FAQs
Questions, questions....
We know that for lots of people, seeking counselling is a big step into the unknown. And it’s normal for people to have lots of questions before they reach out for help.
Not only do we understand why that might be – but that’s why we exist – to make counselling more affordable, less complicated and far easier to access. We do this by taking all the confusing steps out of the search and making finding a therapist simple for you.
Here, we’ve taken the most common questions and addressed them, so you don’t have to search online, ruminate or procrastinate about finding the therapist that you need. You can also work with your counsellor with peace of mind, knowing that they’ve been screened, checked and hand-picked so that we’re confident they meet our exacting standards in terms of proficiency, effectiveness, safety, ethics and professionalism.
Our most frequently asked questions...
Is counselling right for me?
Everyone can benefit from therapy. Whether you’re dealing with family or relationship issues, work problems, a bereavement, divorce, health conditions, addiction, fertility issues, miscarriage, questions around identity or sexuality, anxiety, stress, OCD, trauma, abuse, depression and low mood… or whatever it is that you’re struggling with, talking to a counselling professional can help you to make sense of your thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Ultimately, the aim of counselling isn’t to give advice or ‘fix’ the issue for you, but to empower and enable you to navigate life’s challenges, make sense of what’s going on for you, and create healthier ways of coping.
Therapist or counsellor – what’s the difference?
You’ll notice that we use the terms ‘counsellor’ and ‘therapist’ interchangeably. That’s because in the UK these terms are not protected by law. You’ll see counsellors referred to as psychotherapists sometimes, too. And this is why it can be tricky to do an online search and find a suitable counsellor for you – and ultimately, the issue we aim to address.
We take all the guesswork out of the search by only accepting counselling professionals that meet our standards and those of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Our counsellors and trainee counsellors who are close to qualifying, and all hold recognised qualifications from training providers such as CPCAB. Regardless of experience, therapy type or qualification level, all our practitioners are insured, supervised, committed to ongoing training and DBS checked.
They also understand the ethics around privacy and confidentiality, are competent with regards to Data Protection laws, and as approved members of the BACP, adhere to the membership framework and are fully committed to working safely and ethically.
How much does counselling cost?
We aim to make counselling as accessible as possible. We offer a sliding scale of fees to help remove financial barriers and have a ‘pay it forward’ scheme where a percentage of counselling fees are donated to a fund that helps to pay for counselling for those on a low income.
We have an initial assessment fee <link to Assessment> of £25, which is non-refundable. This is important because it helps us to assess your needs and match you to the right type of counsellor for you.
Depending on the issue you’re seeking counselling for, you might then be matched with counsellors whose fees start from £x and go up to £x, depending on the level of qualification, skillset and experience required.
What’s an assessment?
Counselling assessments are a chance for you to speak to a trained, qualified, experienced counsellor about your therapy needs, aims and give a little bit of detail about you and your background.
Our assessments are carried out by trained, qualified counsellors who are expert in assessing and who understand the various types and styles of counsellors that would work best for you so they can match you with a selection of therapy professionals that will suit your needs.
For reasons of psychological safety and to ensure ethical practice, we believe counselling assessments require human therapeutic skills and training and expertise in active listening. This is why we don’t believe in automating this key part of the therapy process and charge a non-refundable £25 fee.
What happens during an assessment?
Assessments are done online (or by phone, if you prefer) and during the process you will be gently and professionally asked questions about you, your aims, your mental wellbeing, physical health, your background and experience of therapy to date.
This helps our assessors to figure out the type of counsellor that would be good for you, based on their type of experience and approach. They take around 30 minutes and are completely confidential.
Due to the sensitive nature of some the assessment content, we strongly advise that your assessment takes place in a space that’s quiet and comfortable where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained.
How do I get an assessment?
The assessment is the second stage in our four-step process. The first step is to complete an online initial contact form.
You can access our contact form here <link to form> along with clear instructions on how to submit it. Please note, all data is stored safely and securely and in line with current legislation.
Once we’ve received your form, we’ll be in touch within 5 working days to organise your assessment. You’ll need to pay the £25 assessment fee first and you’ll be sent a link to do that after you’ve completed the online form.
How can I pay for an assessment?
Once we’ve received your completed form you’ll be sent a link to pay the £25 non-refundable assessment fee. You can do this by xxxx, xxxx, xxxxxx or we also accept xxxx.
Why is the assessment fee non-refundable?
Our assessments are carried out by trained and qualified counsellors who have additional experience in carrying out expert assessments. Each assessment takes around 30 minutes, and we feel it’s only fair that as they carry out this crucial part of the process to the highest standards, that they are paid accordingly for this service.
By taking part in an assessment you are in no way obliged to start your counselling if you decide it’s not for you at this time, however, we are unable to return your £25 assessment fee because the service has already been provided to you.
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What happens if I need to cancel?
Life happens – and there might be times when you need to cancel a counselling session. We understand that and have developed a cancellation policy that takes this into consideration.
Generally, we require xx hours’ notice of a cancellation – you would do this by contacting your counsellor via your online profile. He or she will then automatically receive an email notifying them that you are unable to attend and will contact you to rearrange the session.
If you are ill and unable to engage with counselling, it’s our policy that we require xx hours’ notice as a minimum. You will find our full cancellation policy in your Counselling Contract, which you will be sent ahead of your first counselling session.
What happens if I don’t like my counsellor?
Our promise to you is that we’ll work really hard to ensure we match you to the right selection of counsellors from you to choose from. And we’re confident that every single therapist that your assessor matches you with can meet your needs. But we’re all human, and on the very rare occasion that a client feels they can’t engage with the counsellor they’ve selected, we will address this. We have a senior team of experienced counselling consultants and supervisors and a range of counsellors with a variety of approaches and styles of working and we know that we’ll be able to find you an alternative option. However, unfortunately, we cannot refund you for sessions that have already taken place.
How do you ensure counselling is accessible?
We are lucky enough to have a range of counsellors with at a variety of experience levels so we can offer you flexibility in terms of costs. We try to offer you a range of counsellors to choose from on a ‘sliding scale’ in terms of sessional fee costs, but of course, if your presenting issue is complex, for matters of safety and ethics, it is only right that we match you to a counsellor with experience and proficiency in the appropriate area, and this might command a higher fee rate.
We also donate x% of each fee to a xxxx Fund. The aim of this is that we will then fund counselling for those who need it who are on low incomes and might otherwise may not be able to access it. Essentially, every time you have counselling with us, you’re paying it forward and helping someone else.
I have another question not answered here – who do I ask?
We’re happy to answer all your questions. You can get in touch by dropping us an email and someone will get back to you within a few days. You can do that here <Link to Contact form>
What are the different types of therapy?
Adlerian
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
Gestalt therapy
With the Gestalt approach, practitioners help clients to focus on immediate thoughts and feelings in the here and now. You work together to understand how you relate to others and the world around you. It can involve acting out scenarios or talking about dreams and their meanings and can be effective for coping with stress and anxiety.
Integrative - or eclectic
Most of our counsellors would describe themselves as working eclectically or that they are an integrative therapist. This means they treat each client as an individual and have a ‘toolbox’ of approaches, borrowing from a range of therapy approaches in order to work with you in a way that suits you and your needs best.
Person-centred
In person-centred therapy the counsellor helps to create the right conditions in which clients can experience personal growth and positive change. This includes taking a non- judgemental, open and honest stance to help you deal with any negative feelings you are experiencing.
Psychodynamic
Psychodynamic therapy evolved from psychoanalysis and focuses on the unconscious processes and past experiences that might be holding you back or shaping current thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Transactional analysis (TA)
Transactional analysis encompasses a few other approaches, including CBT and psychodynamic. It looks at how you interpret the world and help you work towards positive change.