What is Counselling? It’s an opportunity to talk about things that concern you, in a relationship of trust and acceptance – working to find a way forward that feels right for you.
How does Counselling work? The counsellor will help clients by carefully listening to what they have to say. The listening process will help a client ‘offload’; people often feel helped by talking to someone, a person that is willing to listen without judging them or telling them what to do.
The goals of Person Centered Therapy are increased self-esteem; trust in one’s inner feelings and experiences as valuable sources of information for making decisions; increased ability to learn from (rather than repeating) mistakes; decreased defensiveness, guilt, and insecurity; more positive and comfortable relationships with others; an increased capacity to experience and express feelings at the moment they occur; and openness to new experiences and new ways of thinking about life.
How do you work? I work in a Person-Centered way, believing the client to be the expert on his or her own life and experience. I aim to provide a safe place for you to reflect on what is troubling you. I also offer a Cognitive Behavioral Approach – this helps you identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviour. I suggest we begin with looking at what brings you to counselling and outlining what you hope to get from it. We can then review how things are going along the way to ensure you are getting what you need.
What are your qualifications and experience? I’m a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor with 24 years of experience and have a three year diploma in Person Centred Counselling (1997 Metanoia). I am an EMDR Accredited Practitioner. I’m also trained in the Cognitive Behavioural Approach, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and am a qualified counselling supervisor, counselling tutor and addictions therapist. I have worked in a variety of settings including the NHS, drug and alcohol services, charities, and in private practice. I am a recognized counselling provider for several private health insurance companies and employee assistance programs.
Is it confidential? I work within a professional Code of Ethics – the BACP’s ‘Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling. A copy of this document can be found on the BACP’s web site at http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework.
An essential part of the Code of Ethics is that I have a supervisor with whom I meet regularly to discuss my work. What is said in supervision is treated as confidential; I would not use your name in such a way that you may be identified. I may make brief notes after each session these will be kept in accordance with GDPR Legislation. These are purely to help me in my work with you, they are disclosed to no one other than and if necessary to my clinical supervisor. These notes will be securely stored, and there will be no way that you can be identified from them. I am registered with the ICO.
In exceptional circumstances, where I am concerned for your wellbeing, or that of others, I may find it necessary to talk to a third party –e.g. your GP. You have given me details of your GP, but I would not communicate with him or her without endeavoring to discuss this with you first. I would ask you to tell me about any medication you may be given and about any other help you may receive during our therapeutic engagement.
COUNSELLING INFORMATION
Name
Address
Contact Number
Date of Birth:
Occupation:
Family situation – marital status/children
Name and Address of your General Practitioner:
Current Medication:
Alcohol/drug use (weekly average):
What brings you to counselling at this time?
COUNSELLING CONTRACT
This contract is subject to re-negotiation at any stage of the working relationship by agreement of both of us.
Number of Sessions: It is entirely up to you to determine the amount of sessions you have but I suggest we meet for 6 weekly sessions initially and then review our work together to ensure you are getting what you need.
Cancellations: I would ask that you give me at least 48 hours’ notice if you wish to cancel a session otherwise all missed appointments are payable at the usual fee. If in exceptional circumstances I needed to cancel our session I would give you as much notice as possible.
Late Arrival: It is expected that the session will begin at the agreed time. Any session that begins after this time due to late arrival for whatever reason cannot be extended beyond the agreed finish time.
Practitioner Fees: £90 per 50 minute session.
Method of Payment: in advance of the session for private individuals. Health Insurance, BUPA and EAP payments will be paid by invoice.
I …………………………………………………………………….agree to undertake Counselling in accordance with the terms outlined above.
Client’s signature: ………………………………………………………………………………….Date………..
I agree to provide a Counselling service in accordance with the terms outlined above.
Counsellor’s signature: …………………………………………………………………………….Date………….