about some of the most common mental health issues I work with on my Counselling Services page.
If you’re experiencing an issue I’m unable to work with, I’ll always be honest with you. And if I know of another counsellor who specialises in an issue I don’t work with, I’ll discuss referring you. This is so you get the best possible therapy experience.
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I’m a fully qualified counsellor and supervisor, and have been a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) since 2016. In 2018 I became an Accredited Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), in recognition of my advanced training and experience. I have over 10 years’ experience working in professional practice, and have been volunteering with mental health charities since 2000.
As part of my commitment to ethical practice I attend regular professional training and supervision, and I’m fully insured.
Questions about counselling appointments
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You can make an appointment by getting in touch by phone or email, or by filling in the enquiry form on my website. When you get in touch I’ll give you details about my availability, and about what to expect from your first appointment (also known as an initial consultation session). I’ll also answer any questions you may have.
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All counselling sessions, including the initial consultation session (our first appointment together), are 50 minutes long.
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Counselling sessions cost £75. This is the same for in person, online and telephone counselling appointments, and your initial consultation session. If you need me to write any letters or reports outside of our appointment time, this is charged at an hourly rate of £75. Counselling fees are reviewed at the start of April each year.
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Counselling sessions only need to be paid for in advance if you’re having online or telephone appointments. For these sessions, payment is required 24 hours in advance by bank transfer. For in person appointments, payment is made by cash or card at the start of each session.
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Clear Insight Counselling is based at Odyssey Clinic in Leamington Spa, just north of the main town centre. It’s ideally situated if you’re living or working in South Warwickshire, including Kenilworth, Warwick and Stratford; nearby Coventry and Rugby; or you’re a student at Warwick or Coventry University. The full address and postcode for the clinic is:
Odyssey Clinic
63 Kelvin Road
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 7TGwhat3words: ///juror.aware.fruit
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It can be helpful at the beginning of counselling to have appointments weekly, so we can get to know each other and you can begin to explore the issues you’re experiencing. But it’s fine to have sessions less frequently if that suits you better. It’s also not uncommon to space sessions out if you have longer-term therapy.
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It’s difficult to predict how long your therapy will be. Counselling can be short-term, lasting from a few weeks to a few months. Or it can be long-term, extending to many months or years. Knowing how long your therapy will be is something that can become clearer as we begin working together, and when we review the counselling process.
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No, you don’t have to have appointments face-to-face. I offer in person, online, and telephone counselling sessions. You can have your therapy appointments in one or a mix of these formats.
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If you need to cancel an appointment, please get in touch with me by phone, text or email as soon as possible to let me know. I have a 24-hour cancellation policy, so any appointments cancelled with 24 hours’ notice or less will be charged at the full session rate.
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Yes, it’s no problem to get in touch with me on behalf of another person, particularly if they’re feeling worried or anxious about doing it themselves, or their mental health is making it difficult for them to make contact. However, I can’t book an appointment for another person without having direct contact with them first. This is because I need to be certain they want to come for counselling.
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Absolutely. You’re the expert in the counselling room, which means you get to decide when therapy ends. I might also chat to you about stopping counselling if it seems we’re beginning to reach an end point in the process.
If you have any other questions that aren’t answered here, I always welcome you getting in touch to ask. It’s important you feel as comfortable as possible about starting counselling and choosing a counsellor.