Counselling Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering seeking a counsellor, it can feel daunting, and you may understandably feel anxious if this is a new experience. With this in mind, having an idea of what you can expect from counselling can help you feel less nervous and more comfortable.
Please click on any of the questions below to read more about how we will work together:
If you are struggling with a life situation causing you distress, want to improve your relationships, or simply need someone to talk to who will listen without judgment, counselling can be deeply beneficial.
To help you find out if we are a good fit, I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation or a brief initial face-to-face meeting at no charge. This gives us a supportive space to explore your specific circumstances and decide together if we would like to collaborate.
I will walk alongside you to explore difficult and distressing life events, such as relationship difficulties, bereavement, or abuse. Facing these challenges often impacts our physical well-being, leading to conditions like anxiety, depression, poor-quality sleep, panic attacks, or stress-related headaches and migraines. Counselling helps by identifying the root causes of these symptoms, allowing you to find relief and restore balance.
I am fully trained and experienced in providing therapy across a wide developmental range. I work with children aged 11 and over, adolescents, and adults.
The therapeutic space is entirely yours to express whatever you wish, completely openly. You do not need to prepare a script. I will be here to listen to you very carefully, with deep empathy and without judgment. You will no longer have to carry your distress alone.
Being an Integrative Counsellor means I do not rely on just one rigid method. Instead, I safely draw from a broad range of proven theoretical approaches, including humanistic, psychodynamic, and cognitive therapy.
In addition, I work from an existential perspective, which permits me to include the natural “givens of life”—the inevitable times we question our purpose, choices, and major life changes as human beings. By blending these frameworks, I can tailor my way of working to meet your holistic, individual needs.
Counselling sessions are most frequently arranged on a weekly basis. However, this is flexible depending on your circumstances and can be scheduled twice weekly or fortnightly. The total length of your therapy depends entirely on the nature of your difficulties and how deeply rooted they might be. We will review this together as we go.
Yes. Confidentiality is a foundational element of our therapeutic relationship, ensuring that whatever you share remains private. However, there are a few legal and ethical exceptions:
Safety: If there is a clear intent or serious danger of you or someone else being significantly harmed, I am legally bound to break confidentiality and take necessary action to prevent harm.
Statutory Requirements: Under UK law (specifically the Terrorism Act 2000 and Drug Trafficking Act 1994), I am required to disclose information relevant to those specific investigations.
Professional Standards: To offer you the best possible support, I attend regular professional supervision. During these supervisory consultations, I may discuss our clinical work, but your identity is strictly protected, and I never reveal any identifying names or features.
Data Security: I keep brief clinical notes of our sessions. These are viewed only by me and are stored securely.
Your safety and peace of mind are paramount. I hold the following professional safeguards:
Accredited Member of the BACP (The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), which means my credentials, training, and ethical fitness to practice have been independently checked and approved.
Enhanced DBS Check (Disclosure and Barring Service police check) for working safely with a wide range of individuals.
Full Professional Indemnity Insurance protecting all elements of my practice.
Contact Sally Cloke Counselling
Book a Free Consultation
Taking that very first step toward support can feel like a significant decision, and it is completely natural to feel a little hesitant before reaching out. Please feel free to call me on 07743 401350 or message me using the contact form below to arrange your free 15-minute phone chat.
What to Expect From Our Time Together
We can use this welcoming, unpressured space to simply:
· Gently chat about what you are experiencing and what brings you to counselling or supervision.
· Answer any questions you might have about how our sessions work.
· Look together at how we can best support your unique circumstances.
· See how it feels to talk together, and decide whether I am the right person to walk alongside you.
For more information on my services please view my terms and conditions and privacy policy.