How many counselling sessions do you think I will need?

Honest answer – I don’t know.  The reason being that counselling is a very individual experience.  Some people come because they know what the problem is but don’t know how to move forwards so they have an idea how long they want to attend counselling for.  Other people come because they don’t know where things have gone wrong and want to take their time looking at what they would like to change.  However, in my experience clients have said they have felt better after just one session. 

How long will I have to wait?

You will be able to have your first session within a few days of contacting me but it’s ok to book in advance, some people need more time after the initial contact is made. I understand how difficult it can be taking that first step and I can promise you will not feel pressured into making an appointment if you contact me. Some people prefer a little time to think about it.

Will I feel better after one session?

Some people say they feel better after one session, however, others say they felt low for a day or two but then said they began to feel better afterwards.  It’s difficult to say how you will feel as it’s impossible to know what could come up during the session. 

How long are the sessions?

The sessions vary from half an hour to one hour.   Not everyone feels comfortable talking for one hour and this can feel overwhelming.  You book an appointment that suits you best.  You can always increase or decrease the length of the session as you go along.

How often should I attend counselling?

You decide what suits you.  I understand that people’s lives are busy and it can be difficult to commit to weekly appointments on the same day at the same time, therefore, I work flexibly to allow you to access counselling whenever suits you feel you want to have a session.

Do I have to be ill to attend counselling?

The sad thing is most people access counselling when they feel it’s the last resort to feeling better.  People come to counselling for many different reasons.   Counselling can help you make changes in your life if you feel stuck or want to set new life goals.  There are lots of benefits to engaging in counselling at the beginning of when you feel things aren’t quite right rather than struggling on for a long time (sometimes years) before engaging.

Do I have to talk to you face to face?

No.   Not everyone finds it easy, or is able to attend face to face counselling for many different reasons.  Therefore, I offer online counselling (using Teams) and telephone counselling as alternatives, again to suit my clients’ requirements.