Counselling can help with a wide range of issues:-

A Rough Guide

There are two routes; One is short-term work for about 6 - 8 weeks roughly, where specific issues are focussed on. The second is longer-term work where deep and more complicated issues are addressed. Sometimes the first leads to the second.

Entering therapy is a investment in time, money and emotional energy. At the beginning there is often both relief and anxiety so sometimes it is difficult to remember what was said and what agreements were made with your therapist. The following information will be given to you either at your assessment or at your first sessions.

Assessment: This is an opportunity for you to meet and identify the issues that have brought you into counselling and to assess your needs. From that, a decision can be made as to whether you can work together. The service is strictly confidential. However there may be exceptions to this when an outside agency is involved and this will be raised at assessment time.

Appointments: It is most important that you are given a regular time and day for your sessions. Sometimes this is not always possible either because of your work schedule or because you are being seen as quickly as possible and may have to wait for a regular space. However, once this is established it is important to keep your sessions as constant as possible. A session lasts either 50 minutes or an hour.

Fees: These should be negotiated at your first session along with an agreement about how you want to pay, when you want to pay etc. If your sessions are to be paid for by your employer, methods of invoicing will be discussed. Receipts for your therapy will be given monthly on request. Fees are reviewed at the beginning of each calendar year and any increments made at that time.

Cancellations: If you are unable to attend a sessions another session for that week will be offered, if possible. Otherwise you are expected to pay the full fee.

Holidays: No fee will be charged for the first four weeks of holiday, annually.

Contact: Contact by telephone or letter outside sessions may be necessary to change or cancel sessions, or if a crisis has arisen which you wish to discuss or arrange an extra appointment.

Review: Where appropriate, some time will be set aside in one of your sessions to discuss how the work is progressing, if it is fulfilling your needs and giving you what you want.

Ending Therapy: When the client, or the therapist feels that the therapy is drawing to a close, this will be discussed and mutually agreed.

Complaints: Should be addressed to the therapist first then to their official training organisation, if you do not feel your complaint has been dealt with satisfactorily. All counsellors and therapists are regularly supervised as a requirement of their professional organisation.