Assessments & prices
Before I offer counselling or psychotherapy, or give any recommendations regarding other forms of help, it is essential that we have an assessment session, to gather information about what has brought you to seek therapy and to understand it in the context of your life.
With this information we can discuss what the problems seem to be, and what the best model of therapy is likely to be, for those problems, bearing in mind your personality, needs and preferences. At the assessment session you can ask whatever questions you may have about counselling.
If we agree to start therapy, we will make a verbal contract concerning confidentiality, means of contact outside of sessions, number of sessions or that therapy will be open-ended, session times, cancellation procedures, session costs, and any other matters that we may wish to include.
Assessment marks the beginning of the counselling relationship and it is also an ongoing process. In open-ended therapies, from time to time we will both assess how therapy is going. How are we getting along? Is counselling helping you to feel better about yourself, others and your life generally? Have your goals for therapy changed? Everything that passes between us is open to ongoing analysis and review.
Above all else, therapy is a process, a process of transformation from a life less lived, one marred by pain, anxiety and sadness to one in which you can find enough meaning, purpose and happiness, and to feel more resilient to the inevitable challenges we all face in life.