About me

I am a qualified and insured Counsellor/Psychotherapist and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), abiding by their ethical framework and professional guidelines.

I work in private practice and provide online therapy to adults aged 18 and over. I aim to provide a welcoming, respectful and inclusive service. My approach is compassionate, curious and honest: I'll tell you what I notice and ask the questions worth asking. Further information about my experience, qualifications and approach can be found on my website or on my Counselling Directory and BACP profiles.

What is counselling/therapy? Is there a difference between the two?

Counselling and psychotherapy offer you a confidential and supportive space in which you can explore difficulties, experiences, thoughts and feelings that may be affecting you. It is different from talking with a friend, family member or your GP, and provides dedicated time to focus on your experiences with a trained professional.

The terms ‘counselling’ and ‘therapy’ are often used to describe similar forms of support (more information here). I generally describe myself as a therapist, although I am happy for you to use whichever term feels most comfortable to you.

What sort of issues can I contact you about?

People come to therapy for many different reasons. Whether it’s panic attacks, sexual abuse, gender identity, job loss, grief, climate anxiety, affairs or family stress, this is a safe space to talk without judgement about anything that’s bothering you. This list is by no means exhaustive, and I encourage you to bring whatever is on your mind. 

I have also worked with people finding themselves feeling angry, depressed, guilty, overwhelmed or just generally unhappy – we don’t have to work on a specific ‘issue’, and it’s fine to come with a sense that something needs to change, even if you’re not sure what.

My professional training was trauma-informed and undertaken within a sexual violence service. As a result, I have experience of supporting people who have experienced highly distressing or traumatic events.

However, if I feel that I am not able to offer you the most suitable means of support I will make every effort to assist you in a referral to an alternative service.

Fees and method of payment

My fees are £55 for a full hour. I offer some concessionary rate fees for trainee counsellors. All fees are payable by bank transfer prior to the start of the session.

Late arrivals, cancellations, and missed appointments

Once you have booked a session, this time is yours; if you arrive late, we will still need to end at your regular finishing time. If you need to cancel a session, you will still be required to make full payment, unless:

·      you give me 48 hours or longer notice

·      there is a genuine emergency

If I must cancel an appointment, I will give you as much notice as possible and you will not be charged for the missed session.

Online working

We will agree a time and the platform through which we will hold our sessions. I will send you a link to this appointment via email, in advance. I will log into the relevant platform and begin our session at the agreed time. We will be visible to each other via the camera on your device. It is important that you have access to a private and appropriate space where you can speak freely and without being overheard.

Where either party experiences a technological breakdown which prevents us meeting online or exchanging emails, we would discuss how to re-arrange the scheduled appointment.

Confidentiality

Anything discussed during our sessions is confidential, meaning it does not leave the space between us, aside from certain legal or ethical constraints (detailed below). I store and manage personal information securely and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Further information can be found in my Privacy Policy. 

As part of my professional practice and in accordance with BACP requirements, I receive regular supervision from a qualified supervisor. I may therefore discuss aspects of our work to support my professional practice, without identifying you explicitly.

There are circumstances in which I may be required to share information outside the therapeutic relationship. These may include situations where:

·      I am legally required to disclose information, for example as a result of a court order or certain statutory requirements relating to safeguarding or terrorism;

·      I believe there is a significant risk of serious harm to you or another person;

·      information relates to serious criminal activity or another situation where confidentiality cannot appropriately be maintained.

Wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so, I would aim to discuss any concerns about confidentiality with you before taking further action.

Professional boundaries 

Maintaining clear professional boundaries is an important part of therapy. Our relationship is a therapeutic one and will not develop into a friendship. Outside of sessions, contact between us will generally be limited to matters relating to appointments and the administration of your therapy.

If we happen to see one another in public, I will not approach or acknowledge you first. This is to protect your privacy and gives you the choice about whether you wish to acknowledge me, particularly if you are with other people.

Privacy during online sessions 

I will ensure that I have a private and confidential environment when providing therapy online. You are also responsible for taking reasonable steps to protect your own privacy. Sessions should take place somewhere quiet and private where you feel safe to talk openly. If this changes, we will agree to halt the session until you are safe to continue.

Please note that although I will use appropriate measures to protect your confidentiality, I cannot guarantee the security or confidentiality of third-party online platforms.

Guidelines for emergency contact

Please note that my counselling does not provide an emergency service for clients. However, as part of my duty of care to you, I require some contact details to support me in the event of an emergency during our work. I will only contact your GP/trusted contact in a genuine safeguarding situation, or with your knowledge and agreement, except where I believe there is a serious and immediate risk to your safety or someone else's.

If an emergency arises during our sessions, we will discuss the appropriate support that you could access.

If you experience a serious mental health crisis outside of our sessions, particularly if you are at immediate risk of seriously harming yourself or someone else, you should seek urgent assistance rather than waiting for your next therapy appointment. This could include contacting your GP, your nearest accident and emergency service (A&E), or calling the emergency services (via 999). You can also call the 24/7 Samaritans helpline on 03459 09090 or email jo@samaritans.org. Find a Helpline is another useful resource for locating support.

Concluding your therapy sessions

You are always free to decide when you would like to finish therapy, and there is never any expectation to commit to a specific minimum amount of sessions. Where possible, I encourage us to discuss the ending of therapy in advance. Having time to plan an ending allows us to reflect on the work we have undertaken, consider any progress or changes you have experienced, and bring our therapeutic relationship to a safe and appropriate conclusion.

You are always welcome to return to therapy in the future – the door is always open.