Your First Counselling & Coaching Session
Your first counselling & coaching session is an act of quiet courage. It is natural to feel a mix of curiosity and perhaps a little apprehension. There is no pressure to share everything at once. On another hand it’s completely okay if you’re not sure what to say or where to begin. We’ll move at your pace. If you’re struggling to know where to start, we can simply begin with how you’re feeling in this moment. There’s no pressure to find the “right” words — we’ll find the way together, gently and steadily.
To help keep things simple and secure, I kindly ask that payment is made prior to each session. This allows us to focus fully on our time together without any administrative distractions. Payment details will be provided when you book.
Your first full session — whether face‑to‑face, online, over the phone, by text message, or as a walk‑and‑talk session — will include a few minutes to go through a counselling agreement. This is a simple document that explains how we’ll work together and helps create clarity and safety for both of us. It usually takes no more than 10 minutes, and the rest of the session is yours to bring whatever feels important.I won’t push you or take you anywhere you don’t want to go. You choose the pace, the direction, and what feels right to explore. My role is to walk alongside you, offering steady support as you reconnect with yourself.
You can ask any questions you have whether at the beginning or during the process.
🌿Confidentiality
Our work together is confidential. The only time I may need to share information is if I am concerned about serious harm to you or someone else. If that ever happens, I will always talk it through with you first before anything goes further.
🌿 Emotions in the session
If you feel emotional or need to cry, that is completely okay. Sessions are a space where you can express whatever is coming up — sadness, frustration, confusion, or relief. Swearing out of emotion or overwhelm is also fine, as long as it isn’t directed at me. What matters is that you feel able to express yourself safely. Aggression or abusive behaviour, however, cannot be part of the therapeutic space.
🌿 Comfort and Accessibility
If bringing a blanket, pillow, or anything that helps you feel more comfortable would support you, you are very welcome to do so. If you have any additional needs, please let me know so we can make the space work for you.
🌿 Frequency and Cancellations
Sessions are usually weekly, at the same time and day, unless we agree otherwise. I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel; otherwise, the full session fee will be charged. If I ever need to cancel, I will let you know as soon as possible, and of course you will not be charged.
🌿 Ending Therapy
If you decide you would like to end counselling, that is absolutely fain. Ideally, we plan this together so we can bring the work to a gentle, thoughtful close. However, I also understand that sometimes endings happen suddenly, and we can navigate that with care if it arises.
🌿Data Protection
Any information I collect from you is kept confidential and used only for counselling purposes. I store client records securely and keep them only for as long as they are needed for their original purpose. After this period, they are safely and permanently destroyed.
🌿 What It Means to Work With a Person‑Centred Counsellor in your first counselling & coaching session
Working with a person‑centred counsellor means having a space where you can bring whatever you’re carrying — even the things you’ve pushed down for years. Many people come to counselling when their feelings have built up over time: moments that were never spoken about, emotions that were never expressed, or experiences that felt too heavy to face alone. Eventually, these pressures can show up as overwhelm, frustration, anger, obsession or feeling stuck and unsure what to do next.
In person‑centred counselling, we gently explore these layers together, at your pace. There is no pressure to go anywhere you’re not ready to go. As the work unfolds, you may begin to reconnect with parts of yourself that have been quiet for a long time, and clarity often starts to emerge naturally.
I won’t tell you what to do or give advice. Instead, I offer a space where you can feel heard, understood, and valued. I listen deeply, offer non-judgmental space and see the world from your perspective — walking alongside you, not ahead of you. You lead the way, and I follow with empathy, steadiness, and respect for your process.
🌿Benefits
Since childhood, many of us learn to follow expectations without being asked how we truly feel. Over time, we can lose touch with our own needs and begin shaping ourselves around what others — or society — seem to want from us. This approach supports you in reconnecting with your inner wisdom, helping you discover what feels right for you and what you may need to create a more fulfilling life.
You don’t need a specific “issue” or diagnosis to come to counselling — simply a sense that you’d benefit from support, space, and understanding.
''The most important is connection between counsellor and client, which predict success''.