Dee Estuary Counselling & Support
Empowering people with emotional struggles to find a calmer path in life for themselves.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find Your Answers Here
What is counselling?
Counselling is a talking therapy where you meet with a qualified therapist in a safe and confidential space to talk about things in your life you feel are overwhelming, confusing, painful and uncomfortable.
A counsellor is trained to listen to you attentively without judgement or preconceived ideas. They will always try to understand your point of view and help support you whilst you find your own answers and understanding.
Is counselling an instant cure?
It may take a few sessions or many sessions of counselling before you see any improvements and sometimes it may feel overwhelming whilst in the process of counselling. Although it may feel difficult for you please be reassured that as I am qualified and experienced and I will always counsel in a safe way.
Does it work?
According to the International Centre for Clinic Excellence, 80% of those attending counselling saw an improvement in their lives than those who did not seek out help.
What are your fees?
I offer a free half hour introduction session to establish if I would be a suitable counsellor for you.
I charge £50 per session.
Concessions: please enquire
Discount for block booking of 3 sessions £135
Emails (up to 1000 words) are £40 each
Please be aware that fee's are assessed every April and therefore are subject to change.
Payment is by bank transfer. Bank transfers to clear 24 hours before a session starts.
For emails a response will be sent within 48 hours of receiving a bank transfer.
Sanctions for non-attendance or late (less than 24hrs notice) cancellation will be for the full session cost.
EAP (Employment Assistance Programme) Clients, please enquire.
I also accept cash for face to face counselling.
What are your working hours?
I am flexible with my hours. Evening and weekend hours are available, please enquire.
What can I expect to happen if I book a session?
The first free/taster session is an informal chat about whether we feel we could work together and if counselling is suitable for you.
It may be that I feel you would be better referred to a different counsellor or service or you may feel that I'm not the right counsellor for you. The time is spent understanding your needs and whether I can meet them.
Moving forward if you wish to book with me I will offer you initially 6 sessions with a review at week week 6. If we feel you would benefit from more long term counselling this will be discussed during the review and further sessions can be booked.
You will receive a number of forms from me to fill out. These include an initial assessment form which alongside the free assessment session will help establish if I am able to work with you. Once we are agreed we can work together I will forward to you a contract and the privacy policy and data protection policy.
Do you offer telephone and online counselling?
I offer online therapy; video, telephone, chatroom and email. For further information click here >
How confidential are you?
All that is discussed in the counselling relationship between counsellor and client is treated in the strictest confidence however there are times when I, the counsellor will need to break this confidentiality but you will be aware that I am doing this. In one to one counselling this is mainly restricted to the two following areas.
I) If I feel there is a real threat of harm to either yourself or to others including myself.
II) All my work is professionally overseen by a supervisor and at times I may need to discuss our relationship, however your personal information will not be disclosed during these times. Supervision is there to ensure that I am working safely and ethically with you.
In light of COVID-19 I now have an obligation to disclose to the NHS your contact details if they were to contact me through the Track and Trace service and we had been in face to face contact within the timescale of virus exposure. I will not disclose that we have a client/therapist relationship, only your contact details
Anything that is shared between us electronically cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Any paperwork that I keep i.e. your personal information record, I keep in a lockable drawer and will be destroyed in 5 years time.
For further information regarding data protection, privacy policies and disclaimers please click here >
Where are you based?
At the present moment I work from home. This is in the small market town of Neston which lies next to the Dee estuary, 10 miles from the city of Chester and 11 miles from the city of Liverpool. Easily accessible by road or public transport.
Further information
If you would like to know more or have a question you can not find an answer to on my web pages, please feel free to get in touch and I will answer you as soon as I possibly can.