I can appreciate that someone’s first experience of therapy may be an anxiety-inducing experience. It takes courage to talk about your thoughts and feelings in front of someone you’ve just met. So, well done on taking this step.
The first session tends to be very introductory. After going through the Counselling Agreement, which explains the process of therapy, fees, confidentiality, and GDPR regulations, I will ask you to tell me a little bit about your background, your life, and what brings you to therapy. I am also open to answering any questions that you may have about therapy in the first session.
Know that I am acutely aware of how tough it can be to take this step, so I will approach the first session with sensitivity, compassion, and understanding. Once again, well done, and I look forward to starting this journey with you.
There is no obligation to attend any specific number of sessions. However, I would encourage clients to attend at least six sessions so that we have ample time to explore the issues. I would also encourage clients to give a week’s notice when they intend to finish therapy. The reason for this is so that we may schedule a final session to review the progress made by the client and discuss strategies for them going forward.
My fee for each session is €60.00. This may be paid in whichever way is most convenient for the client, whether that be cash or bank transfer, after each session or monthly.
I would ask clients to provide 24 hours’ notice before cancelling a session. I may be able to reschedule a session for a client for another slot that week. However, this is not guaranteed. If clients fail to provide 24 hours’ notice before cancelling a session, they will be expected to pay the fee.
Confidentiality means that whatever I discuss with a client in a session stays between me and that client. I am not permitted to discuss anything that a client may disclose in a session to another person. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule that the client should note.
Confidentiality may be broken if:
- The therapist believes that the client may be a danger to themselves or others.
- The client reveals that there is a child at risk of abuse, or a child has been a victim of abuse in the past.
- The therapist is legally forced to by a court order.
I work to the highest standards of my accrediting bodies’ code of ethics in relation to confidentiality, privacy, and data protection. If you have any questions surrounding confidentiality, please do not hesitate to ask.
Yes, I provide online counselling. I understand that online counselling may be more convenient for people that live in remote areas or have busy schedules, so I am happy to accommodate.
To facilitate online counselling, I will send you a link to our sessions via email once we have agreed on a date and time. Please check your spam folder to ensure you get the email with the link.
When attending your online session, please ensure that you have a quiet, private space where you can explore your issues without worrying about distractions or someone overhearing you.
The platforms that I tend to use are Doxy.Me, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, depending on what works best for the client. For more information on these platforms, please see the websites below.
https://doxy.me/en/
https://zoom.us/
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software
Yes, I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with any group or organisation. I am happy to provide workshops or talks to fit the need of any given group. In the past, I have facilitated workshops and talks on a variety of topics relating to mental health, as well as LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity awareness and inclusion. For any questions or enquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.