Frequently Asked Questions

How long do sessions go on for - when will things change for me? 

There is no way of predicting at the start of counselling how long the sessions will continue for. One of the freedoms of private practice is that counselling can continue for as long as you want it to, rather than having a session restriction from an agency. I am aware that counselling is a financial commitment which might determine the length of time for our work together. If you have a set number of sessions in mind that is workable for you, we can take this into account at the start of our sessions. The door is always open for further sessions later on down the line. I believe counselling is something that can be engaged with at different times in life as and when life circumstances change.

Do I have to pay for sessions if I don’t attend?

My cancellation policy is that full payment will be due if a session is cancelled less than 24 hours before hand. Half the fee will be due if the notice period is less than 48 hours.

I ask that payment for a session be made to my bank account on the day of the session. I will give you my bank details when we schedule our first session.

How will my details be stored? 

Any information I hold is password protected and complies with data protection guidelines. Session notes do not contain any identifying information and are kept for seven years in line with BACP regulations. 

Are sessions confidential?

All sessions are confidential, as per BACP guidelines, there are certain circumstances where this would need to be breached if I felt there was a risk of harm to yourself, a vulnerable adult or a child. I will go through this in detail during our first session.

I haven’t had counselling before – I don’t know what to expect.

During our first session we will go through an assessment. The word assessment is maybe misleading, it implies you have something that has to be passed to be able to proceed whereas it is an opportunity for me to get to know what you are hoping to gain from counselling, what has brought you to counselling at this time and for you to ask me questions about how I work and to see if I feel the right “fit” for you. 

What age range do you work with?

I work with people 16 years and older.

How much do you charge?

One to one sessions are 50 minutes long and are £60.

For a couples session (90 minutes) the charge is £110.

How can I book a session?

Please get in touch by phone 07794042475 or email armstrong.august@yahoo.com

Anything else?

If you have a question that hasn’t been answered here, please get in touch and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have about my practice.