Not sure if some counselling sessions would help? Want to know if therapy is right for you? Want to know more? Fill out our initial enquiry form and we will come back to you as soon as possible to arrange an initial consultation.
This is free and usually takes 40 mins. This is an opportunity to explore your issues in more depth, see how you feel about working with us, and agree on how we will work together.
We offer individual sessions and packages to suit your needs.
Please read the information below as this sets out the boundaries to our online therapy work together. This is an informed consent form and you are asked to read and agree to the terms before we can begin therapy work together.
Skype / Whats App / Zoom – sessions can be via video (face to face). Please note we do not use Facebook Messenger for confidentiality reasons). These are free to download and can be accessed from your computer/tablet or phone. You will need to ready to connect at the agreed time for sessions. We will contact you at the start of each session. Sessions are 50 minutes long. If we have agreed to more than one session then a time for the next meeting will be made at the end of the conducted session.
Phone – we prefer to use Skype for phone / WhatsApp as they are free to both parties. We can call most landlines.
Email – email sessions work so that you can either send a full outline of current concerns or you can write your thoughts over a short period of time and then send them to your therapist to read and reply to in detail. Some clients prefer to work this way as they find it easier to write their thoughts down and can keep therapist’s responses to re-read and use as a prompt. There is a word limit of 800 words per email. You would send your email by an agreed date and the therapist will make their response within an agreed time – usually 48 hours. We use a secure encrypted web-based email service. This means they are encrypted on route so only we can see them when we sign in to our accounts.
Payment of Sessions
Direct payments for sessions are made a week in advance before the session is due to take place. Payment for sessions needs to be made at least 48 hours before your booked session or it will be considered canceled. Payments can be made weekly but must be paid 48 hours in advance at the latest. For ease of admin, Monday sessions need to be paid by 7 pm UK time on the Thursday of the week before, for all other sessions payment must reach us by the Friday 5 pm UK time. Your therapist will send you ways to pay via BACS or PayPal, please.
Late or Missed sessions and Cancellation
Sessions are organized for an agreed date and time. If you are late attending the session we will stay online for 15 minutes to allow for any eventualities. If you do not make contact within this time then the session will be considered missed and will be canceled. You will be charged for this. If you are late attending your session, we will still end at the original time for the session.
When canceling a session you are asked to give a minimum of 48 hours notice by either email or SMS. If you miss your agreed session and have not given sufficient notice then your payment will be kept.
We check our emails and phones daily and will respond to you as quickly as possible.
Attending sessions
We work with all clients in a professional manner. We ask that you do not attend therapy sessions under the influence of alcohol or drugs and ask you to dress appropriately for skype (face to face) sessions.
Session times and Personal Space
Preparing for sessions
Your session times are important and this is your “space”. Being prepared is an important part of therapy. Ensuring that you are comfortable, having a safe and private space to work from is important, and having a pen and paper for you to make notes etc a glass of water if you become thirsty and some tissues can be useful.
All session times are 50 minutes long (individual therapy) or 1 hour 15 minutes (couple therapy) and are conducted at an agreed time between you and your therapist.
After Sessions
It is also important to be able to give yourself a bit of time and space after each session. The therapy uses energy and can bring up a host of emotions. Ensuring you have some time after a session is healthy self-care. Try to make sure you do not have to rush off for an appointment or pick up the children straight away, having a cup of tea or a glass of water and doing something pleasurable for 5 – 10 mins can help. Your therapist will talk with you about this during the initial assessment.
Emotional Responses
It can be quite normal to experience a range of emotions whilst engaged in therapy, both during and in between sessions. This can include feelings of sadness, anger, or elation for example. It can be usual to feel tired after sessions, particularly at the start of therapy, and sometimes sleep can be disrupted, or dreaming may become more intense. Keeping a note of any significant thoughts, feelings or dreams can be helpful as can keeping a journal. These can be shared with your therapist and can be a valuable tool within your therapy process.
Reviews and Ending sessions
Part of the therapy process involves regular reviews between yourself and your therapist. This is to ensure that work is progressing and that you are still getting what you need from the sessions. All therapy comes to an end at some point. Regular reviews help with appropriately planned endings as this is an important part of the therapy journey.
Technical Difficulties
If technical difficulties are experienced, for example, computer or internet breakdown we will undertake to contact each other via text (SMS) message so that an alternative session can be made.
Confidentiality, anonymity, and breeching
The work we do together is confidential. However, there are particular circumstances in which as therapists we can break confidentiality and this comes under the code of ethical guidelines for counsellors and psychotherapists as set by the BACP. A need for breaking confidentiality focuses on keeping you as the client and others safe from harm. If through our work together, there is a genuine risk for your safety or the safety of others then we have a duty of care to raise that concern with appropriate professionals to support you further. We will always explore this with you first.
Supervision
As part of our professional practice and adhering to the BACP guidelines we have regular individual supervision. Supervision is a process of reviewing the work we do with another psychotherapist. This is to help ensure that we are working safely and in the best interests of clients. Client anonymity is kept, so you will not be identified. Only aspects of work we do may be discussed.
Discussing your Therapy
Our work together is confidential. We ensure that all information is kept safe and protected. We ask that you do the same. It would not appropriate to post/share onto social networks/forums any written correspondence between us from our work together.
Dual Relationship
As therapists we aim to develop a trusting and friendly working relationship, however, as a therapist we are not a “friend”. To maintain the confidentiality and the boundaries of our work it is not appropriate to engage “socially” on any social network, social or professional forums.
Computer Privacy, Safety and Data Protection
When working online it is important to maintain security through reasonable measures to ensure confidentiality and safe working procedures.
Firewall and Antivirus – these can be installed to protect your software and hardware from third parties or viruses. McAfee and Norton antivirus protection are available.
Encryption – using encryption allows information that you send or receive to be kept confidential. Safe-mail.net or Hushmail and Zip 7 are encrypted webmail services that offer a high form of security for emails, file exchanges, and chat conversations. Normal contact, for appointments, etc can be via ordinary email or SMS. We use Zip 7 encryption which is free and easy to set up and use. We can help you to set this up.
Password Protection – Many of us have our own personal computer, ensuring you have a password gives you extra security so that others do not gain access to your documents and information you have stored. If you have access to a shared computer then is it important you have your own personal password that other people do not have access to. Saving information to your own password-protected key/ dongle gives you added security.
Own personal security – please ensure that you have a private and safe space in which to have your sessions and that you will not be disturbed whilst in session.
Data Protection – When we have completed our work, all material such as email exchanges, etc are removed from the computer and safely stored on a password protected memory stick. Any electronic records of our work will be deleted at the end of our contracted work. All transcripts, counselling emails, and notes that are made as part of our work are owned by the therapist. Please do not post extracts or whole copies of our communication on social forums or third parties.
Emergency contacts
Online counselling is not suitable if you are experiencing an enduring mental health illness or are experiencing acute distress. If you feel you are in crisis or are in danger of harming yourself then is it imperative that you contact the emergency services for help or go to your nearest A&E department.
Please see the Emergency Contacts resource list for crisis support.
Emergency contacts
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