Contact Us
General Queries - Email: info@towardstranquility.com
Why not take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom to see if your query is answered there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know I need Counselling?
Understanding when to reach out for support can feel really difficult. Often people will leave it until they are in a lot of distress because they may not want to recognise things feel that difficult, or may feel a burden, some people feel embarrassed or ashamed about needing some help to understand what they need to move through their distress. Common signs may include persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or struggling to cope with daily tasks / life. You may be struggling with different relationships in your life or feeling a sense of pressure or overwhelm which doesn't seem to be going away. You may also have a specific goal in mind you would like to achieve and want some targeted support in helping you to get there.
Is counselling only for people with serious mental health issues?
No, counselling is for anyone who has something they would like to understand or change about themselves, a situation or the way they interact to seeking personal growth, experiencing emotional distress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, stress, anxiety, depression, or grief.
Is everything discussed in counselling confidential?
Yes, confidentiality is crucial in counselling. Liz and Rachel are bound by their governing bodies code of ethics. There are some legal and ethical exceptions, such as when there are concerns for your safety or others'. If we needed to go outside the confidentiality agreement we would work together to find the most helpful way possible to do this.
What happens if I don't feel comfortable with my counsellor?
It's OK to say that, Liz and Rachel know that everyone is different and will need different things from a counsellor. We are open and flexible you may also find that with open communication and talking about any barriers that are making it difficult to connect those uncomfortable feelings may reduce and you are able to build a much stronger connection together. Should you choose to see another therapist we can support you in working out what you might be looking for so you feel more confident in your next choice.
How long does counselling typically last?
Liz and Rachel both offer Single Session Therapy for when there is a specific goal in mind and target support around your personal needs. As well as offering short term therapy we also offer longer term ongoing support.
Together with your therapist you will work out an initial plan of how you would like to move forward together and have regular reviews so that you can feel comfortable and in control of how your sessions are moving forward. Sometimes people like to have Therapy breaks knowing they can come back to sessions at a later date which suits their needs and that's ok too. We work with your personal needs and preferences.
What happens if I miss a session?
Counselling is a collaborative process, and we know life happens. If you need to miss a session, inform your counselor in advance, and you can work together to reschedule. Consistency is helpful, but flexibility is also something we realise is important. We have a 48 hour cancellation policy where if you cancel over 48 hrs before your session we can reschedule the date and transfer the cost to the next date. If you cancel less than 48 hrs before your session or do not turn up to your session we will require full payment as it will be too short notice for us to fill that time slot. Please do get in touch if late cancellation is needed and we will try to work around your circumstances if we are able to.
What can I expect in the first counselling session?
Initial sessions are about you and your counsellor building a working connection together. Discussing confidentiality, and exploring your concerns, hopes and goals for counselling.
Often, people will come away from the first session feeling like they have been seen and heard, as well as having had a chance to talk about their experiences and struggles without being rushed or judged. Hopeful that the safe space they have in therapy can be what they need it to be.
What if I don't know what to talk about but I just feel sad, anxious or overwhelmed?
That's OK, you can be however you are and we are happy to sit with you in those feelings if you need us to. We are also very experienced in working in different approaches that might suit people's different needs. For example if you want questions to be asked to explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences we can do that. If perhaps no words feel like they will cover how you are feeling you may like to work together using creativity.
Rachel and Liz are both Integrative Counsellors which means they can use different tools and aspects from different approaches / counselling styles. This helps to best support your individual needs and preferences, building greater understanding about your feelings and experiences in what can feel like a more comfortable way.
How much does counselling cost?
Counselling costs will vary depending on your needs, you may want a Single Therapy Session which can last up to 90 minutes rather than the standard 50 minutes and therefore will cost more (price on the Booking Online page.
You may also want the standard 50 minute session on short term or long term basis and this cost may vary depending on any concessions that reduce the cost. Please get in touch if you feel you may qualify for a reduced fee session.
We also offer sessions every 2 weeks or monthly depending again on what suits you and your budget.
Still got questions? Book in for a free initial chat / trail to get your questions answered.