Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs

If you're thinking about starting therapy but have a few questions first, you're not alone.

This page covers some of the most common questions people ask — including how sessions work, what to expect, fees, cancellations, and confidentiality.

It’s a good place to begin if you’re considering getting in touch but want to feel a bit more informed before taking that first step.

I'm thinking about starting therapy but have a lot of questions — where should I begin?

You're not alone. It's completely normal to feel unsure or want more information before taking that first step. This FAQ section covers some of the most common questions people have — including how therapy works, what to expect in sessions, fees, cancellations, and confidentiality.

If you're just starting to explore the idea of therapy, this is a good place to begin. And if your question isn't answered here, you're always welcome to get in touch for an informal chat.

What is counselling and how can it help?

Counselling is time and space just for you. It can mean different things for different people, depending on what you’re going through.

For some, it’s a chance to talk about something difficult — perhaps something you’ve never said out loud before. For others, it’s a space to explore feelings, relationships, or patterns that don’t quite make sense. It can also be a place to offload stress and think through practical ways of coping better.

Above all, counselling offers a safe and supportive space where you don’t have to pretend, explain everything perfectly, or be judged.

Here’s what counselling can offer:

Time to talk freely and be truly heard
A chance to explore thoughts, emotions, or past experiences
Support in navigating life changes, decisions, or uncertainty
A safe place to offload and reflect
Help finding new perspectives or ways forward

Counselling isn’t about advice or quick fixes. It’s about being supported to find your own answers, at your own pace — which can help build confidence, clarity, and self-esteem over time.

What’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

There’s no hard-and-fast distinction between counselling and psychotherapy — the two terms are often used interchangeably. Both offer a supportive, confidential space to explore what’s going on in your life.

Generally speaking:

Counselling tends to focus on a specific issue or a current challenge. It’s often shorter-term and more solution-focused.
Psychotherapy may involve deeper exploration of patterns, emotional wounds, or long-standing difficulties — especially those rooted in early life or past relationships. It’s often longer-term and more open-ended.

Rather than being separate approaches, you can think of them as two points on the same scale. Some people come to therapy for a short period to work through something specific. Others continue for longer to explore more complex or deep-rooted experiences.

In practice, we’ll decide together what feels right for you — and that can evolve as we go.

How long will our sessions last?

Each session lasts 50 minutes. This includes your initial assessment and any ongoing therapy sessions.

We’ll meet at the same time each week (where possible), which helps create consistency and a sense of safety as we work together.

Why do I need to attend weekly sessions?

Weekly sessions help create consistency, which is important for building trust and making steady progress. Regular appointments allow us to stay connected to the work, explore things in more depth, and maintain a sense of momentum.

That said, I understand that life isn’t always predictable — and I’m happy to be flexible around session frequency when needed. We can discuss what works best for you, whether that’s weekly, fortnightly, or something else that fits your circumstances.