Who is counselling for? Counselling is appropriate for anyone who feels stuck or is feeling overwhelmed by their feelings which may be interfering with their ability to cope with everyday life. Counselling is also useful for people seeking for personal development and authenticity.

I’m not sure counselling is for me? Only you can decide if counselling is the right approach for you. We will not force you into something you are not comfortable with, so as a starting point let’s have a confidential telephone discussion after which if you are still interested you can meet one of us at the therapy room for a taster session / more detailed conversation.

How long will counselling last? We don’t set a limit as to the number of sessions you will require. It depends on the nature of your difficulties, past experiences and what you would like to achieve. The relationship will be dynamic, and your progress continually assessed and discussed. Typically, short term counselling will be in the region of 6 to 12 sessions and open ended if you require longer term support. Don’t forget you are in control. The decision whilst I can make a professional suggestion is ultimately yours.

Are the sessions confidential? Absolutely, we will both work to a client/counsellor contract which will be introduced in the first session, this outlines our confidential obligations. Essentially what we discuss in a session stays between us, although there may be circumstances such as a court request or information to help a GP gain a better insight to your mental well-being where confidentiality may have to be broken. If this situation presents itself, you will be informed before any information is disclosed.

How long will a session last? A standard session will be around 55 minutes, this allows for an introduction / review of the previous session and time for reflection at the end of the session.

How much does counselling cost? 55-minute session costs £40.00 or three sessions for £100.00 It is usual for your session to be scheduled weekly; however, every two weeks may be appropriate once the relationship is established.

Can you see me out of office hours? Certainly! We have a limited number of weekend and evening appointments at no extra cost. Let’s have a chat about your availability and we’ll let you know what is available.

Do I need a GP referral? No, your GP may suggest counselling, but you do not need their authority. Active Listening Therapies is a private practice, and we welcome clients directly.

What qualifications do you hold? We both have a Level five in counselling. Louise has also completed a diploma in clinical hypnotherapy and Duncan has completed a diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, both from Ridgeway College in Lincoln.

Do you work with children under the age of 11? As a rule of thumb, we don’t see younger children as they require a different approach to therapy which we don’t specialise in. Some children may present more mature and aware, in which case we may consider them based upon their circumstances and ability to recognise and discuss their feelings.

What is the difference between a counsellor and therapist? The two titles are broadly the same, we use both words to describe what we do. Traditionally, a counsellor deals with short-term intervention and a therapist deal with longer-term clients. For the majority, clients whom we see generally work with us between six and twelve weeks, however, we do see clients who prefer a longer relationship.

Are you insured and accredited? Yes! As individual practitioners we hold robust insurance which covers us and you while we are working together. We are also professionally accredited with the National Counselling Society.

Have you been vetted to allow contact with children and vulnerable clients? Yes! We both have been deep vetted and have the highest background checks allowing us to work with CYP and vulnerable clients.

Can I bring someone with me to a counselling session? The session is a personal session to you and as such confidential. While there is nothing prohibiting another person joining you, the focus will be on you. There is a waiting room in the office and guests are welcome to sit there during your session. For younger clients under the age 18, we insist that we meet a parent and / or guardian before we commence a therapeutic relationship. It may be appropriate (although at the discretion of the young person) for a parent and / or guardian to a join the session while confidence and boundaries are being established.

If I am paying for third party counselling, will you update me as to what has been disclosed? Absolutely not. While you may be the client in financial terms, you will not be the client in therapeutic terms and such, confidentiality will be maintained.

If you see my child within a school environment, can I discuss their progress with you? Unfortunately, no. When we work within a school, we must adhere to the usual levels of confidentiality and routes of communication.

What happens if I disclose that I have broken the law? This is a subjective question and depends on your disclosure and age. We will discuss this further in the session, but without judgement. There may be occasions where we are obliged to break the confidentiality, but we will not do so without significant discussion first, examples of which will be outlined in the first session.

If you have any concerns or further questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

We always ask after the first session how the experience was. Everyone replies with the same answer: ‘It was far better than what we expected!’ And that is great. Some people think counselling is going to be like an interview, others think we are going to be hippies – neither comes close!

Whilst we say come to the clinic, it’s not like the going to the Doctor… It’s more relaxed with the aim of putting you at ease from the moment you arrive, so that you feel comfortable and focused to explore your concerns.