Question 1

What can counselling help with?

Accepted Answer

Counselling can help support you with a variety of things. Sometimes people come with very specific areas they wish to look at such as depression, anxiety, OCD, stress, relationships, grief, sexuality, eating disorders, abuse, trauma, as well as many others.
 
Other people may come with the idea of having something they want to change, or a feeling that something's not quite right, maybe you're just looking for some time and space for yourself to talk about what's happening for you right now. Whatever the reason, you can explore this with your counsellor and consider what it is that you're hoping to gain from the process. 
 
For a more extensive list of the types of issues counselling can help with, visit the BACP Page "What can therapy help with?" which offers some additional guidance on which therapies may be best suited to helping certain topics.

Question 2

I’ve tried therapy before and I didn’t get on with my last counsellor – why should I try again?

Accepted Answer

The relationship you have with your counsellor is incredibly influential to the counselling process and I have met many people who have struggled to click with counsellors in the past. My thoughts on this are to try again, no two are the same. Counsellors may have different trainings or personalities and it’s about finding the one that you feel comfortable with.

Question 3

What sort of counsellor do I need?

Accepted Answer

This is a tricky question and one that may take you some time to figure out.

Different counsellors offer different approaches to counselling and some modalities lend themselves to being particularly helpful with certain issues, whereas others support with a greater range. Some counsellors may also be specialists in certain areas while others see themselves as more generalised. Finding the counsellor for you may take some time and it can help to think about whether you're looking for support with a specific issues or if you just think it would be good to talk to someone. Maybe you're also looking for open-ended sessions or short-term. Maybe you'd feel happier with a male or female cousellor.

There's no rush in choosing a counsellor and if you meet with one and decide the fit doesn't feel right, the try out another until it does. What's always good to remember is to note which professional body your counsellor is registered with, this simply lets you know that they've had to reach a certain level of training in order to registed with them. Often counsellors will note this on their websites but don't be afraid to ask if they don't. Another way to check can be to look at the registers online (you'll find me as a member of the BACP) as these are publicly available to anyone.

See the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for further information.

Question 4

How do I find a counsellor?

Accepted Answer

The idea of finding a counsellor can be daunting, but there are places you can go to help make the search easier. The Counselling Directory is a site where you can search for counsellors within your area and read a little about the services they offer. They may also tell you about the professional bodies that they're registered with, this means that they've made a pledge to uphold the ethical frameworks and principles of these organsiations and are qualified to this level. Some common ones are the BACP (Bristish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy)

Question 5

Is there a limit on how long I can see a Counsellor for?

Accepted Answer

Different counsellors and organisations will have different answers to this. Some will offer a limited number of sessions whereas some will be open ended, meaning that you can see them for as long as you like. With short-term counselling, it may be that your counsellor has some flexibility to extend session numbers, or can refer you to other services that may be beneificial after your counselling. It's always worth having a think about what sort of counselling you think you'd like in this respect and checking this out when commiting to working with a particular person or organisation. 
 
I personally am happy to tailor the number of sessions to suit your individual need. I have experience in both long and short term counselling and am open to having this conversation around what you think you might like. If you're unsure, we can also agree to review our progress at regular intervals and simply see how we get on.

Question 6

Will my sessions be completely confidential?

Accepted Answer

Counselling is a confidential service however, there are still certain circumstances where I would be required to share information. These are listed as follows:
If I have concerns for your or someone else’s safety
If a disclosure has been made that poses a serious and imminent threat to public health 
If I am are ordered by a court of law to breach confidentiality 
If I gain knowledge of an act of terrorism, trafficking or money laundering 
Liaison with health professionals as part of a coordinated health care package 
If I have your permission to share information
Where possible, I will always discuss any breach of confidentiality with you prior to action being taken
In addition to this, in order to ensure that I work with you in the best possible way and in line with the BACP ethical framework, I will have regular meetings with my supervisor where I will discuss our process. During these sessions I will only ever refer to you using your first name so that your identity is protected.

Question 7

Will anyone know that I'm seeing a Counsellor?

Accepted Answer

Other than for the reasons outlined in the above question, counselling is a confidential service. This means that who you then tell is up to you. For those that do not wish for others to know about their sessions, we can discuss how best to reach one another (email, text etc). Additionally, if we happen to cross paths outside of our sessions, I will act as if I do not know you, so that if you are with people you have not shared your counselling with, then you can make the decision as to whether to acknowlege me or not. We can also discuss this further in our initial meeting.

Question 8

How do I make an appointment?

Accepted Answer

You can book a free 20-minute introductory call online. Alternatively, you can mail hello@tyndallcounselling.co.uk or text/call 07934 521 974.

Please let me know if you have any preferred ways for me to respond and whether you're happy for me to leave voicemails.

Question 9

What type of Counselling are there?

Accepted Answer

There are many types of counselling and every counsellor will be trained in slightly different ways. For a brief overview, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy have produced an A-Z of therapies which can be useful. For this please visit: Types of Therapy 
 
The most important thing is to find a counsellor and style that suits you. With so many approaches and counsellors available, if one doesn't feel right for you, it's good to remember you can keep looking until you find the one that clicks.

Question 10

How much does counselling cost?

Accepted Answer

Counsellors set their own costs. The majority of counsellors have a set rate per session, although some will also offer concessions, for certain groups of people or a sliding scale depending on your financial circumstances. 
 
Some charities and organisations will also offer low-cost counselling, so it's always worth having these conversations when you make an equiry with anyone.
 
I charge £60 per session and £50 for concessions (please enquire).

Question 11

What if I need to cancel a session?

Accepted Answer

It's ok if you need to cancel a session but I do ask for at least 24 hours' notice, otherwise the fee for the session will still stand. Cancellations with more than 24 hours' notice do not require payment.

Frequently asked questions