Frequently Asked Questions
Questions? Here are the answers (probably)
Unbelievably, counselling is not a statutorily regulated profession so the title of ‘counsellor’ is not protected by law. This means that even an individual with minimal training can call themselves a ‘counsellor’. However, there are professional counselling bodies within the UK that set standards for counselling training and membership. You typically have to be a member of one of these awarding bodies to get a job with the likes of the NHS or a legitimate counselling organisation.
The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is the largest professional counselling body in the UK and the one I am a member of. What this means is that I have completed a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association, you can see my membership of the BACP register here:
https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Register
if you search for my membership number which is 402148. The BACP Register is a public record of counsellors and psychotherapists who meet or exceed the BACP’s recommended quality standards. Being a member means I have to keep my training up to date with Continuing Professional Development. As with any other awarding body, I also have to have regular monthly supervision to make sure I am practicing safely according to the BACP’s code of ethics.
So, yes, that is a long winded way of saying that I am a ‘proper’ counsellor!
After my degree in an unrelated subject (I have a BSc in Information Management if you’re asking!) I undertook the traditional counselling training route between 2008 and 2013 that includes these qualifications:
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Person Centred)
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Level 2 Introduction to Counselling Skills
I have a CPD Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People as well as Level 2 courses on Adverse Childhood Experiences and Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties e.g. Autism/ADHD/Dyslexia/DCD. I’ve completed training courses with Cruse (a bereavement charity) to cover Loss and Bereavement with Children and Young People. I have completed NSPCC training for safeguarding and also have had relevant safeguarding training for working in my role at a local Further Education college. I also have a Level 3 Award in Coaching and Mentoring and have completed BACP recommended training in counselling remotely (online and telephone).
As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) the training and learning never stops as we are required to undertake continuing professional development as long as we are members. As members we are also required to undertake at least one and a half hours of supervision each month to ensure we are safe to practice as counsellors.
My other work involves supporting SEN students at a local Further Education college. This means I spend most of my working week assisting neurodivergent individuals, including those who may be autistic, have ADD/ADHD, DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder)/Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, or other specific learning difficulties. My training and CPD in specific learning difficulties have given me valuable insights into neurodiversity in young adults and adults.
In counselling, I strive to be as inclusive as possible. This may involve removing overly sensory elements like ticking clocks, scheduling breaks within the counselling hour, or allowing you to sit wherever you feel most comfortable rather than being confined to a chair. I aim to understand what neurodiversity means to you, recognising that it is a highly individual experience.
No, I rent a room attached to the local Methodist church because of its affordability and convenience of the space, not because of any religious affiliation. I am an atheist, which means I do not hold religious beliefs. Please have a look at the ‘Location‘ page to see the image gallery and read more.
No, counselling isn’t just about thinking deeply; it’s about working with a counsellor like myself to figure things out. By talking openly and honestly, you learn more about yourself and how to tackle life’s ups and downs. It’s like having a supportive guide on your journey to feeling better and finding your way.
Counselling can also have positive effects on the body. It helps reduce stress and anxiety, which lowers cortisol, the main stress hormone. This can lead to lower blood pressure and heart rate, improving heart health. Counselling also improves sleep by addressing issues that disrupt it. As emotional burdens are lifted, people often feel more energetic and overall healthier. The mind and body are connected, so as mental health gets better, physical symptoms like headaches and muscle pain often decrease, showing the overall benefits of therapy.
I created this useful one-page document that shows you how to get the most from counselling sessions: GETTING THE MOST FROM COUNSELLING (PDF)
Yes, it can be.
The NHS currently operates a ‘stepped’ system whereby they try to help you by using the least intrusive method of care. Step 1 typically starts with your doctor (or a self-referral) and, if they can’t help you, you start going up the ‘steps’. Step 2 is sessions with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner who delivers ‘low-intensity’ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. If that doesn’t work you get to Step 3 where you might see a ‘high-intensity’ CBT therapist or a counsellor like myself. There’s another level of help (Step 4) but the important point is that it could take quite a long time via the NHS to get to a counsellor for ‘free’ (you have paid your taxes for it though!).
You can read more about NHS Talking Therapies for Devon and Cornwall (I’m near the border of both counties!) here:
NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Talking Therapies
https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/talking-therapies/
TALKWORKS – Devon NHS Talking Therapies
https://www.talkworks.dpt.nhs.uk/
You probably have. There are UK charities that offer mental health support for free e.g. CRUSE, Samaritans, MIMD, Kooth etc. You can typically find local services that offer low-cost or pay-what-you-can counselling, sometimes utilising volunteer trainee counsellors or a fixed number of sessions. It is always worth a web search to see what is available to you.
Whilst the NHS is ‘free’, it is a very busy and under-resourced system. So there is typically a wait before you get any real help. Allthough you will have some choices as you work through the stepped care system, typically you have to go through the steps in order which may involve group therapy, self-help workbooks, homework and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). There’s normally a maximum number of sessions you can have and you usually can’t choose who your therapist is.
You may not want to wait or do those things. You may have reached the end of the number of sessions you’ve been allowed. You may not be keen on CBT or what the NHS offers and, after looking at my website, you like the sound of person-centred counselling. Having a good relationship with your therapist plays a big part in determining a successful outcome which is where going private gives you the choice of who you see. Hopefully this website will give you enough information to decide if I am the counsellor for you.
The other thing to bear in mind is, unlike working for the NHS where staff have a relatively high caseload, I make sure that I have a small and manageable case load of clients. This means I can dedicate quality time to my clients, so they don’t feel like just another statistic.
Please see ‘why are you so cheap’ below!
I wouldn’t say I am ‘cheap’ as £35 might sound a lot when you don’t have any money! However, private counselling costs anything from £35 to £80 for the ‘counselling hour’ which is 50 minutes. I don’t rent an expensive room for face-to-face clients and my online work is done from a dedicated room at my home. This means I can charge at the lower end to make my service as accessible as possible whilst being able to pay my overheads to be a counsellor, which are quite significant.
The counselling process is unique to each individual and there are no strict timelines. Some people may only need a one-off or a handful of sessions while deeper, more complex problems might take longer. Having regular sessions e.g. weekly, fortnightly or monthly can help the process flow smoothly and effectively, allowing for steady progress without interruptions.
We can start with a frequency that works for you which could be weekly or fortnightly at first, then shifting to monthly over time. We can chat about it in our first session and adjust as we go.
Evidence tells us that the relationship you have with your counsellor usually determines the outcome, regardless of the type of therapy given. So, if you were to find yourself having difficulty ‘clicking’ or getting on with me then we can discuss that. It might feel awkward for you, but for us as counsellors, discussing such things is quite normal! If you then still feel we’re not connecting then then maybe the best option is to find a different counsellor where I can help give recommendations.
Antidepressants are medications prescribed by healthcare professionals to help alleviate the symptoms of depression and improve mood. The way antidepressants work is based on theories that are supported by scientific evidence but not fully understood. While antidepressants may not cure the underlying issues that triggered your depression, such as losing a job or experiencing the loss of a loved one, they can play a role in bringing you to a place of mental clarity. This clarity can enable you to actively engage in talking therapies like counselling, where you can collaboratively work through your challenges and develop effective coping strategies.
As a professional person centred counsellor I won’t :
– have you laying on a chaise lounge
– psychoanalyse you
– get you to punch cushions (unless you want to!)
– pretend to be an expert on ‘you’
– label you
– judge you
– ‘do’ anything to you
My role is to facilitate your journey towards self-discovery and personal growth, providing a safe, confidential and supportive space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences at your own pace.
The BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) code of ethics advises its members to maintain clear boundaries and consider potential conflicts of interest when counselling people they know personally. This means I cannot engage in counselling with family members or friends. It starts to get a bit grey with ‘friends of friends’ or people who I may know casually. In rural communities like mine it is often difficult not to know someone! So the answer to that question is ‘it depends’ and it may be that you need referral to another qualified professional if there is a conflict of interest.
Some people prefer not to let the rest of the world know they are having counselling whilst others don’t mind. For that reason I’ll discuss with you how you want to play it if we bump into each other outside of counselling. For example we could say ‘hi’ or completely ignore each other if you wish.
This is technically a ‘no’. Clients can often develop a close relationship with their counsellor. The counselling profession maintains strict rules regarding non-professional contact with clients, current or previous. The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) states a waiting period of at least two years before initiating any form of interaction and even then, it’s advised to exercise caution and refrain from starting any new relationship with a client. For the same reasons I do not accept or initiate social networking ‘Friends Requests’ from clients to maintain the confidentiality and therapeutic nature of our relationship.
Counselling is not usually a quick fix solution but rather a process where you can get a greater understanding of yourself and the possibility of the changes needed to deal with whatever is troubling you. Having said that, some people have only needed a couple of sessions to ‘get things of their chest’ so it really is down to the individual. If you are in urgent need of help then these are some organisations that may help:
Samaritans
Website: https://www.samaritans.org/
Contact Number: 116 123 (free from any phone)
Childline
Website: https://www.childline.org.uk/
Contact Number: 0800 1111 (free from any phone)
Mind
Website: https://www.mind.org.uk/
Contact Number: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)
Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide)
Website: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Contact Number: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (9am – midnight, every day of the year)
Rethink Mental Illness
Website: https://www.rethink.org/
Contact Number: 0808 801 0525 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)