Íø±¬ÃÅ

Currently, I have some availability within my practice. I am quite flexible regarding my hours of work and happy for weekend and early evening online counselling sessions ending not later than 9pm. 

Face-to-face sessions can be arranged at our office in Callendar House, Falkirk on Fridays and Sundays from 10am to 4:30pm. All other sessions are online/phone using Google Meet 

Having spent more than 20 years in the British Army, I offer a 10% discounted rate for Armed Forces Veterans.

What is on offer is person-centred counselling. This means helping others become empowered to discover solutions to issues in a supportive environment. 

 As a counsellor I offer you my honesty and respect while we explore issues you feel you would like to bring to counselling at the times that we have agreed. An essential element in successful counselling is the relationship between counsellor and client, so during the first few sessions I work with you to develop trust. 

As a person-centred, bacp approved counsellor, I seek to enable clients to develop self-resources for making desired changes in their lives. I do this without being directive; rather, helping the client work out the best way forward for themselves. I seek to achieve this through empathic understanding and unconditional positive regard. This means I respect individuals and their capacity for self-development regardless of their beliefs, gender, age, history, culture or background.

What can you expect from me? 

• To be available at the agreed time.
• To start and end on time.
• To offer a quiet, appropriate and undisturbed space.
• To maintain safe, professional boundaries.
• To regard all contact and information as confidential unless I have reasonable doubt concerning actual safety of yourself or others.
• To encourage client autonomy; You, the Client, are in control.
• To work within the bacp guidelines for regular supervision.
• To review therapeutic work and relationship regularly.
• In the unlikely event of my needing to cancel for any reason, an alternative appointment offered at a time suited to yourself ASAP.

What would I expect from you?

• To attend punctually.
• To give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice when cancelling/ changing an appointment (or the full fee becomes payable).
• To pay for the session in full within 24 hours of each appointment.
• Communicating with myself only through the contact details provided. Contact outside agreed counselling sessions to be limited to making, changing or cancelling an appointment, unless by prior arrangement.
• To agree to give permission to contact a third party if I have serious concerns about risk to self (client) or others.
• To discuss with myself when you feel you are ready to end therapy.
• To let me know if you are in or are considering entering another therapeutic relationship. 

First Session

Our first session will be spent getting to know one another. We shall discuss how many sessions you may require and agree the terms and conditions of our counselling sessions and sign a contract.  This will be copied and sent by email or, if the first session is face-to-face, then handed over directly.

Duration of Counselling

The number of sessions you think may be required is entirely up to yourself. You may feel that you would like to have one session as a trial before continuing...that's fine! You are in control at all times!

Assessment

Depending upon the circumstances around your counselling needs, I may request that you to complete an assessment, which will typically be in the form of a questionnaire.