General Faqs

Please feel free to leave any feedback for me or even suggestions for the FAQ’s pages. I will endeavour to feedback to any suggestions I receive.

General

How frequent are the sessions?

On average, weekly or fortnightly. A longer period between sessions is not very beneficial.  In exceptional circumstances it may be impossible to meet regularly and we would need to discuss the implications of this and negotiate a time limit.

I have private medical insurance can I claim for my therapy with you?

I am approved by some private medical insurers.  You would need to contact them and ask for approval to have counselling with me.  In some circumstances they will telephone me and ask if I can take on another client at that time and I then invoice the insurer at the end of the counselling relationship.  Sometimes you are expected to pay, I will give you a receipt which you then send off with the completed documentation to the insurers for reimbursement.

Do your clients come back for more sessions at a later date?

If, after a period of counselling with you we end our counselling relationship can I contact you weeks, months, years later if I want to “touch base” with you again to talk things through?

Yes, of course, I see many people who have kept my contact details or found me in Yellow Pages or on a website and asked to return.  We then meet to discuss another contract, whether it be for one or two sessions or longer.

Have you had counselling?

Yes, during my training it was mandatory that I had 40 hours of counselling and since qualifying I have had therapy although it is not compulsory.

How often do you have supervision?

I attend supervision monthly for l.5 hours minimum which is in accordance with the ethical standards of BACP and COSRT. I access supervision more frequently or for a longer period if I have a heavy caseload or if I need to seek the advice and support of my supervisor, who is also supervised!

Why are you supervised? What does it mean?

It is important that all therapists are supervised. This protects the client and supports the counsellor.  Supervision is a safe place in which I discuss issues about my casework, get another point of view, ensure I am working ethically and that my client is getting the best possible counselling for the issues presented to me.

What happens if, when I meet you, I realise I know you or you know someone in my family?

This can sometimes happen, it is a small world!  We discuss together whether this could affect the counselling relationship and if either of us feels it may “get in the way” I will help you to find someone else to work with.

Home Visits

It is possible for me in some circumstances to see you away from my practice in Chesterfield and I have done this for clients in the past, my suggestion would be to give me a call so we can discuss further your needs and requirements.

How long do your therapy sessions usually last?

95% of my bookings are for one hour only although sometimes clients require longer sessions (up to 2 hours).  However I am flexible on this and will generally do whatever is best for you.

Do you provide a written assessment?

Not usually but I can on request. All sessions that are undertaken by me I take notes (I usually make an assessment of each visit and set objectives for the next session after the client has gone, this allows me to dedicate the whole session to the client and not spend time filling in paperwork until after the session has ended).

If a written assessment is required by a court or employer I will charge for the time taken.

Do you accept bookings by email?

Of course – although I haven’t got the best technical knowledge when it comes to computers (I leave that to my son who built my website!) I do check my emails on a regular basis and will endeavour to reply as soon as I am able.

How much will it cost?

From January 1st 2010 I will be charging £40 per hour. This is payable by cash or cheque on the day of the session. You may self refer; you do not need a doctors referral letter.  However I do take referrals from GP’s (NHS) and I also tender work from EAP’s (employee assistance programmes) and local government.

Have you on-site parking?

Yes – My practice is also my home I have an area at the front of the house available for clients.

Do you talk to anyone about me?

Confidentiality is very important and the only person I would discuss my clients with would be my supervisor who is also bound by confidentiality.  If you would like to know who my supervisor is I will be happy to tell you.

In exceptional circumstances I may have to break confidentiality if I was really anxious about you self harming or harming someone else.  I would hopefully be able to discuss with worry with you.

If my employer or my doctor contacts you would you discuss me with them?

I will only discuss you/your issues if you give me written permission and we agree the issues to be discussed.