Q: What do counsellors do?

A: Counsellors aim to help you cope with your feelings in a constructive and healthy way. You can expect your counsellor to treat you respectfully. S/he will not judge you nor try to tell you what you should do.

Q: I don't know if I'm wasting the counsellor's time.

A: I believe that anyone who wants to talk to a counsellor about an issue is not wasting the counsellor's time. If it matters to you, then it's worth talking about it with a counsellor.

Q: Why must I go to where the counsellor works? Why can't the counsellor see me at home?

A: Some counsellors may work in clients' homes, especially if clients are immobile. Speaking personally, I prefer working in my detached, dedicated counselling room where I know that the environment is secure and confidential, without any interruptions. Clients seem to relax in the calm and spacious room to which they have access before their appointment begins. (This means that you can let yourself in, help yourself to a hot drink and settle down before the session starts).

Q: If I want to come for counselling, where would I see you?

A: My counselling room is in Maidenhead in the Thames Valley. If this location is too far from where you live, why not look at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy website for a qualifed counsellor nearer to you?

Q: What can a counsellor achieve that I can't get from talking to a close friend?

A: Quite honestly there may not be very much difference, particularly if your friend is completely non-directive, doesn't judge you or your behaviour ever, will be trusted never to repeat to anyone else what you say, is extremely tolerant and recognises what prejudices s/he has.

If you don't have such a friend or don't want to take the risk, then a counsellor may be a better choice. Counsellors, who have trained at a reputable centre, undergo a long and challenging training to equip them with the skills required to work in counselling.

Q: How do I know whether the counsellor I've selected is qualified?

A: I am registered with the BACP and am on the UKRC register. Unfortunately, in the UK it is still possible for anyone to call him/herself a qualified counsellor. For this reason, do check on their qualifications with one of these organisations:

the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors (UKRC)
or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

Q: If I have counselling, I feel scared about what I may uncover and how it will make me feel.

A: This is a very frequent concern, especially if it's something you have not done before. Talking about situations which trouble you can be difficult or make you feel sad.

But, what I notice is that as people re-experience events, and the feelings associated with them, they begin to work through issues, coming to terms with them and accepting them as belonging to the past, not to the present. Even the fact that a client has started working on problems often has a very beneficial, even therapeutic effect. Looking at unacknowledged feelings in a safe way with support can enable people to move on.

Q: How long does a session last?

A: Usually each session last for 50 minutes. In couple counselling, sessions may continue up to 1 hours 15 minutes.

Q: How much will it cost me?

A: costs vary depending on the service being offered, so please contact me for further details.