Making initial contact with me may feel daunting as we may not have met before. So contemplating speaking to me who you do not know and talking about yourself may feel awkward. My experience tells me that it can sometimes be easier than you think and my job is to create a space which feels safe and holding enough to allow you to begin a journey of self-exploration.
So you can have some idea of what to expect I have outlined the process in three manageable steps.
First Contact
This can either be via email, phone or completing the enquiry form on the contacts page. I am happy to offer a free 15 minute phone consultation which can give you the opportunity to ask me questions as well as starting to explore what has led you to make contact with me and how I may be able to help. After this you may wish to book an assessment with me.
The Assessment Process
A time would be agreed for you to come and have an assessment with me. This process takes no longer than 60 minutes. In those 60 minutes I take a full back-ground history as well as finding out what your needs are and how I may be able to support you. After the assessment I would provide you with some feedback and recommendations for you to go away and think about. It is important that you come to your own decision about whether you would like to start some counselling and we would agree on a time for me to contact you a couple of days after this initial appointment.
Counselling Sessions
If you go on to decide that you would like some counselling then we would agree on a time for you to attend a weekly session for 50 minutes. This may be something you do for 3 – 6 months or it may be a longer-term commitment. Whether it is short or long-term work this is something that we would discuss in the assessment as well as being regularly reviewed. The most important thing for me in this work is for the client to get on with their life in the most happy and meaningful way possible without the self-destructive behaviours that may have led you into therapy to begin with.