What to Expect
Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting — especially if you've never done it before. Here's exactly what will happen, so there are no surprises.
**A free 10-minute phone call
Once you get in touch, we'll arrange a short call so you can tell me a little about what's brought you here, and ask any questions you have. There's no pressure and no commitment — it's simply a chance to see if we feel like a good fit.
**Agreeing how we'll work together
If we both feel it's right to go ahead, we'll agree a regular day and time — usually weekly or fortnightly — and I'll talk you through a simple contract covering things like confidentiality, cancellations, and fees, so everything is clear from the start.
**Choosing your setting
We can meet face to face at one of my offices in Woking or Addlestone, online from wherever suits you, or — if you'd prefer something less formal — as a 'walk and talk' session outdoors.
**Your first session
It's completely normal to feel unsure what to say at the start. You don't need to have it all figured out, or even know exactly what's wrong — that's what we're there to explore together. I'll ask some gentle questions to understand what's brought you to counselling and what you'd like to get from it, but there's no script to follow and no right way to do this.
Sessions run for 50 minutes. Some weeks you may want to talk through something specific; other weeks the conversation may go somewhere you didn't expect. Both are fine.
We'll check in regularly on how the sessions are working for you, and there's no fixed length of time you need to commit to — we'll carry on for as long as feels helpful. You're always free to talk about the pace, or raise anything that isn't working for you.
Above all, this is your space: confidential, unhurried, and led by what you need.
Together, we can talk.
Difficulties in relationships - do you find that you keep repeating the same patterns in your relationships.
Depression - are you in a rut and unsure how to get past it?
Anxiety - is anxiety taking over your world? Would you like to feel that you can control the anxiety?
Grief - do you feel stuck in your grief and unable to move on?
Motivation - do you feel unable to complete jobs? Is your head full of thoughts of inadequacy?
Procrastination - preventing you from starting jobs in plenty of time to make sure you have completed them to the best of your abilities?
Feeling unworthy - do you feel “not good enough” so why try? Or if something does go well, do you feel you don't deserve it, or someone else made it happen?
Unable to lead an authentic life - do you feel you are missing something in your life?
These, and many other issues, have been resolved in a good therapeutic relationship between myself and my clients.
Together we can talk.
