Counselling FAQ’s
How much do you charge for the initial meeting?
I offer a free no obligation meeting that usually lasts for around 30 – 40 minutes. It is a good chance to see if I think I can help and for you to see if I am the right fit for you. It is so important for you to find the right person for you.
Do you only work on Zoom?
I offer counselling either in person in a lovely bright sunroom off the back of my house at my home in Exeter, via the phone or using secure online platform; Zoom.
Is online counselling as effective as in person therapy?
Yes, I believe it is as effective and it saves clients from needing to travel, making it more accessible for clients who work full time or have other commitments.
What equipment do I need to have counselling online?
You ideally need a tablet, iPad or computer with a webcam, clients sometimes use their phone, but I feel it is better on a larger device. You need a quiet place where you cannot be overheard or interrupted, and you may choose to wear headphone or AirPods if you like. You will also need a good stable internet connection. If you are not sure we can always log on for the free initial meeting and see how it goes.
How many sessions will I need?
This is a hard question to put a number on; each client is so individual and will work at different paces. I have some clients that needed around 8 – 10 sessions and others I have worked with for a lot longer. This is something we can discuss when we meet for the initial meeting, and we can regularly review as therapy progresses.
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, I offer concessions for any student counsellors training at Level 4 or above. I believe that it is important to support student counsellors during their qualification as a way to support the wider communities. Please see my ‘What I Charge’ page for further information.
Why do you still offer an hour rather than 50-minute sessions?
Many counsellors are adopting the so called ‘therapeutic hour’ I prefer to allow me and my clients a little more time to explore, you would be amazed at how much we can get done in that extra 10 minutes sometimes!
Do I have to attend weekly?
At the beginning it is a good idea to work together weekly to help build our therapeutic relationship and to allow work to progress in a more effective way, however, I am always open to discussing the option of fortnightly sessions at the start and this is something we can chat about in the initial meeting.
Would I be tied into a contract?
No, not at all. You would sign a contract at the start, which is outlining the way we work, cancellation policies, confidentiality etc. But if we begin working together and you feel you would like to stop for whatever reason you can. It is helpful to have an ending session, but this isn’t compulsory. Counselling is all about the relationship, it is important to do what is right for you.
Supervision FAQ’s
Do you work with student counsellors?
Yes, I am very experienced at supervising counsellors in training, I offer support during training and after training if required. I have the added advantage of having lots of counselling lecturing experience too so I can bring this into our sessions.
Do you offer student rates?
Yes, I offer a reduced rate for supervising student counsellors training at Level 4 or above, once you are qualified you can remain on the student rate until you get your first paying client. This means that if you wish to continue to volunteer for a while longer after you qualify, I can continue to support you at the lower rate. Please see my ‘What I Charge’ page for more information.
Does supervision take place online?
I can offer either in person supervision (at my home sunroom in Exeter) or online via Zoom. If you are training and want to do supervision online, please check the requirements of your awarding body to see if they allow online supervision.
Do you charge for reports or references?
I am happy to write one brief report or reference free of charge if required. For numerous reports or for larger reports such as professional body accreditation support documents I charge £20 per hour to complete these. Please ask for more details.
What can we talk about in supervision?
Honestly, this is your space and your time to do what you need. If you are in training we will need to talk about each client every month, but there is also time to check in on how you are in your life, how your training is going, building confidence and checking in to ensure you are working effectively and ethically too. It is a safe space where we can collaborate. If you are a qualified counsellor we can talk about the clients you feel you need to explore both ethically and therapeutically, we can do some professional development work, we can look at how you are marketing yourself and importantly we can see how you are and explore your personal processes. I have written a blog post on this, please click here for more information.
How often is supervision?
I work in alignment with the professional body’s guidance. Most counsellors have a minimum of 1.5 hours of supervision per month, but this can be more, especially if you are in training and working with a larger number of clients. This is something I would be happy to discuss.
What happens if I need help between our supervision sessions?
I believe that one of the key functions of supervision is to provide support for counsellors (both qualified and training) when needed. If you have an urgent concern, question or query that you feel can’t wait until we next meet, I am at the end of the phone for you and I don’t charge for these calls.
I think I would like to work with you, but where do I start?
I offer a free, no obligation meeting for all potential supervisees. This meeting is a chance for us to meet and see if we think we would be a good fit for each other. It is important you find the right supervisor for you, this is why I don’t charge for these meetings. We usually would chat for around 30 minutes and is a great chance to ask any questions you might have.