How we begin with Individual Therapy

The first session involves creating together a counselling agreement. This is to help address and anxieties about how therapy works, answers questions and remove doubts. The first session involves me listening to what brings you to therapy, the presenting problem/issue and what you wish to achieve.

Therapy is constructed to suit you i.e. either an agreement for short term work (e.g. 12 sessions), where we incorporate reviews and explore endings within a time limited agreement. Or working longer term, where our agreement discusses the nature of open ended work, reviews and progress.

As we begin, we also agree the frequency of when we meet. This may, with shift patterns mean different days and times of the week, or agreeing to a regular time and day. Each session lasts 50 mins and I will provide a receipt for payment at the end of each session. There may be times when I am away on continuous professional development (CPD) training days. In the event of this or any other break, I will give you as much notice as possible and if agreed, text confirmation of when the next session will be. I will provide information on confidentiality and agree how, if we need to, make contact between sessions. What works for you.

The first session involves the above, an agreement or framework which is there to help remove anxiety, share information, answers questions and clarify any expectations.

Under what I offer there are some questions listed that may help in the first session, to help begin exploring the presenting issues. Finding the right time and day of the week to come is important and I hope we can find the right time for you to begin.

The code of ethics runs throughout therapy; your autonomy and to be self-governing, beneficence, avoiding harm, self-respect and provision of justice –fair and impartial treatment of clients with provision of adequate service.

Click here to see my “What I offer” section to understand what is involved in the therapy process.