Counselling FAQ's from Kay's Counselling
Most frequently asked questions and answers for counselling
How much does Counselling sessions cost in the UK?
Counselling and Psychotherapy are forms of talking therapy, that involve working with a trained therapist to help you work through your issues and feelings.
Free counselling is offered on the NHS and by a few charities. If you decide to go private, the fees for counselling vary between £20 – £350 per session. Occasionally some organisations will offer reduced rates for those who are unemployed or students.
Here at Kay’s Counselling we charge £80 per session for one to one counselling and £95 for couples counselling.
We do offer 25% discount for full-time students and those who are unemployed, as a means to help those who may be struggling financially.
Where can I talk to someone for free?
If you’re looking for counselling for free, the first point of call would be your G.P, who is able to refer you to NHS counselling services. Of course there is usually a lengthy waiting time due to the number of people accessing the service.
We have created a crisis support page with details of places, you can reach out to gain support.
What do Counsellors do to help depression?
Counselling should provide you with the space, time and support to talk through your issues in a space that is comfortable. The atmosphere should be non-judgemental, approachable and safe.
There are multiple signs of depression:
- Feeling down
- Unable to socialise
- Wanting to be left alone
- Lack of appetite
- Feeling emotional
- Loss of interest
As there is no single cause for depression, the therapist would work to understand your experience and what you’ve been through so that they can work out what may have caused your depression. This can happen through exploration of your feelings as well as your history and it may be that the therapist helps you work through your experiences so it no longer affects you.
What are the three types of therapies?
There are a number of different approach in therapy, in fact there are more than three. These include but are not limited to:
- Person Centred
- Humanistic
- Gestalt
- Transactional Analysis
- Cognitive Behavioural therapy
- Solution focussed based therapy
- Psychoanalytical
There are therapists who specialise in one or more approaches. Here at Kay’s Counselling, we are integrative therapists which allows us to access a variety of different approaches and styles to find the one that suits you.
How do I know if I need to see therapist?
There are a number of reasons why you may need to speak to a therapist. Some of the common misconceptions are:
- You have to have been through a major life event
- You must be crazy
- You can just talk to friends
- Therapy is just talking
People go to therapy because there’s someone in your life that refuses to go. Of course this doesn’t apply to everyone however generally speaking this tends to be the case.
These are a few signs that may need to see a therapist:
- If you find that your reactions or emotions, do not match the situation that you’re in, this could be a sign to see a therapist.
- Finding that there is something that lingers whether it’s a feeling or thought
- You find yourself confused about people or situations
- If you have suffered distressing situations which changed you
There are more reasons that can be a sign to see a therapist.
Is seeing a therapist worth it?
Therapy can be a very unique experience where you’re able to talk about anything, be open and honest without the fear of someone judging you. This unfortunately is a rare experience for a lot of people, therefore you can find yourself in a safe space.
There’s a number of different elements to consider when answering the question of whether therapy is worth it:
- Are you ready for therapy? If you are, you could find the experience very rewarding. However if you are not ready, you can not force yourself to be ready and will most likely experience a large level of resistance to therapy
- Be open minded, when discussing issues and topics, the more open minded you are, the more likely your therapist will be able to help you piece everything together and help you understand where the thoughts are coming from, why you feel the way you do and help you generally to understand yourself better.
- Be compassionate, you can only heal with compassion. People do not heal from criticisms; take the insight provided with self-compassion to help healing.
- Understand you are not broken. You have wounds that need healing and you may not know how to heal however your therapist will
- Reflect. It is always a good idea to reflect on the conversations you have had with your therapist, this allows you to consider situations and experiences from a different perspective. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result”,
- For your own sake, it is best to check whether your therapist is qualified and registered. In the UK, Counselling and Psychotherapy is not regulated, which unfortunately means anyone can call themselves a therapist.
Lastly, finds someone you gel with and feel comfortable talking to.
Who can diagnose you with a mental illness?
Understanding what you are suffering with helps to make sense of things. There are professionals that are able to diagnose mental illness, this includes your G.P and Psychiatrists.
Counsellors, Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapists are not able to diagnose illnesses however they tend to be aware of the symptoms and ask you to visit your G.P to get an official diagnosis, which allows them to be aware of the illness they need to help you with.
How do I find the right therapist?
The ‘right’ therapist will be different for each person. As unique as you are, so are therapists. Each therapist will have a particular style, approach and way of working.
Firstly, it is best to check your therapist is qualified as mentioned earlier, in the UK therapy is not regulated.
Speak to your therapist or ideally have a first session to establish whether you feel you gel with your therapist, check how you feel however be aware it is normal to feel uncomfortable or nervous in your first session.
Get a feel for the therapist style to see if it works for you, for example if you need understanding and compassion to move past issues, having a proactive therapist who provides solutions may not be the ‘right’ fit.