tel: 07956 764413
email: info@jasminejonescounsellingbrighton.co.uk
email: info@jasminejonescounsellingbrighton.co.uk
Questions you may have
How do I choose a therapist?
There are different things to consider here. You may be looking for a certain type of therapy, or experience/ interest in the issue you would like to bring.
However, research strongly suggests that you are more likely to benefit from your therapy if you relate well to your therapist regardless of their approach. Therefore bearing this in mind, when you meet with a prospective therapist for the initial consultation – ask yourself questions like “do i like this person?”, “can i imagine trusting this person?”, “do i feel comfortable/safe in the room with them?” Try to trust your gut instinct.
What will I have to do?
You need to be available and committed to attending a session every week, usually at a regular time. During this session, you will be expected to talk about yourself and work together with the therapist to explore difficult feelings and be open to possible change.
You will be expected to observe some rules; attending on time, to give adequate notice when not being able to attend. All this will be discussed during the contracting process.
How long will I need therapy for?
Therapy works for many people and is often the key to overcoming complex problems that are too overwhelming for people to handle on their own.
The length and nature of therapy varies from person to person, depending on a number of factors – what issues the client is bringing and what they want from the therapy.
However, generally, it will be difficult to know at the start how many sessions you would like. This will become more clear as you begin the work and can be discussed and negotiated.
The success of therapy depends greatly on the relationship between client and therapist. Should you feel that the time is right to terminate the therapy, this should be discussed in the session. We will then work towards an agreed termination date.
What happens if I miss a session?
I ask for a week's notice if you are unable to attend a session. If this isn’t given, and we are not able to rearrange your session in the same week you asked to pay a cancellation fee for the missed session.
What about my privacy?
You are entitled to your privacy so it is important that you only say things to your therapist that you are comfortable with them knowing.
All Therapy sessions are confidential within the terms of the law. They will be conducted in the strictest confidence and this confidence will be maintained and applied to all records, in accordance with the Data Protection Act(1998?) except in the following circumstances:
1. Where you give consent for the confidence to be broken.
2. Where I am compelled to disclose the content of sessions for legal reasons.
3. Where the information ‘is of such gravity that confidentiality cannot be maintained’. An example of this if I believe that you are at serious risk of harm to yourself or others.
I will always endeavour to discuss any of the above issues with you first.
Why go privately and not with the NHS?
Much NHS therapy is directed at clients with psychiatric difficulties, or is very short term. Due to funding issues, it is highly likely that you will have to wait on a long waiting list, and then not have a choice about who you see and how long for.
By choosing to pay for therapy, you are making an informed choice about the kind of therapy you would like, who you would like to see, when to start and how long the contract is for.
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