Free to be you

Once you make contact with me, we can arrange a time for an initial free 20-minute phone consultation. That gives you chance to hear my voice and chat through any questions you may have.

You’re then free to choose whether you’d like to book a first counselling session.

Once you have a session booked, I’ll send you through some information you can look over prior to our first meeting. We’ll talk this information through in our first session, as well as exploring more about what you hope to get from counselling. In our first session, we’ll also talk through the difference aspects of your life that are imapcting you.

Sessions are up to 60-minutes. There’s no agenda or topics you will be required to talk about. We’ll find a way to work together by speaking about how you want to use your time in counselling.

Towards the end of each session, you can decide if you’d like to book another session. There’s no set limits on how many counselling sessions you access.

Counselling sessions take place at a dedicated, comfortable counselling centre situated in a semi-rural setting to the West of Preston, close to the Guild Wheel. To ensure accessibility, I can offer sessions in alternative premises that offer wheelchair accessibility. These premises are also located in the Preston suburbs. Please get in touch to discuss any questions you may have around location.

I also offer counselling online to over-18s geographically located in the UK.

I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and also passed the standard required to be an Accredited practioner with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), demonstrating I meet high standards of competence and experience, as well as personal awareness.

I’ve completed extensive additional training, including:

• Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

• Working with Domestic Abuse Victims/Survivors

• Working with Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Victims/Survivors

• Suicide and Self-Harm training

• Expressive Arts Therapy

• Gender Variance and Gender and Sexual Diversity Therapy

• Counselling Autistic clients

• Working with Shame

Importantly, like you – I am a fellow human being. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and human relationships along the way and perhaps it is this, rather than my employment history or qualifications, that helps me as a therapist.

Working with a therapist can feel daunting, and it’s natural to have questions about whether the counsellor can offer an ethical service where you feel safe to be able to open up and speak about places of hurt and pain.

I take my ethical responsibility to you as a client very seriously. In our first session, we’ll speak about the level of confidentiality I will offer you, as well as the steps I take to ensure safe and ethical practice.

As a member of the BACP, I follow guidelines and frameworks relating to trustworthy practice, including “Our Commitment to Clients“. I abide by the Free to Be Privacy Policy to protect your Personal Data in line with GDPR regulations and am registered with the Information Commissioners Office.

I’m fully insured and hold a current and up-to-date enhanced DBS certificate. I am Level 3 Safeguarding trained.

I operate a a 48-hour cancellation policy. Cancellations made with more than 48-hours notice will not result in any fee being incurred: if you wish your fee can be transferred to your next session or refunded. I’m happy to chat through any questions relating to this in our sessions.

I offer both daytime and early evening appointments through the week. Currently, I have availability for Wednesday and Friday appointments. Please get in touch for more details.

The counselling rooms have parking directly outside the property. There are three steps with a handrail up to the entrance. We can use either a ground floor or a first-floor room (accessed via one flight of stairs). If you do have any accessibility requirements, I’d welcome having a chat through what support I can put in place to best meet your needs. One option is for us to make use of an alternative wheelchair accessible venue which has an accessible toilet, accessible parking and automated door openings.

Please do get in touch to discuss any accessibility needs.