FAQ’s

Fees

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.

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 at the Sheffield Wellness Centre, on Abbeydale Road, in Sheffield S7. The building is easy to find and access by car, bike, bus or on foot. Free parking is available on nearby streets.

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 of 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 will the introductory phone call/Zoom involve?

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, why do you want 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. I only offer these sessions in term time.

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 it here:

How does counselling work?

Counselling works in many different ways! Two things are particularly important to my work: the relationship and collaboration.

One of the biggest factors that makes therapy helpful is the relationship between the counsellor and the client, so I will take great care to help you feel as safe as possible working with me. How we achieve this will depend on your previous experiences and personality.

Counselling is a place where you can be all the different parts of yourself. I may be able to see you differently to how you see yourself, for example I may see your strengths and resilience, or I may hear your hope for the future and what this might look like. Many clients find this perspective helpful, it can lead to a more compassionate relationship with themselves. Some clients might want a place to be vulnerable - they may be fed up of being seen as strong.

For some clients having a relationship in which they feel they can be fully themselves is enough to inspire positive changes, but not always. I am an integrative counsellor, which means I am trained to integrate different theories, dependent on what might be most helpful. Once we have got to know each other you may like to suggest ideas for how you might feel better - this may involve collaborating with me to refine an idea; or you may know exactly what you need to do, and I will support you from the sidelines.

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 about what life is like for you at the moment. That can help me get to know you better and put you at ease.

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.