If you haven't been to a counsellor before or aren't sure what's involved, you might find it helpful to read these brief notes about the basics of counselling.
• Counselling is based on respect for your life experience
As your counsellor, I won’t tell you what to do and won’t criticise or judge you. My main aim is to help you understand more about your thoughts, feelings and actions as you face the problem in your life, so you can choose to deal with it in a positive way that’s right for you.
The kind of problems and situations counselling can help with include bereavement and loss, relationship difficulties, family conflict, personal crisis, trauma, abuse, anxiety and depression.
• Counselling is a private and confidential form of help
What we talk about in the counselling session is just between you and me. Carefully protecting the confidential basis of counselling is an essential part of my role. Very rarely, however, confidentiality cannot be kept. If you are in danger or someone close to you is at risk of serious harm, then I will discuss with you how other people, such as a GP, could be involved for safety reasons.
• Counselling is not always the right step
During the first meeting, which is like a two-way assessment, we might agree that your problem can be helped more effectively by another practitioner or a specialist. If a different type of therapy seems more suitable for you, I can give you the relevant information.
• Counselling is a commitment
At the initial session, if you decide to have counselling with me on a regular basis, we will discuss what you want to achieve and how many sessions might be needed. Many people start with 6 and sometimes that is enough; others continue for up to 20 weeks or much longer. However many sessions you have, it is important that we are both always very clear about this commitment to meet.
Sessions are held weekly (sometimes fortnightly) on my premises and last one hour. My fee for each session is £45. Part of our verbal contract at the first meeting will be about payment for missed sessions and cancellations. Your commitment to attend regularly will help you get the most benefit from counselling.
Click here to read a useful guide to what you can expect from a professional counsellor (UK Directory of Counselling and Psychotherapy 2008)
Click here to read 'How to get the best out of your therapist'
(British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy 2006)
To find out more about counselling with me, please make contact at any time by phone or email, with no obligation to make an appointment. All calls and messages are confidential.
As your counsellor, I won’t tell you what to do and won’t criticise or judge you. My main aim is to help you understand more about your thoughts, feelings and actions as you face the problem in your life, so you can choose to deal with it in a positive way that’s right for you.
The kind of problems and situations counselling can help with include bereavement and loss, relationship difficulties, family conflict, personal crisis, trauma, abuse, anxiety and depression.
• Counselling is a private and confidential form of help
What we talk about in the counselling session is just between you and me. Carefully protecting the confidential basis of counselling is an essential part of my role. Very rarely, however, confidentiality cannot be kept. If you are in danger or someone close to you is at risk of serious harm, then I will discuss with you how other people, such as a GP, could be involved for safety reasons.
• Counselling is not always the right step
During the first meeting, which is like a two-way assessment, we might agree that your problem can be helped more effectively by another practitioner or a specialist. If a different type of therapy seems more suitable for you, I can give you the relevant information.
• Counselling is a commitment
At the initial session, if you decide to have counselling with me on a regular basis, we will discuss what you want to achieve and how many sessions might be needed. Many people start with 6 and sometimes that is enough; others continue for up to 20 weeks or much longer. However many sessions you have, it is important that we are both always very clear about this commitment to meet.
Sessions are held weekly (sometimes fortnightly) on my premises and last one hour. My fee for each session is £45. Part of our verbal contract at the first meeting will be about payment for missed sessions and cancellations. Your commitment to attend regularly will help you get the most benefit from counselling.
Click here to read a useful guide to what you can expect from a professional counsellor (UK Directory of Counselling and Psychotherapy 2008)
Click here to read 'How to get the best out of your therapist'
(British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy 2006)
To find out more about counselling with me, please make contact at any time by phone or email, with no obligation to make an appointment. All calls and messages are confidential.
Jim Holloway BA Dip IIP MBACP (Accred)
BACP Accredited and UKRCP Registered Independent Counsellor/Psychotherapist bound by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice: www.bacp.co.uk
Individual counselling/therapy | Relationship counselling | Couples therapy | Anger management for adults | Personal development groups | Professional supervision for counsellors/therapists | Postal address: 8 Sefton Close, Cambridge CB2 9HY
BACP Accredited and UKRCP Registered Independent Counsellor/Psychotherapist bound by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice: www.bacp.co.uk
Individual counselling/therapy | Relationship counselling | Couples therapy | Anger management for adults | Personal development groups | Professional supervision for counsellors/therapists | Postal address: 8 Sefton Close, Cambridge CB2 9HY
