Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to some of the more common questions I’ve received. Read on to learn more about my counselling practice. If you feel like you didn’t find the answer you were looking for, feel free to contact me for more information. I’m always happy to hear from people who are interested in therapy.

How are you an effective counsellor?

Can I book a free consultation?

I'm compassionate, patient, and committed to helping clients achieve their goals in therapy. I have a solid understanding of theories and techniques of counselling and psychotherapy as well as the ability to apply this knowledge to help clients overcome their challenges.

How long are the sessions?

Yes, I offer a free, 20-25 minute telephone or video session to discuss your needs and how we may be able to work together. Please note this initial consultation is not a therapy session.

Please leave me a message via the contact page or email hi@flowdown.co.uk to arrange.

Online / Phone / In person?

How much does therapy cost?

What is the cancellation policy?

Therapy can take place in-person (Illshaw Heath, Solihull B94), online (via Teams) or over the phone.

Each session is 50 minutes. Research suggests that this is the optimal duration which allows for balance between emotional intensity while avoiding mental exhaustion.

48 hours' notice is required to cancel an appointment. I schedule client sessions in advance, and if a client cancels at the last minute or fails to show up, I lose the opportunity to help someone else.

Each online or phone session costs £45. Face to face sessions are £55 per session and take place in Illshaw Heath, Solihull (B94). Sessions will only take place once payment has been made.

What can I, and can't I talk about?

What happens in the first session?

How often do I need to come?

I'm feeling suicidal, what can I do?

Why do clients come to Flow Down?

Is my personal information safe?

Are my sessions confidential?

It's generally not recommended to see two counsellors at once because it can be confusing and counterproductive to receive support from multiple sources.

Additionally, it can be difficult to build trust and establish a strong therapeutic relationship with a counsellor if you are dividing your time and attention between two professionals.

Can I take notes?

You're free to take notes if you wish. However, sessions are not to be recorded in any way.

Depending on my availability, you're free to choose how often you attend. However, therapy is better if there are consistent sessions which aren't too far apart. Most clients come weekly, some come bi-weekly and a few client's who are in the process of finishing therapy, move to monthly sessions before ending.

Yes. Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of the counselling relationship, and it is an ethical and legal requirement for counsellors to protect their clients' confidentiality.

This means that any information you disclose to your counsellor during your sessions will be kept confidential, and your counselor will not share it with anyone else without your explicit consent, except in certain exceptional circumstances.

These exceptional circumstances, known as "limits of confidentiality," include situations where the counsellor has a legal obligation to disclose information, such as cases of child abuse, terrorism, or serious harm to self or others. In such cases, the counsellor may need to break confidentiality to ensure the safety of the client or others. However, before disclosing any information, the counselor will typically discuss this with the client and seek their consent, unless there is an immediate risk of harm. In all other cases, your counsellor will maintain the confidentiality of your sessions.

Counselling can be beneficial for anyone who is struggling with emotional, behavioural, or relationship issues, and who wants to improve their overall mental health and well-being. Specifically, my focus is on my client at all times, the greater the depth of our relationship, the greater the chance of achieving positive outcomes. The office where I work is warm, inviting, comfortable and safe.

In the first session I will go over a 'shared agreement' with you which forms the basis of our work together. This includes telling you about myself, i.e., my qualifications, supervision and professional obligations (counselling speak) and information about how the seasons are run. I will also run through confidentiality and it's importance, after this, I will ask you what you want to achieve from counselling.

As the client, you can discuss anything you wish. We will have a shared agreement which 'governs' our work together and ensures my work is safe and importantly, that you are aware of the limits to confidentiality, i.e. when I would legally have to break confidentiality.

If you feel like you might attempt suicide, or may have seriously harmed yourself, you need urgent medical help.

Please:

Call 999 for an ambulance,
Go straight to A&E, if you can,
Call your local crisis team - if you don't already have their number, you can find an urgent mental health helpline on the NHS website.

If you can't do this by yourself, ask someone to help you.

Mental health emergencies are serious. You're not wasting anyone's time.

Your information is protected by law under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, which require counsellors to handle personal data in a confidential and secure manner.