FAQ about Counselling sessions

How do I know that you are a qualified counsellor?

Clare is a fully qualified and on the National Counselling Society Accredited Register. This register has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. As a member of this organisation I adhere to their ethical guidelines for counselling, attend regular supervision for my caseload, and keep up to date with Continued Professional Development.

I am an ‘Integrative Counsellor’, which means that I have studied a variety of Counselling approaches (Person-centred, Gestalt and CBT). I have a Level 4 Advanced Diploma in Counselling from Heartwood Counselling & Psychotherapy College. During the Covid-19 pandemic I completed an extensive training course for Counselling clients online, recognised by the National Counselling Society.

As a Counsellor there is always so much more to learn. I enjoy reading Counselling books, listening to podcasts and regularly taking courses to extend my knowledge and find out more about issues that affect my clients.

For many years I have worked with Mothers and Carers, helping to run ‘Time for You’ groups to support Mums who have children with additional needs. I have also volunteered for an organisation called Counselling for Carers.

I hold an enhanced DBS certificate.

What if I already know Clare in another context, can I still have her as my Counsellor?

Counselling works best if we meet for Counselling and only for Counselling, and do not know each other in any other context. So if you’ve been in a Time for You group with Clare unfortunately you can’t have her as your Counsellor.

Generally speaking, if we know each other, for example if we are friends or acquaintances, it is not ethical for me to be your Counsellor. Indeed you would probably not want that anyway. Living in a small town it is possible that you might ‘know of me’ through word of mouth but not ‘know me’, in which case it is worth getting in touch to check out if it is feasible to work together, depending on our connection.

Likewise, however well we get on, our relationship will be purely professional. The code of ethics precludes us from becoming friends socially, either during or after therapy. I do not add clients as personal friends on social media, as I keep my private life separate from my work.

How many sessions will I need and how much does it cost?

My fee is £50 for a 1-hour counselling session which is through my own counselling private practice at www.revibe-counselling.co.uk

I can offer short term support (6-10 sessions) or longer-term support, depending on what you are wanting to work on.

How frequent are the sessions?

I usually work with people weekly though if your circumstances mean you would prefer this to be different I am happy to look at this with you.

Shall I have Counselling on Zoom or face to face?

You can choose to work with me either face to face, in a venue in Totnes, or by Zoom video call. It’s totally your call about what works best for you. Interestingly, the research shows that both of these means of Counselling is effective therapeutically.

For many people, having Counselling online via Zoom is very convenient. Many Mums and parent carers don’t have much spare time, so it can be much easier to fit in an online session, rather than getting to a venue. It can also mean that you can see someone who specialises in your situation because you are not limited to finding a counsellor who is local. I work with clients from across the UK.

Just let me know how you prefer to have your Counselling and we’ll set up our first session. If you want to try Zoom, we can have our free introductory chat on Zoom if you’d like to so you can try it out before you decide whether to go ahead.

What kind of Counselling do you do?

I am an ‘Integrative Counsellor’ which means that I have several different Counselling approaches that I work with. How we work together will depend on the range of issues that you want to explore. The most important thing is that we develop a good rapport. You need to know that you can trust me with whatever sensitive and private issues you might bring.

Being listened to by a Counsellor is very different than being listened to by a friend. You might be concerned that a friend would either judge you for what you are saying, want to turn the conversation around to themselves or might be inclined to give advice. I listen with empathy to try to get into your world with you and listen without judgment. Never underestimate the power of someone coming alongside you.

I can offer CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) if it is relevant to the specific issues you want to look at. CBT can be useful for understanding that our thoughts are linked to our feelings and behaviours. For example, CBT might be useful for working with some aspects of anxiety or tackling how our thought patterns can sabotage us.

If you want to be a bit creative, I use various tools and techniques that can be helpful in exploring issues a bit further. For example, using images and objects, journalling or letter writing.

It’s important to understand that I do not offer a ‘blue light’ emergency service, and am therefore only contactable within limited office hours. Session times are booked and planned in advance. If you are at a stage in your life where you think you need more urgent and frequent help, you might require a different type of support right now.

If you are experiencing severe depressive symptoms and/or suicidal thoughts, please discuss this with your doctor immediately. The kind of Counselling I offer is not suitable for supporting anyone in crisis or with severe Postnatal Depression or any psychotic illness.