I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FIRST SESSION!
The first session lets you tell your story. I will be assessing your counselling needs and asking you questions to gather as much information as I need. This can take more than one session. It’s a conversation and informal. I will try to make you feel comfortable and get to know you and your background.

WILL IT WORK?
I can’t offer any guarantees it wouldn’t be ethical. However, most people find they take some benefit from counselling, sometimes unexpected benefits. If  something arises in your sessions that is beyond my competency I will talk to you about what’s the best option for you and refer you to someone with a suitable specialism where possible.I don’t work with people beyond the point of therapeutic benefit.If you find I’m not the right counsellor for you, you can stop coming to sessions and find a counsellor who is a better fit for you.It’s your counselling, you choose.

‍WHAT’S YOUR AVAILABILITY?
‍Currently I offer counselling sessions in:
Jesmond on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Sunderland Wednesdays and Saturdays
Durham on Fridays

‍HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
You can complete the contact form at the bottom of the page, email me or give me a call.

‍WILL IT BE CONFIDENTIAL?
‍It’s really important that you know you can speak freely and with confidence in sessions. Confidentiality is important and fully respected. Although there are some circumstances when I would have to break confidentiality.

• If I felt you were at serious risk of harming yourself or someone else seriously.
• If I thought you were involved in serious crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking or acts of terrorism.
• If any child protection issues emerged I would be duty bound to do the necessary safe-guarding.

I would discuss these steps with you as far as I could, as you would be my client and your well-being would be of prime importance.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT TO SAY IN A SESSION?
People often worry about not knowing what to say in a session. You can speak about whatever is present for you, each session you can begin where you wish. There are no right and wrong things to say. I might bring you back to previous work or issues we agreed to return to. The sessions are yours and centred on your needs. Sometimes you need to sit in silence and reflect!

HOW LONG IS AN APPOINTMENT?
Appointments are booked for 1 hour. Although we need time within the hour for greetings, getting settled, making appointments, gathering belongings, saying goodbye.

‍HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
There is no one answer to this. It’s all about you and in private practice you can have as many or as few sessions as you need.

From time to time, people can feel just one session is enough.
Most take six – twelve sessions.
Some work longer term.

It depends on the pace you are comfortable with, and how deeply you want to work. Most clients have weekly sessions initially and when they start to feel therapeutic benefits, they settle on fortnightly or monthly sessions. Some clients want to keep on investing in themselves and having check-ins to keep themselves well and thriving so they have less frequent sessions long term.It’s up to you and dependent on your unique circumstances and needs.