FAQ
Below you will find answers to some of the more common questions received. If you didn’t find the answer you were looking for, feel free to contact me for more information. I’m always happy to hear from people who are interested in therapy.
How much does therapy cost?
Initial
Consultation
Phone
-
I offer a free no-obligation phone consultation, lasting 15 minutes. This is to discuss your needs and to see if you'd like to work with me, and to see if we can work together.
Individual Therapy Session
Video or Phone-
A great way to connect. Each session lasts 50 minutes and is available via phone or video call.
Individual Therapy Session
In person session-
Not a fan of technology or prefer talking in person? Each session lasts 50 minutes where we can conduct our session in my Worcester based office.
Payment is made by bank transfer before sessions take place or cash at each session.
What is the cancellation policy?
24 hours’ notice is required to cancel an appointment. I schedule client sessions in advance, and if a client cancels at the last minute or fails to show up, I lose the opportunity to help someone else.
How long will the sessions last?
Each session is 50 minutes. Research suggests that this is the optimal duration which allows for balance between emotional intensity while avoiding mental exhaustion.
What happens in the first session?
In the first session we will go over our shared agreement which forms the basis of our work together. This includes answering any questions you may have about me; my qualifications, supervision and professional obligations. I will ask you what you want to achieve from counselling which will provide the framework of our work together. Parental consent will be required for those under 18 years.
How often should I attend therapy sessions?
You are free to choose how often you wish attend. However, therapy is better if there are consistent sessions which aren’t too far apart. Most clients come weekly, some fortnightly and a few client’s who are in the process of finishing therapy, move to monthly sessions before ending.
How do I end Therapy?
You can end therapy at any time although abrupt endings can be more harmful than good for clients. It usually becomes clear that our work together is coming to an end in a mutual way. We will carry out reviews periodically to check you are happy with the progress and direction the therapy is going in. It is important to ensure a safe and positive ending which for both short and longer term work would normally be at least 1-3 sessions in length, and I would usually encourage clients to have a least one ending session to effectively bring our work to a close.
Is information I share confidential?
Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of the counselling relationship, and it is an ethical and legal requirement for counsellors to protect clients’ confidentiality.
This means that any information you disclose during your sessions will be kept confidential, and will not be shared with anyone else without your explicit consent, except in certain exceptional circumstances.
These exceptional circumstances, known as “limits of confidentiality” include situations where the counsellor has a legal obligation to disclose information, such as cases of child abuse, terrorism, or serious harm to self or others. In such cases, the counsellor may need to break confidentiality to ensure the safety of the client or others. Before disclosing any information, however, the counsellor will typically discuss this with the client and seek their consent, unless there is an immediate risk of harm. In all other cases, the confidentiality of your sessions will be maintained.
Personal Information, is it safe?
Your information is protected by law under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, which require counsellors to handle personal data in a confidential and secure manner. Talk Therapy Service is a member of the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
What is an Accredited Counsellor/ Psychotherapist?
Accreditation demonstrates my commitment to high professional standards, enhancing safety and delivering a better service. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, the Accredited Register programme was set up by the Government to improve standards and safety for the benefit of the public.
