FAQ’s

Fees and payment

Each session is £50 for 60 minutes. I ask for payment to be made by bank transfer before you arrive.

Counselling can be prohibitively expensive for some people. I offer £45 sessions for low income, students, trainee counsellors and unemployed.

I offer weekly or fortnightly sessions. Some clients then move onto monthly sessions (subject to availability).

Are you a counsellor or a psychotherapist?

My qualification is in integrative counselling and psychotherapy - so both! I use the words interchangably.

I am worried about finding the venue for face to face and walk and talk sessions?

I work from Brookfield Yard, S7 1DG, it’s just off Abbeydale Road. The building is easy to find and access by car, bike, bus or on foot. Free parking is available on nearby streets. You can see pictures of it here and see a video here

I offer walk and talk sessions during daylight hours in Ecclesall Woods or Millhouses Park and/or Hutcliffe Woods. Ecclesall Woods and Hutcliffe Woods have rougher paths; Millhouses Park is flat and is suitable for wheelchairs or other mobility issues. Both venues have lots of benches and public toilets (the availability of these depends on the time of our sessions).

Before we meet I will send you clear instructions, with photos, of how to find the venue you have chosen.

What’s the point of the introductory phone call/Zoom?

This 20 minute session will be a chance for you to see and/or hear me and ask any questions you might have about how I work. I might ask a few questions about what is life like for you at the moment, and why are you looking for counselling now? If I feel I’m not the best person to support you I might be able to help you find the support you are looking for. If it feels right for both of us we can arrange to meet for the first session.

Do you work online or on the phone?

Yes, as long as we both feel it is appropriate for the issues you are bringing. Sometimes clients can disclose more on the phone/online than they might in person, and this can mean that they may feel a bit vulnerable after a session. If we do work remotely we will talk about how we can both approach this to ensure the work stays safe and meaningful.

Why do you offer walk and talk sessions?

Movement can be therapeutic in itself and some people find it easier to talk whilst walking/travelling forwards, others may prefer it because it does not involve direct eye contact. Being in green places is very important to some people and has many positive benefits on the mind and body. Some clients may choose this option because they are already aware of this. Others may be curious about how it might benefit them and want to give it a go. I ask for clients to be able to wear appropriate clothes and footwear, suitable for changing weather, and a reasonable level of mobility is required (on feet or wheels). The session can be paced to suit all levels of fitness (benches are available!). There are some additional considerations with this type of session such as how would you feel if something you said was overheard. We can discuss any concerns you have in our introductory chat, or via email. You can read more about walking therapy here.

What reasonable adjustments can you make?

If you are having face to face sessions I can offer: a choice of seating and seating positions (eg side by side, on the floor), low lighting, fidgets, use of soft blankets and pillows, comfort breaks during the session, walking around during the session. I can’t offer: a silent room (there are occasional noises from the business upstairs), bare walls (there are plants in the room, and pictures on the walls).

If you are having online sessions I can offer: my screen off, your screen off, low lighting, adjustments to my background, breaks during the session, walking around in the session. I can’t offer: a different platform (I use Zoom).

I’ve had negative experience of counselling in the past. I’m worried it will happen again.

When we start working together I will ask about previous experiences of counselling, and what was helpful or unhelpful. I will do all I can to avoid repeating any negative experiences, and if I do, I will be very happy to talk about it.

I’m nervous about the first session.

It’s really common to feel anxious or scared before you come to the first session. I will take time to find out how you feel and if there is anything that can help you feel more at ease, for example you might like a lot of quiet time, or you might be uncomfortable if it is too quiet. If you are very nervous and don’t know what to say I will support you by asking safe questions until you feel confident enough to take the lead.

How many sessions will I need?

Some people might find a few sessions is enough for them, or is all they can afford at this time, in which case we will work in quite a focused way. Others might not know how many sessions they will need, in which case we will regularly review whether counselling is continuing to help you feel better.

I am open to one off sessions, meeting fortnightly, or working in an open ended way (meaning there is no set end date).

What is your cancellation policy?

I ask for at least 2 days (48 hours) notice if you are not able to attend, otherwise the full session fee will be payable.

What if I’m not happy with the counselling you provide?

I’d really encourage you to tell me what you are not happy with. If I’ve made a mistake, or hurt you, I will want to respond to it. You could tell me in a session, or you could email me, or send me a message on text or WhatsApp. Although it can be really hard to say if something is not working for you, it can be really beneficial to work on resolving it together. If you feel you can’t talk to me about it you could contact a service run by BACP for any client accessing counselling here. They provide a 30 min call to talk though how you might approach it with me, or provide you with reassurance or signposting. If you remain unhappy with the service I provide you may want to make a formal complaint. You can do this through my professional association, the NCPS, here