Please get in touch via the Contact page if you cannot find an answer to your question.
There is information specific for Young People on the Message For Young People page.
I work from a quiet garden office in Great Bowden, Market Harborough on the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire border. My office is easily accessed from Corby, Kettering, Kibworth and Lutterworth. The postcode is LE16 7EY. Once we have made an initial appointment to meet in person, I will email you the exact address.
You can see pictures of my workspace on the Gallery page.
Please see my Fees page for details.
This varies according to my current case load. I keep some time free each week for consultations so am often able to offer that initial meeting within a week or so. If you decide you want to go ahead with counselling following our first meeting, I will advise you which session times are available. If these are not convenient for you, I can add you to my waiting list until a suitable session time becomes available.
Teen and Children’s counselling sessions are available between 12pm and 7pm on Mondays and Thursdays. I also have some availability from 4:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Reduced rate counselling sessions for Trainee Counsellors are available in person or online on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Please note that Fridays are online sessions only.
Occasionally, I may be able to schedule counselling sessions outside these times so it is always worth getting in touch to see what we can work out.
It takes a lot of courage for a young person to open up to an adult. To feel safe, they need to trust that what they say remains confidential. I will explain in our first session that what is shared with me will remain strictly between me and the young person , unless:
Payment is made via bank transfer, at least 48 hours before your session. I will send you the details you need when you book your first session. If payment is not received, I may need to cancel your session.
Every counselling client is unique and so it is impossible to answer this question for certain. Many people find 12-20 sessions is ideal to reach their goals. Others find they benefit from longer term work and prefer to keep their sessions open-ended. Equally some clients can achieve real change in 6-8 sessions.
If you are a trainee Counsellor, your course will have a minimum requirement for Personal Therapy hours. You may choose to do all or just some of those hours with me.
In all cases, I will work flexibly with you for as long as you need, supporting every client to decide for themselves when their counselling feels it is nearing its end.
For in-person Counselling, I work from a quiet, private garden office In Market Harborough. We cannot be overheard outside or from my house. I cannot guarantee you won't hear my dogs if somebody comes to the house though!
I do not have a waiting room and parents/guardians are politely requested to wait off-site during their young person's sessions and be prompt in collecting them at the end of the session to protect the privacy of both your young person and my next client.
Great Bowden has two cafes where parents/guardians may choose to enjoy a drink while their young person is with me, both within a few hundred metres. Alternatively, there are nice walks around the village if you have the time and desire for some fresh air.
It may be worth noting in advance that there is no toilet in my garden office.
I politely ask that you consider my neighbours when parking to attend your appointment or drop off your young person. There is space for one car on the road at the end of my drive. I'm happy for you to park behind my own blue car but please do not block in the other two cars which may be on the drive.
My garden office is accessed via the side path of my house. The path is paved and wide enough for wheelchair access. There is a shallow step leading in to my office but a ramp can be provided to assist wheelchair users on request. The path is well-lit during the winter months.
It takes a lot of courage for a young person to open up to an adult. To feel safe, they need to trust that what they say remains confidential. I will explain in our first session that what is shared with me will remain strictly between me and the young person , unless:
Counselling is only effective when the client wants to engage with it. I understand it might feel really frustrating for you if you think counselling could help them but they are set against it.
It might be helpful for you to understand what their concerns and worries are. There may be information on the Message to Young People page that helps them with those concerns. I am happy to offer them an initial 10-15 minute call with you if they want to get a feel for who am I and what counselling might be like.
It is useful to have the parent/carer present for the first part of the Assessment session but after that, the sessions are limited to the counsellor and client.
This offers the young person the confidentiality that is needed to help them open up. Please be assured, if there is any safeguarding concern you need to be aware of, then I will let you know.