Therapy sessions last for 50 minutes.

Payment is made in advance of a session via BACS or can be paid in cash at the beginning of each session by agreement. We will agree the best method during our first session.

I work from my private therapy room in New Mills, in the High Peak area of Derbyshire and usually see people from the surrounding areas between Stockport and Buxton.  There is free parking available.

Please see my contact page for full details.

My preferred method of working is face-to-face. However, I do understand that this is not always practical and I can also offer telephone or internet-based counselling, psychotherapy or life coaching. This is not suitable for everyone and we will need to review this together before you decide if this will meet your needs

Zoom is a secure computer programme that allows people to talk face-to-face, in real time, via their computer screens. Zoom is especially beneficial if you find it difficult to travel to face-to-face sessions, or you are housebound or have issues with childcare. It is also helpful for you if you are a face-to-face client away from home so that you don’t have to miss your session.

To commence computer based therapy please contact me to make sure I am able to work with whatever it is you are seeking help with.

We will then arrange a 15-minute introductory Zoom session to explore your needs in more detail, and to check our internet connection is good enough for sessions. If after this introductory session, we decide to proceed to work together, I will send you a copy of the counselling agreement along with a brief questionnaire to complete and return via email. Once returned we can arrange our first session.

• You will be able to continue to have counselling and my support even if we can’t meet in person. Not everyone finds this approach practical or helpful so please think about it carefully and talk it through with me by phone or email before you decide to proceed.

• You may find the process of communicating from your own protected safe space very helpful in itself. Some clients say they actually find it easier to talk about some things when they’re not in the same room as their therapist (although this may not be the case for you).

• I may be able to offer you more flexibility online, for example if you have to change location for any reason, you’ll still be able to continue with your sessions, as long as you have access to your device.

This is a time when we can discuss expectations, and see if we can work together and to make sure that I am the right person for you. If for any reason I feel I am not the right person for you, I will discuss this with you and we can explore appropriate alternatives.

This is the time when we will enter into an agreement together outlining confidentiality, cancellation, terms and conditions. The agreement helps us to set professional and ethical boundaries and we will discuss this together until we reach a mutual agreement that works for both of us. We will then explore the current issues and what changes you can realistically expect, and we will plan what your therapy will look like in terms the amount and frequency of sessions.

Please note that 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel a session, otherwise you will be charged your usual session fee. This may seem harsh at first, however it is to enable me to offer your time slot to another client. Experience shows this is not usually possible with less than 48 hours’ notice.