When you come into counselling or psychotherapy you may be unsure what to expect. The information on this page answers the most frequently asked questions. We hope you find it useful.
Counselling is not about getting advice. It's a process of gaining a better understanding of yourself that will enable you to make choices and feel more freedom. Our role is to provide you with a safe and supportive space to talk about your difficulties and hopes. We are trained to listen carefully without judgement. Whether you are dealing with present life changes or struggling with past memories, we support you to find your own answers, to discover what you want and how you both move forward and hold yourself back.
Sessions last for 50 minutes. Your counsellor will discuss with you how many times and how often you will meet, generally meeting once a week. If you arrive late, your session will still end on time.
If attending through your employee counselling service, your employer will cover the cost.
For self-financing individuals details of our current fees can be found on this page. Payment can be made with credit or debit card.
If you are unable to keep an appointment, we ask that you contact your counsellor in the first instance. If this is less than 24 hours before your appointment you or your employer (if attending through a staff counselling scheme) will be charged for the session. In most cases, if your employer is funding your counselling, 2 unattended sessions with less than 24 hours notice, will result in an end to your counselling.
It is essential for counsellors to be able to keep records on clients and their sessions. We keep all records in accordance with current General Data ProtectionRegulations.
Counselling notes may record background information and key issues discussed in the sessions. These notes are kept separate from your name and contact details. All records kept are deleted after 7 years.
Strict confidentiality is always maintained and is an essential part of the counselling process. Rowan counsellors will not pass on personal information to anyone outside Rowan unless:
In all cases you will be encouraged to pass on the information to the relevant person or agency yourself.
In line with professional requirements, counsellors may discuss sessions with a supervisor external to Rowan. In this process your anonymity is maintained.
We welcome feedback about the service Rowan provides. If you have any compliments, comments or concerns about your counselling, please discuss this with your counsellor first. If an issue remains, you will find our complaints procedure on the home page of our website.
We will email you a link to complete a feedback form at the end of your counselling. We would appreciate if you could spare the time to complete this.
For self-financing individuals our fees per session are £63, for couples it is £78 and for families it is £84. You can pay by debit or credit card.