PRIORITISING YOUR WELL-BEING TO
CULTIVATE POSITIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGES 

I hope this page answers some of your initial questions upon deciding to have counselling. Please feel free to make contact if you have questions that have not been answered or to find out more, and please do explore the rest of our website.

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Should I see a Counsellor?

In the course of a lifetime, most of us feel stressed out, depressed or anxious. Sometimes a friend or family member can offer support, but there are times when their help is not sufficient and the problem(s) persist. Counselling provides a safe and confidential environment for you to explore the difficulties you are facing and help you to make changes that lead to a stronger emotional state and better life choices. Additionally, counselling can provide other resources and information that can be helpful to you.

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What can I talk about?

You can talk about anything that is on your mind – counselling is a safe space for you to bring anything you feel you need to discuss or to help you process any difficulties.

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What can I expect from the first session?

You can expect a warm and friendly greeting, which will hopefully settle any nerves or apprehension that you may feel, which is perfectly normal... we’ve both been there. You and your counsellor will spend some time getting to know each other and the issue(s) that brought you into counselling, which may just feel like a free-flowing conversation. You’ll be asked questions about your presenting concerns, as well as your history and background. Most likely, you’ll find yourself talking about your current symptoms or struggles and what your self-care and support looks like. Importantly we will discuss your hopes and goals for counselling so that we can work towards these.

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How do I know if you are the right counsellor for me?

Check out our website and Instagram, and if you feel comfortable, drop us an email and we can discuss any questions you may have. During your first counselling session, you will begin making a connection with your counsellor. You should feel safe, accepted, respected, and relatively comfortable. Not all counsellor’s are right for every person (and vice versa), so use your first session to assess whether or not the counsellor you chose feels like a good match for your personality. It’s OK to try a few different techniques - and counsellors - before you find what works for you. Take your time and listen to yourself.

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How long is a counselling session and how many sessions will I need?

Sessions typically lasts 50 minutes. Frequency and length will very much depend on your unique circumstances and needs. However, most people who work with us choose to engage with long-term therapy that is open-ended, which allows the space and time for the relationship to grow and to explore your issue(s) in-depth. We also offer short-term therapy, which can be a good introduction to the counselling process. Rather than booking a number of sessions at once (unless asked) we suggest that clients book as they go along, simply committing to whether or not they wish to attend a further session. You get to decide when you would like us to work towards ending, however we would need at least two sessions notice, so that we can review and work towards a planned ending together.

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How do I communicate with an online counsellor?

We offer in-person, telephone and online counselling; and are based in North West London (Harrow). It is useful to think about which communication method you to feel more comfortable with, or which is easier for you to access.

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Which video conferencing platform is best use?

When it comes to wondering whether to use Microsoft Teams over Skype, Michelle says: “Having worked with all of them, there is not much difference between them. What is most important is that you set the privacy settings to safeguard yourself as much as possible”. Self Love Counsellors have chosen to communicate via Microsoft Teams.

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How do I cancel a session?

Easy! You simply drop us an email. However, 48 hours’ notice is required in order not to incur the full cost of the session.

 

What about confidentiality?

Your confidentiality is very important to us and how we practice as your counsellor. Outside of sessions, we will not share our work with anyone except our clinical supervisor, whose role is to offer oversight and support to help us grow as a counsellor. The only time we will need to break confidentiality is if we felt that you or someone else were at risk of harm. In this case, we would discuss this with you in the first instance and collaboratively decide about how to get further support. Regarding our social media, our motivational content and themes on self-care and wellness are from our own personal process and not our clients.

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How do I know I will receive a professional service?

We are fully qualified counsellors having completed our 4-year training under close supervision. Our training and our counselling services are BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited and we follow the BACP Ethical Framework, undertake ongoing training and regular clinical supervision. 

 

Can I contact my counsellor between sessions? 

As we are not an emergency or crisis service, your counsellor will not be available to you between sessions. If you are experiencing a crisis, contact your GP, the Samaritans on 116 123

(email: jo@samaritans.org) or,if necessary, emergency services.

 

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