Therapy Information
In this section, you will find useful information (FAQ's) to help you start your journey into counselling. Use the quick FAQ links or scroll down through each one below.
If you have any questions that are not listed here please get in touch and I will be happy to answer them for you.
Why go to a counsellor?
Most people feel worried or depressed at some time in their lives and it helps to have someone to talk to. Friends and family can be supportive but they may have problems of their own or you may not want to share intimate details with them.
People see counsellors for a wide range of reasons – they may be dealing with problems such as unemployment, domestic violence, bereavement, trauma, relationship problems or family conflicts. They may suffer from eating disorders, panic attacks, insomnia, stress or anxiety – sometimes with no obvious reason. Sorrow, pain, rejection, confusion or anger may be interfering with their day-to-day lives. Sometimes feelings of despair and hopelessness can be overwhelming. Emotional problems don’t necessarily go away if we ignore them so it makes sense to deal with them as soon as possible.
What is counselling?
A counsellor is trained to listen carefully to your problems and to support you while you find your own solutions. The relationship between a counsellor and a client is confidential and is based on respect and trust. Counselling helps you to discover the reasons for negative feelings and to work out ways of dealing with them.
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It is a time for you to express difficult feelings such as fear, suspicion and jealousy in a safe, supportive environment. You will not be criticised, nor will you be put under pressure to do or feel anything. The counsellor will help you find solutions that are realistic and workable for you.
Counselling could help you to make sense of life and its changes and to understand the reasons why you feel depressed or anxious, which may help you handle these feelings in the future. You may learn different ways of communicating with others so you can become more assertive or you may develop greater self-respect.
Often it is only when we talk to someone unconnected with our lives that we begin to hear what we are really saying and feeling. Counselling offers you this opportunity.
Choosing a counsellor
There are different types of counselling available but choosing a particular type of counselling is far less important than choosing the right counsellor for you – a counsellor you will feel you can trust. Research shows that different kinds of counselling can be equally effective. The key factors are the skill of the counsellor, whether you feel comfortable with them and your level of motivation.
What should I ask a counsellor?
The first one or two sessions with a counsellor are your chance to see how you feel about the counsellor and decide if you can work together. The more information you have about what to expect, the more satisfied you are likely to be with the counselling you have. A good counsellor will expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them. Remember that as a client you have the right of choice.
Questions you might ask your counsellor before your first session:
What kind of counselling do you offer and what is it trying to achieve?
How long is a session and how often are they held?
How many sessions might I need and how does the counselling end?
When should I expect to feel some benefit?
Can I contact you between sessions if I need to?
What training have you had and how many years have you been practising?
What professional organisations do you belong to?
Have you had experience of working with people with similar problems to mine?
Is counselling confidential and when might confidentiality be broken?
How much do I pay per session and is there a cancellation fee?
How do I find a counsellor?
Some employers, colleges and schools provide counselling, and counsellors advertise in many different ways. GPs, local Health and Social Services, Citizens Advice Bureaux and Counselling organisations are available online or by phone.
Other sources for advice about counselling include:
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 01455 883300
British Psychological Society
College of Sexual Relationship Therapists
United Kingdom Counselling and Psychotherapy
Rethink, Relate.
How long and how much?
This depends on you, the counsellor and the problem. Often half a dozen sessions will resolve the problem; sometimes you may see a counsellor for several months. Fees may be £25 - £50 per session and some counsellors offer a sliding scale depending on your ability to pay. Counselling is provided free within the NHS but resources vary depending on where you live. Some voluntary organisations provide free counselling.
How do I get to the counselling room at the Goods Shed Wadebridge
When entering Wadebridge from either Camelford or from St Column you will be on the Platt in the town centre. Continue along the Platt turning left at the cinema mini roundabout into Jubilee Road then bare right into Southern Way with the Library on your right, immediately after the library still on the right is the John Betjeman centre, the Goods Shed is the next building on the right.
There is free parking if required opposite the Goods Shed, if full, roadside parking is available further along the road on the right-hand side.
When approaching the Goods Shed use the door on the Right of the building with 'Gallery' above and take a seat next to the table inside. I will meet you there and lead you to my practice room.
Commitments to clients & ethical framework
You as a client need to be able to participate freely as you work with your practitioner of the counselling professions towards your desired goals. This requires you to be able to trust your practitioner with your wellbeing and sensitive personal information. Therefore, as a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), I take being trustworthy as a serious ethical commitment. Please see the following document for the BACP commitment to clients, to which, I adhere by:
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I must also work in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework. I commit to complying with this Framework and it is the main point of reference for decisions in professional conduct hearings. Please find the following document for detailed information:
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If you have any further questions about my commitment to you as a client or my ethical framework please feel free to contact me.