Counselling For Individuals
If you need someone to talk to, this is a good place to start. Whatever’s on your mind, talking to someone in a safe, therapeutic, boundaried space usually helps. We can help you work out what kind of support you need and help find the right counsellor.
We’ll help you get the right support, quickly
Once you’ve decided that you want to see a counsellor, one of the most difficult things is finding the right person to help; it can be hard to know where to start. With Clerestory we do all that for you. Here’s how it works…
Welcome chat
We’ll set up a call for you with one of our qualified counsellors, to chat through what’s going on for you and to discuss your needs. We’ll also assess how you’re feeling and make sure that it’s the right time for you to be having counselling and find out when you want to have your sessions (these should ideally be at the same time each week).
Find your counsellor
Once we’ve established that you’re ready to start counselling we’ll match you to one of our brilliant counsellors who will call you to introduce themselves. One of the most important things about counselling is that you can form an effective therapeutic relationship with your counsellor so it’s essential that the chemistry’s right.
Start your sessions
Once we’ve found the right person for you, you’ll set up your first counselling session. You can choose whether this is by phone or video call. From then on it’s between you and your counsellor to decide how things proceed. You can agree at the outset how many sessions you’d like, or you can see how it goes and figure it out once you’ve started working together.
- Book your welcome chat
- Speak to a qualified counsellor
- Book your welcome chat
- Speak to a qualified counsellor
- Book your welcome chat
- Speak to a qualified counsellor
Taking the first step can be hard, but we’re here for you and talking to someone can really help.
If you want to find out more about why people seek counselling, how it can help and whether you’re the only person who feels like this (definitely not), explore our blog.
Counselling: who has it, why and what’s the point?
People have counselling for lots of different reasons. They may have something specific they want to talk about, or may need help figuring out what’s wrong.
Reasons people have counselling
If you’re wondering whether counselling could help you, read this (rather long) list of reasons people seek counselling and see if anything resonates with you.
No-one to talk to? You’re not alone
Pretty much every one of our counselling clients say they have no-one to talk to about ‘this’ (‘this’ being the reason they’ve come to counselling). It’s incredibly common and it’s definitely not ‘just you’.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you’ll find answers to some of the questions we are asked most often. If you have a question that’s not covered here, please drop us a line at hello@clerestorycounselling.co.uk and we’ll do our very best to help!
Please see our fees page for full details on charges and payments.
Sessions are usually weekly to begin with. As you plan the end of your sessions with your counsellor you may choose to move to fortnightly or monthly, depending on your needs.
It’s very difficult to predict how many counselling sessions you’ll need. Some clients just need a few, others start peeling away layers of life’s onion and find they need more. Some leave and then come back later when they are ready to engage again. Sometimes life events mean you need to stop and start again. It’s a very personal thing and we will support whatever you feel is right for you.
No. If you want to set a limit to the number of sessions you can absolutely do that. There is no minimum or maximum number and you’ll always be welcome back (providing your counsellor has space).
Ideally, give yourself some time before and after your session to get into the right headspace beforehand and then to adjust back to daily life afterwards. What you talk about is entirely up to you, it’s your time. Clients often have no idea what they are going to talk about but find the time flies past!
You need a private space where you can’t be overheard and won’t be interrupted. If you’re at home alone that’s easy enough, but some people sit in their car to find a private space. If you’re at work you’ll need to find a room where you can have some privacy. For more on how to prepare read this.
It’s very important, for your safety and your counsellor’s, that the therapeutic relationship sticks to the agreed boundaries and stays inside the counselling ‘room’. Contact between sessions is not allowed apart from rescheduling or cancelling sessions. If you feel that you need additional support you can discuss this at your next scheduled session.