When you’re looking for counselling support, it’s very normal to have lots of questions, worries, fears, and unknowns about what happens in the therapy space. I’ve created this article to try to dispel some myths, worries and fears about how counselling with me works. So let’s put your mind at ease.
First steps
Enquiry
When you make an enquiry about counselling with me, either through email or filling out the form on my website (pictured right), I'll email you back as soon as I can. I’ll offer a free 15 minute zoom or phone call, which is an opportunity for us to meet, have a chat, and find out more about each other. You can tell me a bit about what you’d like support with, I can tell you a bit about how I work, and you have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Don't worry, there's no pressure on you to book in with me.
Booking in
If following this you decide you would like to book a first session, I’ll send you 2 forms to sign. One is a counselling agreement and it lets you know what to expect from me and our work together, and any important information about our sessions that you need to know. The second form is to take your personal details, which will be kept completely safe and confidential. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a data controller which means that I’m duty bound to keep your information safe and secure.
Meeting online
I will send you an email to confirm our session date and time, with a video call link (I use Google Meet as it's safe and user-friendly).
When you click on the link, it will take you straight to the secure online meeting. Only people that I approve and ‘let in’ will be able to access our session (i.e. just us!) I will be using earphones as this means that I can hear you properly without any background noise or distraction.
My counselling space is completely confidential and you will not be overheard in any way. Ideally you would have the same situation at your end. It’s a good idea to have some tissues, a drink, and to make sure you’re comfortable and won't be interrupted. I will check that you can see and hear me okay.
What happens in a counselling session?
Coming to a first session, some people may feel awkward, worried, scared or unsure. My aim is to make you feel at ease. I’ll do this by going at your pace, checking in with you at regular intervals, and giving you plenty of space to talk.
I will usually begin with explaining to you about confidentiality and any other practical things you will need to know. I will explain a bit about how I work, and reassure you if you have any initial worries. You can share any goals or hopes you may have for therapy (it's also very common not to know, so please don't worry about this!).
I may ask about any previous counselling you have had, and will take time to find out about what works for you and what you haven't been a fan of in any previous support you may have had. This allows me to work in a way that fits with your needs.
I will gently invite you to share what is bringing you to counselling, while I listen carefully to what you’re saying, and reflect with you on whatever it is that you’re bringing to the session. I am a therapist that gives you plenty of space to talk.
I aim not to interrupt you, be directive or ‘tell you what to do’. It’s important to me that this time is for you - to talk, to be heard, to reflect together on what's going on for you, and for me to be a support for you to ‘examine’ what comes up throughout the session.
It’s okay to cry if you need to, or to not. All emotions are okay here, and aren't judged in any way.
When we are nearing the end of our session, I will gently let you know how long we have left, to give us time to bring the session to a suitable close in a place that feels okay for you.
Afterwards
At the end of our session, I’ll check in with you and generally advise you to take a little time to ‘decompress’ from the session. In person, travel to and from the therapy room helps us to re-acclimatize to the outside world and our lives as we move physically to and from the place of therapy. Online this is less pronounced so it's important to take that time to breathe deeply and ground yourself, perhaps stretch and have a glass of water.
I hope this blog de-mystifies the counselling process a bit, and provides an insight into what happens when you come to therapy with me. If you have any more questions please feel free to get in touch - Tiffany@peridotcounselling.co.uk
Warm wishes,
Tiffany
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