Christine Bailey

You bring your hopes, fears, shames, sadnesses and dreams about your life to counselling, and in speaking them aloud you hope to make sense of them and to heal the hurts you are carrying. 

In response to your trust in me, I listen attentively and without judgment, and accompany you as you pick your way through the questions and concerns that have led you to seek this opportunity. 

As an "integrative" counsellor and psychotherapist, I tailor my approach to each person who asks for my help, by inviting you to share your hopes, fears and expectations of counselling.

I never forget that while some people relish the chance to talk about themselves, other people find it very difficult to ask for help, and may be quite anxious about approaching me.

I do my best to explain how counselling might help without using jargon or making it sound mysterious.

I invite you to tell me regularly how counselling is working for you (or not) so that we can make changes if we need to.

*More information is available on my website*

I'm responsible for the process of counselling - contracting, reviewing, timekeeping - but you are responsible for the content, so in each session, once we have concluded any necessary "business", I hand over to you to say what you'd like to talk about. In this way we make sure we are using the time to explore the topics you choose.

People that have researched counselling tell us that the most important factor - after your own motivation and commitment - is the quality of the working relationship between us. That's why it is important for you to decide if I am "your kind of therapist" as well as me having a chance to say whether I am competent to work with your particular difficulty.

*More information is available on my website*

An assessment appointment lasts for one hour (60 minutes) and my current fee is £55. The fee is payable before the session by bank transfer or PayPal, or (for sessions in person) at the session by cash or cheque. Fees are reviewed annually.

In the assessment session we will:

• discuss what has brought you to counselling at this time and what you hope to get from it
• explore your understanding of the counselling process and how it may help you
  
• assess whether you feel at risk from another person or from your own actions
  
• decide whether we can work together productively
• if so, consider how best we can work together and how many sessions we will have
• fill in some paperwork to record all the above

I offer both short-term and long-term counselling. The number of sessions will be discussed between us at this stage but can be shortened or extended later by mutual agreement.

If counselling does not appear suitable, or I am not the best person to help you, I will signpost you to other sources of help.

*More information is available on my website*