Frequently Asked Questions
How much does counselling cost?
Counselling sessions with me cost £50 for a 60-minute in-person session and £40 for a 60-minute online or phone session. Pet bereavement sessions are £30 for 40 minutes, in person or online. The initial 15-minute consultation is free.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes — I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation before you commit to anything. It's a chance to describe what's brought you here, ask me anything you'd like to know, and get a feel for whether we'd work well together. There's no obligation to book afterwards.
How long is the wait to start counselling?
I currently have some weekday & Saturday appointments available. As a private practice I don't operate a long waiting list, which is often the reason people come to me while they're waiting for NHS support.
Immediate appointments are available for those who feel they need to speak with
someone as soon as possible.
Where are you based?
I see clients in person in Rochester, Kent, and Brighton and work online and on the phone with people across the UK.
Do you offer online or phone counselling?
Yes. Online sessions run for 60 minutes and cost £40. Many people find these sessions easier to fit around work, life responsibilities or travel, and they work just as well as meeting in person for most of what I do.
Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?
Yes — I offer evening and weekend appointments specifically so that counselling can fit around your work and family commitments. These slots are popular, so it's worth asking early about what's available.
How many sessions will I need?
There's no fixed number of sessions, and I don't ask you to commit to a set course. Some people come for six or eight weeks with something specific in mind; others stay longer, particularly with grief. We'll review how things are going as we go, and you're free to stop whenever feels right.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is mostly about getting to know each other and understanding what's brought you to counselling. I'll explain how I work and what confidentiality means in practice, and you'll have plenty of space to talk about whatever feels most pressing. You don't need to prepare anything or have your thoughts in order. At the end of the first session you can decide whether you want to continue with further sessions or take another route.
Are you qualified and registered?
I'm an Accredited Registrant of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society — MNCPS (Acc) — and I hold a Diploma in Counselling. The NCPS register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, which is the government-backed body that oversees registers of health and care practitioners. I'm fully insured and hold an enhanced DBS check.
Is counselling confidential?
Counselling with me is confidential. What you tell me stays between us, with the limited exceptions that all counsellors work within — principally where there's a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or where I'm required by law to disclose. I'll explain all of this clearly in our first session, and you're welcome to ask about it beforehand.
Do you offer reduced-fee Sessions?
I keep a small number of reduced-fee spaces for people who feel the full fee is out of reach. These are limited and not always available, but please do mention it during the free consultation — I'd rather have the conversation than have cost quietly put you off.
Do you offer counselling for couples?
I work one-to-one rather than with couples in the room together. That said, a great deal of my relationship work is with individuals thinking through a relationship — with a partner, a parent, an adult child, a friend or a colleague — and many people find that space more useful than they expected.
Do you offer pet bereavement counselling?
Yes, pet bereavement is one of my specialisms, and sessions are £30 for 40 minutes. Grief for an animal is often dismissed or minimised by others, which can leave people feeling foolish for how much it hurts. It isn't foolish, and you don't have to justify it here.
What if I need to cancel a session?
I ask for 24hrs notice to cancel or rearrange a session, after which the full fee applies. Life happens, though — if something unavoidable comes up, please just let me know.
How do I book?
The simplest way to start is to request a free 15-minute phone consultation by calling me directly or using the form on my contact page.
Immediate appointments can be made available for those who feel they need to speak with
someone as soon as possible.