How do I book?

Booking is simple. Just complete the contact us form and I’ll get back to you with my availability. Once payment is made, you’ll receive a booking confirmation with a copy of the counselling contract and a few other essential bits of information.

How long is each counselling session?

Sessions usually last 50mins. However there is an opportunity to request 80min sessions if you feel this suits you best.

Do I need to give you much information before our session?

No. If you wish you may give a brief reason for seeking counselling on your contact us form, however due to data protection issues, please be general. If you have any queries or questions then I’d be happy to have an informal telephone conversation before you book.

What happens during the first session?

Our first session is very much a time for you to share your reasons for seeking counselling and to get a sense of what it’s like talking to me. I’ll gather some details from you and go through the counselling contract and answer any questions you may have.  We’ll also talk about things like the type of therapeutic approach that will suit you and the frequency and number of sessions you have in mind.

Whether it’s your first time, or you’ve previously had talking therapy, I understand that this first visit can sometimes feel a bit daunting – but hopefully by the end of the session you’ll feel a little more at ease and hopeful that you’ve found the right support.

Single Session Therapy (SST) – due to the nature of this therapy specific SST forms will be sent to you to complete and return before your session. These include the counselling contract, personal details and a questionnaire to act as a starting point for the session. 

How do I know you are legitimate?

Counselling is unregulated in the UK however there are a number of professional membership organisations that carry minimum training and ethical requirements to join. I am a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. You can view my directory listing here.

Can I access online counselling from abroad?

Yes! I am fully insured to provide counselling worldwide. As the counselling is conducted from the UK. Anima Talk Ltd. is a UK company and accountable to British law and legislation.

What if I can’t make a session?

Sometimes life gets in the way. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to make your session. We operate different cancelation policies depending on the type of service and this will be explained in full in the counselling contact and discussed during your first session.

How long will I need to wait?

I hope to see you as soon as possible.  The more availability you have the easier it will be to schedule in a session. If you are looking for regular therapy then when you are offered a session time, this will be reserved for you on an ongoing weekly basis. If you have to wait for a regular slot to open up then it may be possible to arrange some single sessions so you receive some support while you wait.

How long will it take?

That’s entirely up to you. The wonderful thing about private counselling is that you are in charge. Some people only need six sessions, while others find great value in ongoing counselling as a way to creating and maintaining lasting change. There are many factors in deciding what type of counselling is for you including time and budget and this will be discussed in your first session.

How do I stop counselling?

If you’ve agreed a set number of sessions then the process of ending will be planned in and we will be working towards an ending (which may include things like resolution, goals and next steps if you so wish) during the later sessions. If you choose a more open-ended approach then please be assured, ending is a natural part of the process and when you feel the time to end therapy is approaching then simply let us know. Everyone is different and I’ll work with your preferences in terms of how to end the counselling relationship. Endings are very important to the process and can be a very enriching experience. Our mission is to create an encounter that will stay with you well after the counselling sessions have finished, and I’ll work with you to ensure you have the ending that suits your needs.

Is it possible to just have a single session but not in the Single Session Therapy format?

Yes. Single Session Therapy is a specific, longer and more structured session that is solution focused. This can be really helpful if you have something coming up in your life and need to talk things through signposting for additional support or practical tips and strategies to take away with you.

If you just need some time and space to work through your difficulties facilitated by a trained professional without the weekly commitment then you are welcome to book in ad-hoc sessions where they are available.

What if I would like more sessions after we have ended counselling?

That’s fine. From your first session, we are working to a point in time where counselling ends and you have the tools and skills to go forward with confidence. However you are welcome to contact me at any point, if you feel it would benefit you to have more sessions.

I can’t afford private counselling, what should I do?

If you are able to wait, then NHS talking therapies (.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-nhs-talking-therapies-service) offer a variety of ways to help. The types of support and wait times will vary depending on your area but you can refer yourself directly without waiting for a GP appointment. There will be an assessment session and then you will be put on a waiting list for the appropriate service. To get the best out of your assessment session, I recommend you read the talking therapies webpage and have an idea of the type of therapy that may suit you best and prepare to explain why you think this would be the best approach for you.

If you need more immediate support there’s many amazing organisations that will be there for you through things like helplines, apps and text and peer support. As mentioned, the demand for counselling is high and while a charity, there is often a cost involved. However, these alternative methods can be surprisingly effective and a great way of accessing support while you are waiting for more personalised help.

Recommended organisations include:

Samaritans samaritans.org

Mind  – mind.org.uk

Shout 85258 24/7 text support giveusashout.org

CALM – campaign against living miserably thecalmzone.net

Links to local organisations can be found by searching for “Low cost or free counselling followed by your area”.

If you feel that you need immediate mental health support you can call your local urgent NHS mental health helpline (www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline) or 999.

Do you provide counselling for children?

I am trained to provide therapy to people over 16yrs. It is highly recommended for people counselling children and young people to undergo specialist training. This is something I am considering for the future due to listening to the frustrations of parents and carers finding little support in often very difficult circumstances. If you are finding it difficult accessing support for a child in your care via the GP do consider involving your child’s school. Sometimes it may take a few tries, and depending on the size of the school it can depend on who you talk to. Most schools will have either a mental health lead/pastoral care or attendance or safeguarding officer. If you are finding support isn’t forthcoming from your class teacher you may consider contacting the school to find out who they are and contacting them directly. Alternatively, you may wish to contact your local School Nursing Service who may be able to provide mental health interventions and parenting support. If you suspect your child may have Special Educational Needs (SEN) due to for example neurodiverse behaviours contact the schools SENCO and ask about their ‘ordinarily available provision’ strategy and how this may apply to your child. Your local Information and Support Service (IAS) {link to Find your local IAS service (councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk)} may also be of help.

The following websites have great tools and resources for both young people and their parents/carers, some also offer support such as texting, helplines, and face to face services.

Young minds

Childline

Family Lives

Happy Maps – resources

Kooth – online wellbeing community

Gingerbread – supporting single parents

Beat (eating disorders)

Frank (drugs and alcohol)

Child Bereavement UK

National Autistic Society

OCD UK

Kidscape -bullying

Head Above the Waves – supporting young people with depression and self-harm