Frequently Asked Questions

Face-to-face sessions are currently in central Trowbridge. There is plenty of parking nearby; some free parking facilities and some paid. 

I will share the exact location when we agree to start working together.

Toilets available. 

Please note disability disclaimer: The therapy rooms in Trowbridge are on the first floor and involve 1 flight of stairs (15 steps). There is no lift. There are a couple of additional steps along the corridor. 

If you make an initial telephone appointment, I will ask for a brief description of what brings you to counselling. This allows us to decide whether I am the right counsellor for you. 

If we decide to work together, I will email you a copy of my working agreement for you to read carefully and sign. I will also request the following information via my Emergency Contact Details Form and a New Client Form, as I would be reasonably expected to have this in case of an emergency. This ensures your safety. I ask you to provide me with the following details: 

• your name, address, telephone numbers & date of birth
• Contact details for someone who knows you are having counselling in case of emergency (e.g. next of kin)
• GP surgery name & address
• Any relevant medical diagnosis, prescribed medication and known allergies. This, alongside making me aware of any pre-existing conditions which may need support during our sessions, ensures client safety and wellbeing.

Our first session together will give us an opportunity to go through the working agreement and for you to ask any questions. 

For more information on how I protect your personal information and maintain confidentiality, please read my privacy policy. 

Rest assured that everything you discuss with me is confidential. There are certain circumstances where I may have to consider speaking with someone, or if I am legally obligated to by order of court:

• That confidentiality will only be broken if I think you have become danger to yourself, a child or a vulnerable adult, or for legal and ethical reasons such as: if instructed by the courts to provide information or if in good faith I feel that I can assist in the prevention or detection of a serious crime. This includes safeguarding issues regarding children, vulnerable adults, crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and acts of terrorism. I will attempt to discuss this with you and my supervisor first, but this may not always be possible.   

For more information on how I protect your personal information and maintain confidentiality, please read my privacy policy.  

I work with clients in a one off, short term or long term capacity.

We are all uniquely different, as such each persons counselling sessions will also be different. This includes how long you may want to continue having therapy. I will work  with you for as long as you need and for as long as you feel the therapy is helpful and beneficial. We can regularly review our work together as we go along. We can discuss the ending of therapy when the time feels right for you. 

In order to confirm each counselling session appointment, I require payment a minimum of 24 hours in advance of each session (via bank transfer). 

Counselling sessions are generally weekly. At the same time, on the same day each week. 

Counselling can be beneficial in wide variety of ways but I recognise it's not for everyone, and that's ok! You don't have to have counselling if you choose not to. 

For me personally, one of the benefits of counselling is being able to connect with your own self, your core values and what feels right for you. It helps you to find your own inner voice in times when we may have integrated other peoples values as our own. How you benefit from your sessions will be uniquely yours.

You can find lots of the ways counselling can be of benefit online. Here's some useful links that explain in more depth:

•  What are talking therapies and counselling? - Mind 
•  What therapy can help with (bacp.co.uk) 
•  Could counselling change your life? (bacp.co.uk) 

No, I never ask clients to do homework (unless a client specifically asks me to!). 

I only gently encourage you to be as kind to yourself as possible between our sessions. To perhaps do some of the things that  offer you a moment of self care.  This can vary greatly from person to person.  Some might prefer a quiet coffee or a peaceful walk, while others may enjoy loud music and watching some reality TV!