Frequently Asked Questions
- How long will it take?
- What will it cost?
- How do I pay?
- What happens in a session?
- Can I bring a friend?
- Do you offer counselling placements?
- Do you offer free counselling?
- Do You Provide Counselling Using Skype
- Do you have a male/female counsellor available?
- Are you registered with...
- What are your qualifications?
- Is it confidential?
How long is a session?
How many sessions will I need?
Do I have to do it all at once? Can I come back?
Our Fees
Concessions
Cancellations
Other Services
Experience has shown that most clients prefer to pay for each counseling session at the time they have it, but other payment schemes would be considered according to need.
No, not at present. We are considering ways in which we could offer student placements in future but regret it's not possible at the moment.
While we do out best to make counselling affordable, we are self-funding so cannot offer free counselling. However, our rates are negotiable according to your circumstances so please give us a ring to see what we can do for you.
We do offer online/telephone counselling but prefer not to use Skype as it's not considered sufficiently secure or confidential. Similarly, we would discourage counselling over a landline as these are easy to intercepted.
Yes, we have both male and female counsellors but all our counsellors have a broad experience of counselling both men and women.
- family issues
- emotional, physical or sexual abuse
- relationship problems and domestic violence
- sex addiction and the use of pornography
- high and low-libido, painful sex, vaginismus
- erectile dysfunction
- menstrual difficulties / phobia
- self-image / body / weight issues
While it is natural to feel that you may be able to communicate better with someone of a particular gender, opposite gender therapists can be very beneficial at helping you see the other side of a situation. Some female clients may be wary of seeing a male counsellor and vice-versa, but then find it to be very helpful.
A recognised professional body
All our counsellors are members of a recognised professional body. Your counsellor will provide full details as part of the first session.
The Information Commissioner's Office
We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) (registration number Z2367940).
Insurance
We carry full public liability and professional indemnity insurance, covering us individually and as an organisation, for all our counselling, supervision and training practice.
Counselling is delivered by David Rutlidge and Laura Rutlidge, who are both qualified and experienced counsellors, and we occasionally work with other, associate, counsellors, some of whom may be students coming to the end their training.
All counsellors are registered / accredited members of an appropriate professional body.
Dave originally trained in the Person Centred Approach then did a further qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). In 2011 he successfully completed a diploma in counselling case-work supervision and in 2012 completed a diploma in psychotherapeutic counselling. Dave also undertook Level-I Emotion Focussed Therapy training in 2017, at Nottingham University.
Laura trained in the Humanistic Approach with primary focus in the Person Centred Approach. She has completed further qualifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy along with Trauma-Focused CBT for children. Laura completed a foundation degree in counselling in 2015 and is currently undertaking an honours degree.
In accordance with best practice, both counsellors undertake regular processional development. This takes the form of workshops and seminars as well as other forms of on-going learning. They have one-to-one supervision for their counselling and Dave receives further supervision for his supervision casework.
Some of the professional development they have undertaken includes:
- Somatic Trauma Training
- Expressive Therapy
- Bereavement and Loss
- Counselling Couples
- Psycho-sexual Therapy
- Masculinity and Trauma
- Gender issues
- Mindfulness
- Child and Family therapy
- IAPT training.
Basic Confidentiality
All counselling is confidential subject to the constraints of English law and ethical practice. Your counsellor has a legal duty to report anything to do with terrorism or acts of terror. If you were to disclose matters involving a serious / life-threatening risk of harm to self or others they may also have to act on it. If something of that nature did come up, however, they would endeavor to discuss with you how to proceed, before any action was taken.
Medical Records
No one would normally be informed that you were attending counselling without your prior knowledge and consent. Attending private counselling would not go on your medical records. Occasionally we may agree with clients that a GP referral is appropriate. In such cases a letter may be sent to your GP but this would be with your prior knowledge and consent.
Couples
If you are coming as a couple, we may see you individually as part of the assessment process. Anything said in the individual sessions stays confidential to that session unless you were to disclose something serious, which your partner did now know, and which would affect our ability to work with you as a couple. If something like that did come up, we would discuss with you how we should proceed.
Children
Third Party Work
In situations where a third-party is paying, no information would be passed on to them except confirmation of the number of sessions booked, for invoice purposes. EAPs, insurance companies and similar sometimes require a discharge report. This would indicate the areas covered and progress made but no specifics would be given. You would be welcome to see the report and can have a copy.
Supervision
All counsellors in the UK are required to have a clinical supervisor, who is there to help us help you. We discuss with them issues that arise in therapy, but no client would be identified beyond their first name, so confidentiality is preserved.
Summary
Full details of the constraints of confidentiality would be discussed during the first session and you would be given the opportunity to talk about any concerns you may have before giving any personal or identifying information. You're also very welcome to contact us, prior to making an appointment, to discuss any worries you may have.