Once you make contact with me to enquire about counselling, we can arrange a time for an initial free 20-minute phone or video call consultation. I have a handy booking system for these free intial calls on my website. In this initial call, you will get chance to hear my voice and chat through any questions you may have. I’ll explain some of the details of how I work, and you may choose to share some basic details about what challenge(s) your facing that’s meant you have reached out to ask about counselling. There’ll be no pressure for you to do so, however.

You’re then free to choose whether you’d like to book a first counselling session, either via online therapy or via face-to-face therapy in Preston.

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.

Once you have a first counselling session booked, I’ll send you some information you can look over prior to our first meeting. This information will explain how confidentiality works, and some of the practicalities of how we can work together. We’ll talk about this information 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 different aspects of your life that are impacting you.

Sessions are usually for 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 are no set limits on how many counselling sessions you access.

Some people find it helpful to have plenty of detail about what a first counselling session involves. For this reason, I’ve written a blog explaining what happens in a first face-to-face counselling session with myself. 

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 higher 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 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. Cancellations made after this timeframe will be non-refundable. 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 free parking, including free disabled parking, directly outside the property. There are three steps with a handrail up to the entrance. I use a ground floor room for my sessions. There is a toilet for your use in the building - this is accessed via a flight of stairs.

My therapy room has various items that you can touch, or look at - this can be helpful for client’s who benefit from having something to distract anxious hands, or to support with not feeling the pressure to give eye contact.

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. For example, 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.