How will it work?
Thanks for visiting my site. *Please note* that I am not currently taking on new clients due to my workload with individual clients and therapeutic support groups for people living with Muscular Dystrophy. I will let you know when my books reopen for private one-to-one therapy work.
As a counsellor, I take privacy and confidentiality extremely seriously. I am a registered member (registration number 374958) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and as such, follow their guidelines for good practice. All of my video call sessions take place in a private, quiet work space, where there can be no interruptions or any possibility of being overheard.
Please note that although I work under British Law, my professional indemnity insurance covers me for working with clients overseas. This means that I am able to work with English-speaking clients from different parts of the world.
Technology
For online counselling to work effectively, you will need to ensure that sessions take place in a private, quiet place. You will need a reliable internet connection, along with a PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone (with camera and speaker) and a Zoom account (Zoom is an app/programme which can be downloaded free by clicking on this link: https://zoom.us/) On the rare occasion that technology fails, the session can be continued via telephone or can be rescheduled to a mutually convenient time.
Cost and dates
The first session costs GBP £40 and is 55 minutes long. It is not a counselling session per se but rather a chance for us to learn a bit about each other. It will give you an opportunity to explain your reasons for seeking counselling, as well as an idea of who I am and how I work so that you can you can decide whether or not I am the right counsellor to suit your needs. I will also use this first session to go through my contract (which I will later ask you to sign if you decide to continues) and will explain issues such as confidentiality, and to complete essential admin.
On-going sessions are 55-minutes long, costing GBP £65 each. I ask that fees are paid at least 24 hours in advance of each session by direct bank transfer. In the event of a session being cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, there is a set charge of GBP £40.
You may also choose - at any point in the process - to pre-pay a "block" of four sessions, saving you GBP £5 per session:
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Individual 55 minute sessions: GBP £65
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Block of four 55 minute sessions (£60per session): GBP £240
Other than in exceptional circumstances or by prior mutual agreement, my working hours are during term-time only. The relevant UK term dates within which I work, can be found here: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/education-and-training/schools-and-learning/at-school/school-term-holiday-dates