questions... ?
Below are answers to questions I am often asked. If you are still curious or want to know anything about me or my practice that isn't covered here, please just get in touch.

"Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness, can we discover the infinite power of our light"
Brene Brown
what can I help with?
Often people who come to counselling are feeling stuck, lost or dissatisfied with life. People may have specific difficulties that they are seeking support with, they may be in the midst of a crisis or be in need of a safe space to talk about their experiences.
I work with people experiencing a wide range of challenges such as:
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Anxiety/Depression
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Bereavement, loss and grief
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Stress and overwhelm
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Traumatic experiences
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Low self-esteem
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Shame
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Negative thoughts, self-critical thinking
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Relationship difficulties
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Parenting concerns
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Major life events and transitions
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Identity concerns
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Body/Gender Dysphoria
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Acknowledging suppressed emotions
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Religion and spirituality
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Personal development
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Immigration and societal disconnection
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Lack of safety in the self and the wider world
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Loss of direction and purpose
how much does it cost and why is it a scale?
My standard fee is £55 per session and there is no pressure to pay any more than this. However, I do offer a scale up to £70 per session, should you wish to contribute a bit more and if you are in a position to afford to. This would be much appreciated to help towards funding my work at River Counselling Services - https://www.rivercounsellingservices.co.uk - a low cost counselling agency which I founded in 2024 and continue to manage around my private work.
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I also offer a number of concessionary rate slots for trainee counsellors/those working in mental health/counselling practitioners.
do I need to lie down on a couch?
Hell no! My practice space in Langport has comfortable chairs with no lying down required. I also work online where you could be in your own space, as long as sessions will not be overheard, risking confidentiality
what information do you need from me?
Initially, your name, contact telephone, email address and a brief idea of what's going on for you. If you decide to work with me, I will need to take some more information from you which we can discuss at the time. I adhere to GDPR guidelines and data protection, and am a member of the ICO.
how long will I need counselling for?
How long is a piece of string!? The important thing to remember is that you are in control here. If you only want a set number of sessions or to focus on a specific issue, we can tailor sessions for that. If you want to work on an open ended basis, we can do that too. It's a collaborative process and I aim to work with you, at your pace.
how often are sessions and how long are they?
Sessions are 50 minutes long and usually at the same time/day each week. Attending counselling consistently often brings the most benefit, as it is said that you get out what you put in. Sessions can be either in person in Langport, or online.
will you tell anyone what I say?
In a nutshell, no. The whole point of counselling is that I am a safe place for you to share what's going on for you. However, there are some exceptions to this. I have to see a supervisor and discuss my caseload with them, to make sure that I am working safely and meeting your needs. However, during this process I use first names only to protect my clients anonymity and my supervisor is also bound by confidentiality. In certain circumstances I may need to disclose information by law to the police, particularly under the Anti-Terrorism Act or in cases of Female Genital Mutilation.
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And, as you may already know, if you share anything that indicates a risk of significant harm to yourself or someone else, particularly a child, then I may need to take further action on this. In this instance, I would always want to discuss this with you and navigate this together.
do I need to tell you about my childhood?
Not necessarily. Many counselling theories centre on the idea that our past experiences can be incredibly influential over our present lives. However, you absolutely do not need to talk about anything that you don't want to, and I will never force you to disclose anything. It can be very useful to talk about your childhood, because these are times when we have little to no power over our lives and someone else is responsible for us. This is also a significant period when our personality, self-esteem and how we see the world is formed. However, my focus is on your overall well-being and safety in the present moment, so there is never any pressure from me. Sometimes it can take a while to talk about particularly vulnerable experiences, and you may not wish to discuss these at all. The choice is yours.
what happens when I contact you?
I aim to reply to new enquiries within three working days. I may ask questions about why you are seeking counselling at this time, and offer an initial free 20 minute online call to see if we'd be a good fit for working together. If we agree to work together, I would email you some paperwork and schedule regular in person or online sessions moving forwards.
where are you based?
For face to face sessions, I work from a practice space in Langport by the river, with beautiful views from my room. Unfortunately the space is not accessible for those with wheelchairs or mobility considerations as it is on the first floor with both a full flight of stairs and a smaller set of stairs to the doorway. I do offer online sessions remotely.
what is river counselling services?
In 2024 I founded river counselling services, which offers placement opportunities for trainee student counsellors who are undertaking their diploma level studies at local training providers. As part of their studies, trainees have a requirement to undertake an amount of practical counselling experience. By supporting student counsellors, river counselling services can offer counselling sessions at a significantly lower rate than private practitioners usually charge. We also offer a referral scheme for practitioners who want to offer concessionary rates for clients who require support from a qualified counsellor rather than a trainee.
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Finally, we support our local counselling community by offering rooms for hire and networking events.
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Please visit https://www.rivercounsellingservices.co.uk for more information.