Questions about counselling and therapy
Thinking about counselling can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. Here are honest answers to the questions people ask me most.
Both are forms of talking therapy, and both can help with things like anxiety, depression or trauma. Counselling tends to be a little shorter-term, focused on supporting you through what’s happening right now. Psychotherapy usually goes deeper and longer, exploring the emotional and behavioural patterns underneath, so you can understand where they come from and make changes that last. As a relational psychotherapist, I draw on both.
You don’t need to be at rock bottom or have a diagnosis to come to therapy. Sometimes life just feels heavy, and a bit of support makes all the difference. Maybe it’s something recent, something that’s been there a while, or something that’s quietly resurfaced. If it’s affecting how you feel or getting in the way of daily life, counselling can really help.
You can check whether a counsellor or psychotherapist is registered with a professional body, like the NCPS or UKCP. They should also hold professional insurance, and you can always ask about their training and experience. Any good therapist will be open and happy to talk this through before you begin. For what it’s worth, I’m a relational psychotherapist and counsellor, an accredited member of the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) and a member of the UKCP, and I hold a Level 7 Diploma in Integrative and Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, the equivalent of a Master’s degree.
Most people start weekly, especially at the beginning. Others find fortnightly works better for them. We’ll talk it through and find the rhythm that feels right for you.
You’ll feel it. When it’s working, you feel safe, heard and able to be honest, with your boundaries always respected. Over time you’ll notice progress too. Finding the right fit matters, which is why I offer a free consultation: a relaxed chat where we get to know each other and decide together whether it feels right to carry on.
Questions about working with me
If you’re thinking about starting therapy with me, you might have some practical questions too. Can’t see yours here? Just get in touch.
Each session is 50 minutes. Now and then, a longer session can be helpful. We can agree that in advance and adjust the fee to match.
I’m a relational therapist, which means the relationship we build together is central to the work, and I draw on a range of approaches to offer therapy that’s shaped around you. My main training is in Transactional Analysis, which looks at how our patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving are formed by past experiences and relationships, and how they still affect us today. I bring in other approaches too, including creative and visual ways of working when talking feels hard, combining tools and techniques in whatever way supports you best.
I charge £60 for a 50-minute session, and your first 15-minute phone call is free. If a longer session would ever help, we can agree that in advance and adjust the fee for the extra time. I also offer counselling for employers and organisations, quoted separately.
There’s no one answer, because everyone’s different. Together we’ll look at what you’re hoping for from therapy. Any number of sessions can help, though it’s worth having realistic expectations about what’s possible in the time. I often suggest longer-term work, as it gives us space to uncover patterns that may have been around since childhood. That said, every situation is different, so we’ll always agree on the timescale together.
My therapy room is in Beverley (HU17). I also offer online therapy via Google Meet and phone sessions, so you can work with me wherever you are.
Yes. You can see me in person in Beverley, online via Google Meet, or by phone, whichever feels most comfortable for you.
I work with adults of all ages, from young adults through to older adults.
Not at all. You don’t need a diagnosis or a tidy story to come. If something’s affecting how you feel or getting in the way of daily life, that’s reason enough to reach out.
I do. My availability is flexible and includes some evenings, so we can usually find a time that works around your life.
No problem at all, just let me know as early as you can. Give me at least 24 hours’ notice and there’s no charge, and we’ll find another time that suits you. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed without notice, are charged at the full session fee. Your appointment time is held just for you, so late notice means I’m not able to offer it to someone else. And if you’re ever dealing with a genuine emergency, please just talk to me, I’d always rather we sorted it out.
Yes. Your first 15-minute phone call is completely free and there’s no obligation. It’s a relaxed chat where you can ask questions, tell me a little about what’s brought you here, and get a feel for whether we’re the right fit before you decide anything.