FAQ's

Committed to Confidentiality

Confidentiality is hugely important and all discussions in counselling are confidential. The only time I might break confidentiality is if there is a serious risk of harm to you or others, and in very rare cases where required by law. I am a fully registered member of the BACP (British Association of counselling and psychotherapy a professional body that guides our practice and professional code of conduct.

All client records are protected by the data protection Act 1998. This means that no information is shared with a third party. Exception to this policy may only occur where it is necessary to ensure the safety of client’s or others.

For more information to follow the link to the BACP ethical framework 1/7/16.

What is therapy?

Therapy offers you a safe, confidential place to talk about your life and anything that may be confusing painful or uncomfortable.

How will I feel?

Therapy is a personal process. Sometimes it is necessary to talk about painful, feelings or difficult decisions, so you may go through a period of feeling worse than when you started. Usually it will take a number of counselling sessions before therapy starts to make a difference, however on some occasions a few sessions may be enough.

Does it work for everyone?

Therapy doesn’t work for everyone. It’s not a universal cure because talking about painful things can be difficult. It can be hard work and does mean that both parties client and therapist have to be committed.

How long does it take?

Therapy can be just a few sessions and sometimes even just one session may be enough. It may continue over several weeks or months. This will depend on the client’s individual situation.

How long is a session?

Sessions will be 60 mins (1 hour).

How often will I be seen?

Most people will have therapy once a week but the frequency can vary according to the client’s needs.

Will I have to talk about things I would prefer not to discuss?

No. I will encourage you to talk about many aspects of your life, and to express your feelings. Your wish not to discuss a particular matter will always be respected.

What should I do if I feel better and don’t want to see you again?

Discuss this with me and we will arrange an ‘ending’ session. You can choose to stop at any time you like. However for the therapeutic process to be most effective, it is best to give notice and to work towards an ending. This provides an opportunity to experience a positive ending and one that will help you end relationships well in the future.

Will you tell me how to solve my problems?

No, I will help you explore different ways of dealing with a situation, but the choice will always be yours.

What is supervision in counselling?

Working under supervision means that I use the services of another counsellor to review my work with clients and my professional development. Most professional bodies in the UK such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) require supervision, but it is also seen by many as ethically necessary. Counselling supervision is considered important to protect clients and to improve the ability of counsellors to provide value to their clients.

What does supervision mean to confidentiality?

Client confidentiality is still safeguarded because individually identifying information such as full names is not given. Also my supervisor is covered by the same code of ethics with regard to confidentiality as myself.

Do you keep notes?

I am obliged to make some notes after sessions. These notes are brief, coded and kept in a secure place.

Continued Professional Development

I regularly undertake further learning in the form of workshops and seminars, with a view to maintaining continued professional development.