1. Our therapeutic relationship

Counselling is a collaborative process. I will offer you a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space in which you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences at your own pace.

As a person-centred counsellor, I will not tell you what you should do or make decisions on your behalf. Instead, I will work alongside you with empathy, acceptance and genuine understanding.

2. Appointments

Sessions last approximately 50 minutes and take place at the agreed time. Counselling is offered online via video call or by telephone.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have access to a quiet and private environment where you can speak freely. For online sessions, you will also need a suitable device and reliable internet connection.

3. Confidentiality

What you share within counselling will normally remain confidential. There are, however, circumstances where confidentiality may need to be limited, including serious concerns about your safety or the safety of another person, safeguarding concerns, or where I am legally required to disclose information.

I attend regular clinical supervision as part of my professional practice. Relevant aspects of our work may be discussed in supervision to support safe and ethical practice. I will take care to protect your privacy and anonymise identifying information wherever possible.

The limits of confidentiality will be explained clearly and discussed with you if a situation arises in which information may need to be shared.

4. Contact between sessions

Email will be used primarily for practical matters such as arranging, confirming or changing appointments. I am not able to provide counselling or crisis support by email, text message or social media.

Please do not use email or messages to share information that requires an urgent response.

5. Fees and payment

The fee for a 50-minute counselling session is £50. Payment is made by bank transfer before each scheduled session. Payment details will be provided when your appointment is arranged.

If you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, please provide at least 24 hours' notice wherever possible. Where less than 24 hours' notice is given, the full session fee may be charged, except where there are exceptional circumstances.

If you do not attend your scheduled appointment and have not made contact, the full session fee of £50 will be payable.

6. Online and telephone counselling

Remote counselling can provide a flexible way to access support. You agree to take reasonable steps to ensure that sessions take place in a private and appropriate environment.

If an online session is interrupted, we will attempt to reconnect. If this is not possible, we will use the agreed telephone arrangement where appropriate.

If you are unable to speak privately during a session, please let me know so that we can consider whether the session should be paused or rearranged.

7. Ending counselling

You are free to end counselling at any time. Where possible, I encourage us to discuss the ending together so that we have an opportunity to reflect on the work and bring the therapeutic relationship to a considered close.

I may also recommend ending or pausing counselling, or signposting you to another service, if I believe this would better meet your needs.