I will arrange a free 20 minute informal chat with you by MS Teams or phone. This allows me to get an understanding of your issues and for you to get a feel as to whether I would be someone you could work with.
The first session is an opportunity for introductions and to go through the counselling agreement to ensure you fully understand it and for me to answer any questions you might have. This includes client confidentiality, boundaries and cancellation policies.
I will then carry out an assessment with you of your current challenges, your background and goals for therapy.
The session is an opportunity for you to get a sense of whether I am the right fit for you and to begin telling your story.
Counselling can be short or long term dependent upon the challenges you are facing. Short term can look like 6-12 weekly sessions and long term can be 20 sessions and above.
Regular reviews are carried out to make sure a client is happy with the way therapy is going and is an opportunity for client feedback. This helps to keep the sessions focused on the most pressing issues.
Attendance on a weekly basis is most beneficial in the early stages of counselling. A seven day break between sessions allows a client to process and reflect.
There is no expectation to have weekly sessions. Clients are free to book in bi-weekly and ad-hoc.