Services
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get in touch?
You can make contact either by phoning, texting or emailing. When I get your message I will respond to you as soon as I can with a phone call. During this call I may ask you a few questions about your current difficulties in order to have a sense of where you are at in your life. We will agree a time and date for your first appointment and I will explain directions to the rooms.
What happens at the first meeting?
The first meeting is an opportunity for us to meet and see if counselling or psychotherapy can help. This meeting is a bit different to our other sessions as I will ask you direct questions in order for us to decide what treatment will help you the most. I fill out a form as we talk and take notes, something that I do not do after this session. At the end of this time, I will summarise what I have heard , we can talk about what are your main goals from our work and what then are the next steps for you.
The most important thing for you to ask yourself is, can I relate to this person? The relationship between the client and counsellor is fundamental to your recovery. You need to feel you can trust and be comfortable with me during the sessions.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends on what is happening for you at the moment. The combination of your own goals from therapy and my assessment of you will help to decide how many sessions you need.
How do you work?
I work using an integrated approach, which means that depending on you and your problems I will utilize what I believe will be the most beneficial theory and technique for you. What this means in reality is that I always listen.
In addition, at other times, I may seek clarification, challenge you, help you to identify your problem, give you feedback, draw your attention to specific thought and behaviour patterns, give you new tools to practice, help your self-awareness, help you to learn more about your predicament, give you instant feedback on how you relate to me, ask you to do homework, devise an action plan, keep a journal, engage in visualization/relaxation ….to mention just a few techniques. What I do not do is give you advice or judge you.
Is counselling confidential?
Confidentiality is fundamental to our work together and to the outcome. There can, however, be certain ethical and legal exceptions which will be explained to you during the first meeting.
What is the cost of counselling?
Sessions cost 70 euros which are payable by cash, cheque or a bank transfer after the sessions. Electronic payment will be possible soon.
How long are the sessions?
The first session is one hour, this allows for the gathering of necessary information. After that, sessions are fifty minutes in length.
What if I have to cancel or reschedule a session?
As long as I have 24 hours notice, there is no charge for a cancelled or rescheduled appointment. However, it is my policy to charge for missed appointments or cancellations where insufficient notice is given, as this impacts on other clients and my availability.