How It Works
The Counselling
Process
A clear, structured approach — adapted entirely to your needs and pace.
- Free 15-Min Consultation
- No Long-Term Obligation
- Individual & Couples
The Process
How the counselling process works
Outlined below is the process I follow when working with you in counselling — for individual or couples work. The structure gives us a clear framework while remaining entirely flexible to your needs.
Phase 1
Free Phone Call
15 minutes. No obligation. We understand what you are looking for and whether we are a good fit.
Phase 2
First Session
We meet, understand your struggles in more depth. No commitment to continue beyond this session.
Phase 3
Six Sessions
Six sessions of exploration, understanding and change. By the 6th session, you should start to understand yourself better.
Phase 4
Review
We discuss progress, realign the work if needed, and agree the way forward. We can close here or we agree to carry on (return to Phase 3) and try and get to the root of your struggles.
Phase 5
Continue or Close
Either continue with further sessions, or bring the work to a planned, positive ending.
Phases 3–4 repeat as needed until the work feels complete
Phase by Phase
What happens at each stage
Free Phone Consultation — No Obligation
We start with a free 15-minute phone call. This is a chance for you to ask questions, understand how I work, and get a feel for whether this feels like the right fit — without any pressure or obligation.
This call is also useful for me. It helps me understand what you are looking for from counselling, whether that is dealing with specific issues, understanding yourself better, improving a relationship, or something else entirely.
The First Session
After the call, we book a single session. This is not a commitment to ongoing sessions — it is simply a chance for us to meet properly, explore your situation in more depth, and for you to experience what the work actually feels like.
There is no obligation to engage in any further sessions at this point. If after that session you want to continue, we then book six more sessions to begin the work.
Six Sessions — Initial Exploration
Six sessions to explore what is going on. We explore the issues that brought you to counselling — from different angles, at your pace, in the order that makes sense to you.
Change in counselling is rarely linear. We may come back to the same subject several times before it shifts. I see this not as going in circles but as going deeper. Each conversation adds understanding, and understanding is what brings change.
Review — Realigning the Work
The first review happens at the end of 6 weeks and a review is conducted regularyly but on an ad-hoc bases after that. We pause and take stock. We talk about what has changed, what is still difficult, what is working well, and whether the focus or style of the work needs to shift.
This review is not a test or an assessment — it is a conversation. It keeps the work grounded in what you actually need, not what I or anyone else has decided you should be working on. We then agree whether to carry on.
Continue or Close — A Planned Ending
When the work is nearing its natural end — when the changes feel embedded and the usefulness of the sessions starts to run out — we agree a date to finish. Endings in counselling are always planned, never abrupt.
A good ending is part of the work itself. It is a chance to consolidate what has changed, reflect on the journey, and feel genuinely complete rather than simply stopping.
What to Expect
Practical things to know
Conversational
Sessions are talk-based and exploratory. There is no set agenda or homework — though reflection between sessions is natural and encouraged.
50 Minutes
Each session is 50 minutes. In-person sessions take place in a private, comfortable room. Online sessions use Zoom, Teams, FaceTime or WhatsApp.
Confidential
Everything discussed in sessions remains confidential — with the standard BACP exceptions for risk and legal obligation.
Your Pace
You set the pace and the direction. I follow your lead rather than imposing a structure or prescribed outcome.
Weekly or Fortnightly
At the start, we meet on a weekly basis. When the work has progressed to a point where a session every two weeks seems bearable then we can slow the frequency.
Non-Judgemental
There is no right or wrong way to use counselling. Whatever you bring — however difficult to say — will be received with care and without judgement.
Common Questions
Process FAQ
Do I have to commit to six sessions upfront?
Not at all. We begin with a single session — no commitment. If you want to continue after that, we book six sessions. There is never pressure to continue beyond what feels right for you.
Can I stop whenever I want?
Yes. You are always free to end the counselling at any point. That said, planned endings tend to feel much better than abrupt ones — and I will always work with you towards a positive close when the time comes.
What if I miss a session?
Please give as much notice as possible. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice are generally charged in full. I will always try to be flexible in genuine emergencies.
How will I know when the work is done?
You will know — and so will I. When the changes feel embedded, the sessions start to feel less necessary. We will discuss this openly and agree a finish date together.
Can I switch from individual to couples counselling?
Yes, or the other way around. Many clients find that individual work brings up things worth exploring together, or vice versa. We can adapt the work as your needs change.
What if I want to take a break?
Breaks are absolutely fine. Life happens. We can pause and resume when the time is right.
Take the First Step
Ready to begin for
a little more clarity?
Start with a free 15-minute call. No commitment, no pressure.
In-person · Waterloo, London · Hampton TW12 · Online UK-wide