The steps we take before therapy begins are designed to support you to make an informed choice about starting therapy, gauge whether I’m the right therapist for you and feel more at ease beginning to share your personal experiences. This is also an opportunity for me to begin to get to know you and what brings you to counselling. 

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Booking your first Session

When you  book a first session I provide information about my service and a short guide to getting the most out of online and telephone therapy.

I also send a copy of my Therapy Working Agreement and Privacy Policy. These documents provide the basis on which we’ll work together and how I store, process and protect the information you share. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about these and clarify anything before signing. There is also a short form to complete to provide me with your personal details, which I ask you to return before the first session.

Our First Session

In the first session we’ll clarify working arrangements, including confidentiality and what we’ll do if there’s a failure with the telephone or online connection. I’ll ask about your background, current difficulties and goals for therapy. Based on your circumstances and what you’re seeking from therapy, we’ll discuss options for long or short term therapy. We’ll also consider any risk that may be present during our work together and plan how to best manage this. There’ll also be space for any questions you may have about therapy.

Continuing in Therapy

If you would like to continue in therapy beyond the first session, I ask you to sign the Therapy Working Agreement and Privacy Policy to show your agreement for us to continue to work together on these terms.