I'm new to counselling, what can I expect?

Firstly, welcome!

I wanted to create this post as this is a very frequent question I get asked. Its completely understandable to have some anxiety about starting counselling. I believe counselling/ psychotherapy is becoming a lot more normalised in UK culture however, its still something can be very unknown and sadly can still feel like something is wrong with you for going to counselling.

Counselling doesn't mean you are not "normal", it doesn't mean you can't cope like others. Therapy is a safe space that is a different relationship than to others you may have experienced in your life. It allows you to be able to explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment or advice that maybe well meaning but biased if it is coming from a friend.

The process, first contact

You will have searched for a counsellor, scrolled through a few profiles something about my profile made you choose me. So you reach out. This maybe via the counselling directory, the form on my website or email. You may have tried to phone me, please note I only return calls where there is a voicemail left.

So what happens next? I'll get back to you as son as possible, usually within 24hrs, if its the weekend then I'll contact you on Monday. If I'm out of office I'll have a out of office turned on. I'll reply to you with a registration form and GDPR consent form. The registration form will have various questions such as contact info, GP info etc. Please note that I only contact GP's if there is an ethical need to do so (e.g. risk of harm to self) and I always aim to discuss this with clients first before contacting. The registration form also asks some questions about your reasons for wanting counselling, things you maybe struggling with now and historically. This allows me to know if potentially there is an area you are wanting to work on that I may not be the best counsellor for and I can hopefully sign post you to someone more appropriate.

So you have my registration form then what happens?

After receiving your registration form I'll either offer you a phone call to discuss anything that has come up on the form, you may also ask for a phone call before an initial meeting if you want to ask me anything further prior to agreeing to meet.

We will then agree a date and time to have an initial session. After we've agreed a date I'll send through more information; counselling agreement, social media policy and 2 questionnaires (GADS-7 and PHQ-9). These documents explain how I work ethically, my boundaries, confidentiality and its limits, payment and cancellation notice period. The questionnaires help me to see how much anxiety and depression maybe effecting you currently. This helps indicate if we might need to talk in the first session about support systems you have in place, potentially involving your GP if needed.

So what happens in the initial meeting?

The initial meeting is the same duration as a normal session (50mins), if we choose to work together that day and timeslot will become yours each week.

After introductions I'll likely ask how you are feeling about coming to the session that day, if there are any anxieties or questions you may have. I'll explain that the meeting today is about us working out if we are the right fit. I'll have some questions that I'll ask you to go into more depth about whats bringing you to counselling, who your support system is, a bit about your life so far.

I'll ask you if theres any questions you have for me and I'll explain a bit about the process of counselling, what to expect future sessions to be like.

If I have any concerns about us working together I'll discuss them with you in the initial session and let you know if I think a different counsellor might be a better fit for you. I'll ask you how you feel about working with me, if you want to go away and think about it then thats absolutely fine. If we then decide to work together I usually work on an open ended basis but will check in with you after a few sessions to see how you are finding it.

Final thoughts....

The initial counseling session is an important step where you and I can see how we connect and determine if it's we're right fit for your needs. It is a collaborative process that requires openness, honesty, and a willingness to explore your thoughts and emotions. Remember, finding the right counsellor is essential for your growth and well-being, so don't hesitate to seek out the support that resonates with you. I am not offended if you feel I am not the right person for you, I know there will be a counsellor who is.

I hope this post has helped explain the process I follow after initial contact and eases any anxiety you may have about starting counselling. If you would like to explore starting sessions with me please fill in a contact form on my site which you can find under the heading "inidividual counselling".