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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES?
Initial phone consultation (15 minutes) - free
One-to-one counselling/psychotherapy session (50 minutes) - £85
You are welcome to get in touch even if your budget is lower, as I'm sometimes able to offer concessionary places. Payment is usually by bank transfer, either weekly or monthly in advance. For employer-funded counselling (where employers are invoiced directly), there is an additional fee of £5 per session.
HOW DO I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?
Contact me via website form, by email to info@ldtherapy.co.uk, or by calling/texting 07874 627313, and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours to arrange either a free 15-minute phone consultation or first counselling session.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A FREE CONSULTATION?
This is a brief, no-obligation chat, usually over the phone, where you can share a little bit about what's brought you to counselling and ask any questions before deciding whether you want to book a full counselling session.
WHO DO YOU WORK WITH?
I offer individual counselling/psychotherapy for adults. I also sometimes offer counselling for employees, funded by the company/workplace. Please note that I am not able to offer counselling for couples.
WHEN DO YOU OFFER APPOINTMENTS?
I generally offer individual counselling sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9am and 4pm. I don’t offer evening or weekend appointments.
WHAT TYPE OF THERAPY DO YOU OFFER?
I'm trained in a variety of different counselling and psychotherapy styles and tailor my approach according to each client's individual needs. My main training is in psychodynamic counselling/psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I offer counselling online (via Zoom, telephone or email) and face-to-face in Langford Village, either in my consulting room or outdoors.
IS COUNSELLING CONFIDENTIAL?
All client and session material is confidential, apart from in a few exceptional circumstances, which I’ll discuss during our first session.
WHAT'S WALK AND TALK COUNSELLING/THERAPY?
With walk and talk counselling (also called outdoor or eco-therapy), we go for a walk around the local area during our session. Some people find this more informal, making it easier for them to open up about what's bothering them. Walking and being in nature are also therapeutic in themselves. There are lots of beautiful walks around Langford Village that make ideal therapy settings, including woodland, parks and a lake. We can also stop and sit on a bench at any time.
HOW DOES ONLINE COUNSELLING WORK?
With online counselling, we meet at an agreed time on Zoom (live online video) or via phone and have the counselling session remotely. I am very experienced in this way of working and find it just as effective as face-to-face therapy.
WHAT'S EMAIL COUNSELLING?
If you prefer the written word, don't want to travel and/or don't have a confidential space for online counselling, then email counselling is a great way to have a tailored, ongoing conversation about your mental health. Each email is equivalent to a 50 minute session so it's recommended that you spend around 25 minutes writing about what's bothering you, and then around 25 minutes reading and reflecting on the response. I will always write back to you on a set day each week, and will help you think about your problems, feel better and make positive changes in your life.
HOW LONG DOES COUNSELLING TAKE TO WORK?
Many clients notice a difference after only one or two sessions, however it takes longer to go deeper and get to the root of issues. I see most clients on an open-ended basis.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I HAVE COUNSELLING?
There's no right or wrong answer for this. Most clients have one session a week, but I can also be flexible - if you would like a different frequency (such as fortnightly or twice a week), we can discuss this in your first session.
WHAT'S YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
Counselling is a substantial emotional and financial commitment for both of us. Your session time is reserved for you and is not available to anyone else, therefore sessions are chargeable every week, regardless of your attendance. I endeavour to give plenty of notice of my absences and annual leave, and sessions are not chargeable when I'm unavailable.
WHAT'S YOUR DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY POLICY?
Click here to read the LD Therapy privacy policy. Please note that cookies are also used on this site in order to ensure functionality and understand how users behave. If you have any questions about data usage, please get in touch.
WHAT'S YOUR COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE?
Click here to read the LD Therapy complaints procedure. If you have a complaint or concern, please let me know as soon as possible. Complaints should be addressed during therapy sessions where possible.
WHAT IF I NEED URGENT SUPPORT?
If you're in crisis – for example, you're thinking about committing suicide or seriously harming yourself or others - you can seek immediate help by calling 999, going to your local A&E department, or contacting the Samaritans.
