New Clients

It’s normal to feel nervous about starting counselling and to feel anxious or emotional about discussing personal topics in therapy; understanding more about the process can help with this.

Your first appointment is an opportunity to understand what has brought you to therapy by asking you questions about your current concerns, your history, previous therapies you have tried, other things that may impact your mental health and well-being, and what you hope to gain from therapy.

Sessions are approximately 50 minutes long.  Payment and administration are at the start of the session, which finishes with a discussion of future needs and appointments. It’s good to allow an hour for each session.

If you are having a telehealth session, please organise a quiet, confidential place to have your sessions, ideally with headphones for telephone or video. Zoom Professional is used, and a link is sent via email before your session. You do not need to download Zoom prior to the email. Once you click the link, it will open in your web browser.

Notes will be taken during the session, safely stored in your client file and securely locked in a filing cabinet. Psychologists are bound by strict confidentiality. This means that what you talk about in sessions is only shared if you give your consent. There are some exceptions to this, such as when there is a risk of harm to you or someone else. Information about your confidentiality is provided in your consent form prior to starting therapy and will be discussed in more detail in your first session.

Following this session will be a discussion about an evidence-based treatment approach that fits with your concerns and personal preferences.