Key Counselling questions to ask in Northampton

Therapy & Counselling FAQs

Where are you based?

Our private therapy studio is located in the quiet village of Weston Favell in Northampton.

Is parking available?

Yes - you can park on the street outside where ample parking is available.

Is therapy confidential?

This is a very important aspect of therapy. Everything we discuss in your therapy sessions will be kept in the strictest confidence. However, there are a couple of important exceptions where we may be required to break confidentiality. Examples include where

there’s convincing evidence that you intend to harm yourself or others
you are at risk of harm
there is a criminal aspect (e.g. terrorism, drug money laundering)

In such circumstances, we may need to inform your doctor or the police. Ideally, this would only take place with your prior knowledge.
In all other circumstances, any disclosure would require a court order (e.g. court case, insurance claim etc.).

The other exception is during supervision, where we need to discuss our sessions with our supervisors to support our work with you. However, we will not disclose your contact details or anything that would enable you to be identified.

Are you covered by insurance?

Yes, we hold professional civil liability insurance with Howden.

How long is each session?

Individual sessions last one hour. Couple sessions last 90 minutes.

Is there a set number of counselling sessions?

No. There’s no limit to the number of sessions you can have. You might get what you need from therapy in 4 to 6 sessions. Others need far more. Some resolve their primary issues in therapy and then continue to see a therapist at less frequent intervals over a long period. The length of therapy will invariably depend on your issues and will involve a discussion between you and us. We will, of course, remain mindful of your needs. We’ll always endeavour to be flexible and put your best interests first.

What can I expect during the first session?

You may well feel anxious before and during the first session. Don’t worry – this is quite normal. You don’t know us. You’re unfamiliar with where we work, how we work, and you may worry about talking to us initially about your issues.

We always begin by welcoming you warmly and discussing any questions you may have. We then give you a brief overview of what to expect. The first session is a little different from subsequent sessions. We will talk through our therapy contract with you, before asking you to sign. We collect important information from you, such as demographic details, family background tree and, of course, the reason for you coming to see us.

The first session involves far more note-taking than other sessions. However, by the end, you’ll have a good feel for who we are and feel comfortable about your decision to continue seeing us.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

No, just some means for payment (see fees page)

Is there a toilet available?

Yes, there is a private toilet just for clients.

Do you record the sessions?

No - as a matter of practice we don’t record any therapy sessions. If, perhaps for training purposes, we did need to record the session, we would always ask for your expressed permission first.

Do you have supervision?

Yes, this is an important aspect of being a therapist. Every therapist should undergo periodic supervision. This allows us to gain guidance and support from more experienced colleagues. Our supervisors are also bound by confidentiality, in line with the restrictions mentioned above.

Is my data safe?

Your data will be kept in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which replaced the Data Protection Act (1998). Darren acts as the data controller for the business.

In terms of your contact details, these will be kept in an encrypted file on a password protected computer and they will only be kept for the purposes of contacting you and they will not be shared with anyone else (unless confidentiality needs to be breached as discussed above). Your contact details will be kept for the period of time you are our client and for a period of five years after conclusion of therapy, after which time they will be permanently deleted.

During our sessions, we may also take written notes. These notes are designed to help us to understand your situation. All written notes will be stored securely and confidentially and also destroyed five years after the end of therapy.

Under data protection law, as the client, you have the right to access a copy and explanation of your personal data, to request correction or erasure of data in certain circumstances, to request that data processing is limited or ceased and to request compensation for substantial damage or distress caused by data processing where applicable.

See things differently

Don’t allow your unhappiness to define you. With mental health, there’s always a road to recovery. Our role is to help you along that road. All you need to do is to take the first step. Call us – we’d love to hear from you.