FAQs
How do I know if I need counselling / psychotherapy?
Counselling/therapy sessions can help you to gain clarity on an issue, change old patterns, untangle complex personal issues, or embark on a journey of self-development. You can also seek counselling as a result of a crisis, or you may be encouraged to seek counselling by family members, friends or colleagues.
What happens in a counselling session?
Every counselling/therapy session is different. Your counsellor/therapist is highly trained in listening and reflecting, and provides a safe environment in which to explore your issues. With most types of therapy you are free to discuss what you wish, from everyday events, dilemmas, feelings, and thoughts, to regrets, aspirations, memories and dreams. Other, shorter-term forms of therapy like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be more structured and provide practical exercises to help you understand your thoughts and actions.
What kinds of people seek counselling/therapy?
There is no barrier to whom counselling/therapy can assist. We welcome you, regardless of your culture, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Counselling/therapy is also not just for adult individuals, but is beneficial for couples, families, teenagers and children.
What issues can Counselling/Psychotherapy help with?
Clients come to us with wide-ranging problems, including:
- Anxiety (generalised anxiety problems, panic attacks, and social anxiety)
- Workplace and Education issues (stress, work-life imbalances)
- Relationship issues (breakups, divorce, affairs, choosing inappropriate partners, loneliness, life adjustments, marital problems, arguments, jealousy, wedding and premarital issues)
- Depression (including suicidal thoughts, low mood, social withdrawal)
- Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
- Trauma (including post-traumatic stress disorder from accidents, abuse, rape and other attacks/incidents)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Eating problems (including bulimia, binge eating, negative body image)
- Phobias and fears
- Abuse (including physical, verbal, and sexual abuse)
- Bereavement/grief/loss
How do I start with a counsellor / psychotherapist?
To book a general consultation you can use our online form, email, or phone us. We will set up an appointment time. If you prefer a specific counselling or psychotherapy approach, we can discuss this during your consultation. In the event that your assessment therapist feels you would benefit from a different counselling or psychotherapy approach and we do not offer this, you will be informed and recommended to another specialist or organisation for you to consider.
How do I know which counselling approach is most suited to me?
There are many kinds of established therapeutic approaches nowadays, including humanistic counselling (also called ‘person-centred’), psychodynamic psychotherapy, existential therapy, integrative therapy, or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Don’t worry if you are simply not sure what particular approach would be suited to you. Your first appointment will be an assessment where you can discuss your issues and the different types of therapy that might help. Many of the therapists are also what is known as ‘integrative’, meaning they are trained in several types of therapy they can blend to best match your issues.
How do I know which therapist is best for me?
For your therapy to be effective, it is important you work with a counsellor or psychotherapist you feel you can eventually trust. At your first consultation meeting both you and the therapist will have an opportunity to honestly decide if you will benefit from working together. And if after several sessions you simply don’t feel the therapist is a good match, please do let us know.
What if I want to try more than one kind of therapy?
Many therapists nowadays are what is known as ‘integrative’, meaning they are trained in and combine a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches to best help their clients. Most often your therapist will create a treatment plan with different therapeutic approaches to meet your needs. We offer several types of therapy approaches, please contact us and we can advise you further.
How long should I expect to have to continue counselling?
The length of your treatment will very much depend on your individual needs. Six sessions are often recommended and a review after that. It also depends on the type of therapy you choose to have. For example, cognitive behavioural therapy is designed to be short-term and lasts six to twenty sessions. Psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, and existential therapies tend to be longer term, and many last for many months or even years.
Keep in mind that once you start sessions, new issues can also arise, that you were not aware existed, and would want to explore. It is of course possible to also see improvement faster than you expected.
Will my counselling sessions be confidential?
Yes, counselling sessions are confidential. The exception would be if you were to pose a danger to yourself or others, in which case the relevant parties would be notified.
I only want one session, will the therapist be able to help?
Your first session will be used as an assessment rather than for treatment. This will allow you to identify your issues as you see them, and for your therapist to gain an idea of what your needs are. So unfortunately, having just one session is unlikely to have any lasting benefit for you.
Why do I need to attend weekly sessions?
The standard format of weekly sessions helps you make gradual and steady progress that means you see real results. In some cases, a therapist will agree to two or more sessions per week, if you both deem it beneficial and they have the availability.
Can I have more than one session a week?
Yes. If you require more than one session a week, therapists may be able to accommodate this, with a review as things start to improve for you. Sometimes, however, the therapist you are working with will not have any other availability, so will not be able to offer multiple weekly sessions.
Does my GP need to refer me for an appointment?
No. You are free to refer yourself to any of the therapists at Piece Into Peace. The only exception is if your health insurance company requires you to have a GP referral in order to use your policy for treatment.
If you are a private practice, why do I have to provide my GP details?
Therapists request GP details for the unlikely event you had a medical emergency while attending therapy. In the case of a psychological or emotional emergency, your therapist would seek your permission to contact your GP in the interests of your safety and/or wellbeing.
Will my counsellor be available for me in a crisis?
Your counsellor will be available to you at your scheduled appointment time only. In the case of an emergency you will need to seek other resources. Contact your GP, the Samaritans (call 116 123, www.samaritans.org), or, if necessary, emergency services.
Can I use my health insurance to pay for counselling sessions?
This depends on the nature of your policy. Check with your provider to see if counselling sessions are covered, as well as the number of sessions you are entitled to and any other restrictions. Then please do ask us before booking to see which counsellors are registered with the major health insurance providers that include AxA and Aviva, BUPA International, etc. You will be responsible for any charges otherwise, so do follow these steps carefully.
Do I have to contact my insurance company first, or book an appointment first?
Review the terms of your policy and make sure that therapy is covered. After you have done this, obtain an authorisation code from your insurer. You are then welcome to make an appointment with a therapist. If you are uncertain of the terms of your policy, your excess, etc., it is advisable to speak to your insurers before booking to ensure you are not personally invoiced for any charges.
For couples and family therapy, do we have to attend all sessions together?
Ideally you will attend all sessions together as a couple (dyad) or family. In instances where one of you is unable to attend, most therapists will see the person or people who can attend. The issues that arise in this session will then be shared at the next session with all parties present.
Can I change my appointment slot after my assessment?
Having regular, consistent work with your therapist is essential to see the benefits of counselling and psychotherapy. Your therapist will therefore reserve a mutually convenient weekly slot for you that you agree on during your assessment, and it will remain the same until such time that you decide to end therapy by giving him or her one week’s notice. Of course if the time you require appointments is not available, and you take another time slot while making it clear from the start this only works for you in the short-term, we will do our best to change you to a more appropriate slot when one becomes available.
I need to change my time slot for next week, is this possible?
Before your counselling sessions begin, you will be required to agree to a mutually convenient time slot with your therapist. You will be allocated to the same day and time on an ongoing basis. In the case of an occasional emergency where you need another slot, it is in some instances possible to change this if your therapist has a session available, but it is NOT a guarantee.
Why do I have to pay for missed/cancelled therapy sessions?
We reserve a certain time slot just for you each week. Therefore there is a cancellation policy that applies. Your therapist will share this cancellation policy with you prior to your first appointment. Any and all missed sessions outside of the agreed to terms, will be charged at the FULL fee, including holidays, work commitments, illness and other emergencies. Please ensure you read the cancellation policy carefully.
Someone I know needs therapy. Can I refer him or her for therapy?
It is really lovely that you are concerned about someone’s well being and would like to see them have therapy/counselling. But it is best practice if the person in question reaches out for support themselves. We will be happy to take your enquiry on their behalf, but you should have their full consent first.
Suggesting counselling/therapy to someone else is a sensitive topic. Do this in a calm, private and non-judgemental manner, backing up what you say by facts and not hearsay. Ensure they understand that you are there to support him or her and have their best interest at heart. Then leave them to make the decision for themselves.
For more information please contact us
