Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take?
Short-term counselling, such as Focused Brief Therapy, can help a great
deal in a very few sessions where a troubling event or loss has been
recently experienced. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, such as may be
available on the NHS, has been shown to be helpful in just 6-12 sessions,
though in practice the time offered is likely to be determined by funding
considerations rather than your need.
Change - lasting change that will endure stressful situations is not
an overnight process. You should also allow for the fact that it takes
a while to build trust so that you feel able to talk freely. You should
be prepared for a process that is likely to take months, you may wish
to continue longer. However, the journey itself can be enabling, joyful
and liberating.
Why go privately?
Much NHS therapy is directed at acute or long-term psychiatric patients,
or is limited to a few sessions. You may have to wait a long time and
are unlikely to have much choice about who you see, when you see them,
or the approach they offer. The same is true of counselling offered
through specialist agencies. Many agencies are likely to offer you counsellors
who are not registered/accredited to UKCP
or BACP standards,
or they may be in training to get there (though this need not be an
issue as trainees often do great work.) Paying for counselling or therapy
gives you a full, adult say in what you are getting. You won't need
to wait: you can choose someone local, agree a convenient time, and
negotiate flexibility if you need it. And you will really value every
minute of the time.
How do I find a counsellor or therapist?
At the moment, anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist or counsellor,
so for assurance of professional standards you should look for someone
either registered with the United
Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or a member of the British
Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Both maintain
lists of therapists.
What else should I look for?
There are many different trainings and traditions and you may have one
of these in mind. Research suggests however that you are more likely
to benefit from the process if you relate well to your counsellor or
therapist, regardless of their approach. Therefore talk to a prospective
counsellor on the phone, and arrange a first meeting. Allow yourself
to go with your “gut instinct” when you first talk to them.
Do you like this person? Do you trust them? Do you feel safe where they
work? If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, find
someone else. Your heart may be a better guide than your head, but don't
ignore either.
What will I have to do?
You need to commit to a session each week, usually at a regular time,
and be prepared to talk about yourself for 50 minutes. In fact you don't
always need to talk, but you will need the urge and the curiosity to
understand yourself better, and some courage to face not just difficulties
but also the possibility of change. You may be asked to observe rules
like paying for sessions you miss: this is not just to protect the counsellor
but also helps to ensure your commitment to the process.
What about my privacy?
What you tell your counselor is up to you. You are entitled to your
privacy and should not be pushed to say more than you feel comfortable
with. Sessions are confidential within the terms of the BACP or UKCP ethical framework.
How much does it cost?
In London, the lowest end of the range is £40 - £50 per
session for a registered/accredited practitioner. You are likely to
pay more for experience, specialist techniques, nice buildings and certain
post-codes. This may seem a lot, but there are quite a few “invisible”
overheads for the practitioner, involving both cost and time. If cost
is a real issue for you, and you can't get (or wait for) free counselling
through the NHS, or look for a local charitable agency. You could also
try to haggle a bit with the therapist of your choice. Many offer a
couple of places at a reduced rate for those on a low income. You shouldn't
get a cut-price service and anyone who minds you asking wouldn't have
been a good choice anyway!
If you have any more questions that it might be useful to answer
here, please let me know.