Faq
Phone Number: 01473 379562
What happens at my first appointment?
At your first appointment, we get to meet each other and see if we are comfortable working with each other. It starts as an informal chat, where I get to explain to you how I work and how things like confidentiality are managed. I will answer any questions you have and there is a small amount of paperwork to complete.
PAPER WORK!!!
Don’t panic, it is a simple contact form containing your name, address, contact details and how you would like to be contacted on the rare occasion I may have to. If you are comfortable I will ask for someone you trust that I can contact in an emergency and your GP details. I will never contact you in any way that may make you uncomfortable.
Next, I will go through my contract, and I will give you a copy to take away and read so you have time to decide if I am the right person for you before you sign it. It will contain a second sheet where you can look for other counsellors if you so desire.
When that is done we will work at your pace, I sometimes give clients a whiteboard and pen so they can draw diagrams as it is sometimes easier than explaining complicated relationships. At the end of the session you wipe it clean and then it cannot be accessed by anyone else.
We will arrange your next session before you leave.
About our Services
Integrative Counselling:
Counselling isn’t about giving advice or me telling you what to do, it’s exploring thoughts and feelings about issues and concerns enabling you to move forward and find clarity. Some counsellors use just one type of approach, but I use the four main proven approaches used within counselling – psychodynamic, humanistic, gestalt and cognitive-behavioural. This gives you the opportunity for you to decide how you would like to work. It gives me the flexibility to work with you in a way that flows and enables you to make better understood choices when moving towards your personal goals. If you wish to have integrative counselling ring us on 01473 379562 or go to our contact us form.
Please see www.bacp.co.uk and www.counselling-directory.org.uk to find further information on counselling approaches.
NLP or Neuro Linguistic Programming:
NLP is a great way of helping you overcome phobias, anxiety, bad habits and stress. It uses language to change the way you think about the things that cause a problem. It is a good tool to learn and then apply to other problems you may encounter in your life. If you wish to have NLP ring us on 01473 379562 or go to our contact us form.
Life Coaching:
Once you have untangled the past and sorted the here and now, it is a great time to plan the future. A future you want for you. Life coaching gives you skills, looks at options, teaches you how to stay on track. It can help you stick to a diet, or learn how to budget, find the courses your new dreams may need to qualify you and teaches you how to eliminate the bad habits and create new good ones. If you wish to have life coaching ring us on 01473 379562 or go to our contact us form.
Client questions and answers
Q: I feel so lost, my partner recently left me and now I just do not know who I am or where I go from here?
A: Working through those raw emotions will be a great start, it will allow you the freedom and space to look at what you really want for the future.
Q: I cannot see a way through this, everything is going wrong! I need action not talking about it, so how will this help me?
A: Talking through everything with someone who is not emotionally involved you can start to untangle the things you can control from those you cannot. We can then come up with flexible ways to help you gain control.
Q: I get anxious all the time, it is so bad I do not go out with my friends and I cannot sleep at night.
A: Anxiety is very common and we have some great ways of helping you gain control and put anxiety in the past.
Q: My daughter is becoming a teenager and I really worry about how much freedom she wants, she will not listen and does not believe me how dangerous the world can be.
A: Counselling is a safe place to look at your fears and find new ways to communicate and compromise with your daughter, enabling you to build a trusting and closer relationship.
Useful Numbers
Our number is 01473 379562
Anxiety UK
anxietyuk.org.uk 08444 775 774
Charity providing information and support for people experiencing anxiety disorders.
b-eat.co.uk
adult helpline: 0808 801 0677
youthline: 0808 801 071
Offers information on eating disorders and runs a supportive online community. Also provides a directory of support services at helpfinder.b-eat.co.uk
Big White Wall
bigwhitewall.com
Online community for adults experiencing emotional or psychological distress. It is free to use in many areas if you live in the UK, if you’re a student, or if you have a referral from your GP.
Bipolar UK
bipolaruk.org.uk 020 7931 6480
Charity providing information and support for people experiencing bipolar disorder, and their friends and family, including a helpline and online community.
C.A.L.L. (Community Advice and Listening Line)
callhelpline.org.uk 0800 123 737
Provides listening services, information and support for people experiencing a mental health problem in Wales.
CALM (Campaign against living miserably)
thecalmzone.net 0800 58 58 58
Provides listening services, information and support for men at risk of suicide.
Carers UK
carersuk.org 0808 808 7777
Charity providing information and support for people caring for someone else, including someone with a mental health problem.
Cruse Bereavement Care
cruse.org.uk 0844 477 9400
Charity providing information and support after someone you know has died.
Elefriends
elefriends.org.uk
A supportive community which provides online peer support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Helplines Partnership
helplines.org
Directory of helplines available in the UK which you can search to find support suited to you.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
nice.org.uk
Produces clinical guidelines on recommended treatments for different conditions.
Next Generation Text Service
ngts.org.uk
Provides a talk/type relay service for anyone who has difficultly hearing or being understood when speaking over the phone. The cost of making phone calls through this service depends on your telephone service provider.
NHS 111
call: 111
Non-emergency medical help and advice for people living in England.
Nightline
nightline.ac.uk
Lists contact information for support and listening services run in universities and colleges across the UK.
No Panic
nopanic.org.uk 0844 967 4848
Provides a helpline, step-by-step programmes, and support for those with anxiety disorders.
OCD-UK
ocduk.org 0845 120 3778
A charity run by people with OCD who campaign and can help with local support group information
Papyrus HOPEline
papyrus-uk.org 0800 068 4141
Provides information and support for anyone under 35 who is struggling with suicidal feelings and self-harm.
Samaritans
samaritans.org 116 123 (freephone)
jo@samaritans.org
SANE
sane.org.uk 0300 304 7000
Runs SANEline helpline offering practical information and support. Also runs an online an support community called Black Dog Tribe.
The Silver Line
helpline: 0800 4 70 80 90 (freephone)
thesilverline.org.uk
Switchboard
switchboard.lgbt 0300 330 0630