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Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

  1. When are you open?
  2. How quickly can you see me?
  3. Can I just turn up?
  4. Can I choose the gender of my therapist?
  5. How long is each session?
  6. How long is my commitment?
  7. How many sessions will I need?
  8. Are appointments set at fixed weekly intervals?
  9. Are the counsellors registered/qualified?
  10. Is the service confidential?
  11. Can I bring someone with me?
  12. What happens at the initial consultation?
  13. What theoretical approach is used?
  14. Will the counsellor say anything?
  15. Does the practice specialise in any particular area?
  16. What do you offer for couples?
  17. Can families attend?
  18. Are there any services specific to the business environment?
  19. Are there any issues that are not dealt with?
  20. Can I talk to the counsellor before they see me?
  21. How successful is the process?
  22. Is there a difference between counselling / psychotherapy?
  23. What are the local public transport facilities?
  24. Can I park nearby?
  25. How do I find you?
  26. How much does it cost?

 


When are you open?

  • From 8.0 a.m. to 8.0 p.m. during the week.

  • Weekend appointments on request

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How quickly can you see me?

  • Every effort is made to offer an initial appointment within two days.

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Can I just turn up?

  • No, sessions are by appointment only.

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Can I choose the gender of my therapist?

  • Yes, subject to availability.

  • Some couples and families choose to see two counsellors, one of each gender, who work in a team. Refer to "Co-counselling" for details of the process and its benefits.

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How long is each session?

  • Usually fifty minutes.

  • Couples and families may prefer longer sessions..

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How long is my commitment?

  • There is none beyond the current session. We do, however, consider that it is often useful for clients to agree to an initial series of six sessions to enable the development of a therapeutic plan.

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How many sessions will I need?

  • This is difficult to assess prior to the initial consultation as individuals’ circumstances vary so much. On average, clients attend approximately twelve sessions.

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Are appointments set at fixed weekly intervals?

  • Not necessarily. Subject to availability sessions can be booked to suit your own preference.

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Are the counsellors qualified/registered?

  • Yes, each counsellor is a fully qualified psychotherapist and is registered with UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy), a national standards body, and a member of the Association of Family Therapy.

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Is the service confidential?

  • Yes, the content of sessions is wholly confidential according to ethical guidelines of UKCP. Only in extreme cases, such as if human life or children’s’ safety was at risk, would any contact be made with third parties.

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Can I bring someone with me?

  • Yes, partners, friends and family members, including children, are welcome. Their presence is often useful.

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What happens at the initial consultation?

  • The focus is on contracting the counselling relationship; explaining/experiencing the process; gathering relevant background information; identifying aims/goals.

  • An opportunity for the counsellor to assess whether we can help. Some clients are referred on to other agencies.

  • A chance for clients to ask questions and to discover if they feel that they are “in the right place”.

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What theoretical approach is used?

  • Within the practice there is broadly based theoretical expertise drawing on ideas from a variety of approaches, particularly “Systemic Family Therapy”.

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Will the counsellor say anything?

  • Yes, the counsellors actively participate in the conversation, both through questioning and by offering opinions and comments.

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Does the practice specialise in any particular area?

  • Relationships are the most frequently talked about subjects, both those that exist and those that don’t.

  • Sessions usually branch out much wider and often include family issues, sex/sexuality; dilemmas/decision-making, career choices; stress etc.

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What do you offer for couples?

  • Couples come here for relationship counselling, often with the aim of staying together, but sometimes to decide whether to part. Divorce mediation is also available

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Can families attend?

  • Yes, we offer family therapy and mediation.

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Are there any services specific to the business environment?

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Are there any issues that are not dealt with?

  • Chronic substance abuse and severe mental illness would be generally referred to specialist agencies.

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Can I talk to the counsellor before they see me?

  • Counsellors are available for brief telephone consultations until 9.00 p.m. each evening.

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How successful is the process?

  • Most clients successfully meet their aims and achieve the changes they hoped for.

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Is there a difference between counselling / psychotherapy?

  • There are many definitions. One view is that counselling deals with specific issues, often related to short term crisis. Psychotherapy addresses broader, longer-term issues.

  •  For instance, relationship counselling would help a client overcome the effects of a particular relationship; psychotherapy would help the client to change relationship patterns in the future. Both are available.

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What are the local public transport facilities?

  • Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Charing Cross and Embankment underground stations are all within five minutes walk.

  • Bus routes include 11; 13; 22; 23; 24; 139; 189.

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Can I park nearby?

  • There are public car parks in Bedfordbury and Upper St. Martins Lane.

  • Meters exist but vacant ones can be hard to find.

  • Note that Resident Bays are controlled 24 hours each day.

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How do I find you?

  • The practice in the heart of Covent Garden, just a couple of minutes from both the Colisseum and Tesco Metro. 

  • The entrance is in Goodwins Court, a passage way opposite the Stamp Shop in Bedfordbury. A detailed local map is available.

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How much does it cost?

  • Fees are based on a sliding scale according to income in order to make the service accessible to as may people as possible. The hourly cost starts at £50.

  • Fees for couples are based upon their joint income.

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Simon Cutteridge
Copyright © 2001  Covent Garden Counselling. All rights reserved.
Revised: February 10, 2007 .