Frequently Asked Questions – Everything You Need to Know About Starting Counselling Therapy With Free Your Mind Counselling

How counselling can help

We all experience challenging times in our lives that can leave us feeling confused, stressed and isolated. Personal Counselling is a way for you to talk about issues which are causing you concern. Sometimes, you can rely on the support of friends and family to get you through, but at other times, you may benefit from extra help. Counselling offers you the opportunity to talk about how you feel and to share your concerns.

You will be supported by your counsellor

who will care for you and endeavour to understand your experience whilst offering support along the way as you change and grow. The journey can be difficult and sometimes may be distressing as you could be visiting things which have been locked away and not dealt with fully. Many people who enter into counselling find it to be a life changing experience. The process of counselling facilitates deep personal insight and increasingly meaningful self acceptance. These qualities are then usually taken into personal and work relationships and are a catalyst for wider change and fulfilment.

Exploring issues

Counselling isn’t about being given advice; it is about exploring the issues and together finding a way forward. It is a positive move towards taking responsibility for your wellbeing, tackling your problems and taking control of your situation.

How counselling works

There has been a lot of research into what makes counselling successful with a number of different factors identified. The two most important factors are your commitment to the process and the positive relationship that you have with your counsellor.

Confidential

As counsellors we aim to build a special trusting relationship with you. Where you will be listened to and understood in a way that you may not have experienced before. What you discuss between you and your counsellor is kept confidential, allowing you to explore openly what is going on for you, and work through this together.

Safe environment

Talking about your emotions can be difficult.  This takes place in a safe, secure environment where you are able to express freely how you feel, ‘saying it aloud’ makes it real and also relieves the pressure of carrying your concerns alone.  Sessions last for 50 minutes and will occur weekly and reviewed regularly. For counselling to be successful it is important that you are able to commit to weekly sessions, at least during the early stages. We will work on a one to one basis, with you setting a pace that is comfortable for you.

Person centred counselling

The counsellor works with you to create a non-judgmental, empathic, therapeutic relationship. and by working together you are able to find a better understanding of your issues, therefore enabling ways forward to be explored.'   BACP 2017

Person centred counselling is a non-direct talking therapy created in the 1940’s by an American psychologist Dr Carl Rogers, which he designed to work upon the belief that we as people are unique individuals in our existence and possess the inner ability to grow as people in our own way given the right conditions.

At the very centre of this approach is the belief that you are the expert on your life and only you are capable of making the right decision for you when it comes to choosing the direction in which you wish to grow

In Person centred counselling, the counsellor works at creating the right environment in which you feel able to look at yourself and develop a greater understanding of your own thoughts, feelings and meanings. The counsellor is not there to analyse you or give you advice, but instead will be along side you, supporting and helping you to explore your own issues, with the belief that you will come to find your own 'answers'.

We are not there to judge or tell you what to do, simply to be warm, accepting and honest with you, while working to understand what it means to be you in your world.

Amount of sessions

It depends on your individual circumstances. You can book a set number of sessions to work through a specific mental health problem or have regular sessions for long-term support.

Ad hock

There will come a time when you will end sessions, but is is ok to book when you need further support.

You can also book sporadically for just 1 or 2 sessions to talk through a particular life obstacle or life decision. You and your counsellor will discuss this and do regular reviews.

Attending sessions

It is better to start therapy on a weekly basis. This enables you and your therapist to get to know one another, to establish a deeper understanding of your story and for you to feel supported in the process.

Longer term

Over time you may wish to reduce to fortnightly - this is something that can be reviewed taking into account your progress and personal circumstances.

If you are unable to attend a session

You will be charged for any last minute FTA’s (fail to attends). This is because the room is already booked and paid for and cannot be cancelled, the counsellor will already have made arrangements to spend their time with you (e.g. paid for childcare) and the counsellor may already have paid for parking/petrol/train or bus fares. This is why we ask for 48hrs notice for cancelling your appointment as the spot could be used by another counsellor and client.

The fee is

£18 on the Affordable Scheme with a student counsellor.

£38 on the Mid Priced Scheme, with a newly qualified counsellor and

£55 with an experienced counsellor.

Payment will be by bank transfer when you book each session. Details will be sent to you, once payment is made the room will be booked.

Telephone and online therapy

Means that you can have therapy anywhere that is comfortable, private and convenient for you. You can have your home comforts, a familiar space, a hot drink, your pet with you or a blanket for example.

• There is no need for you to travel to an office with the inconvenience and cost that would involve.
• It could be that you find it more comfortable talking online without being in someone else’s space
• You are already at home once leaving the call, and don’t have to package away your thoughts or feelings for the journey home
• If you feel socially anxious online therapy allows you get support without going somewhere unfamiliar.
• There is more flexibility in session times

Online Counselling

Can help as we are able to see each other from where you want to work from for example from the comfort of your home or from your workspace. Online counselling is carried out via secure and encrypted web platforms, you can work from your computer, tablet or phone. Just like telephone counselling you’ll need a private safe space to have your counselling session. Through online counselling I am able to share and show information and interventions via the online platform by screen sharing we can also work creatively online, where I have the items in the room to work face to face you may need to bring paper and pens for your session for your side of the screen. If there is a problem with working online such as an issue with internet we can continue on the telephone. When working online if it is possible I encourage you to use a personal private password protected computer or device and private e-mail address for our therapeutic exchanges and I will do the same. Virus and spyware definitions are regularly updated on my computer, I ask that you carry out similar safety precautions on your own computer.

Telephone counselling

works on the same principle and you would need the same privacy, but we cannot see each other. Some people find it easier and more comfortable to express themselves and have an extra feeling of being anonymous using the telephone. If you would like to work on the telephone something to think about is, how do you feel about not having any visual cues such as no body language or facial expressions? However non-verbal communication can be heard in your tone of voice or the pace of speech which can be picked up within the session.