In short, “No”. Person-Centred Counselling is a specific style of counselling quite different from other forms of talking therapy.  It is difficult to “combine” or “integrate” it with other forms of therapy in a mix-or-match sort of way without contradictions, because its fundamental principles are inconsistent with those of other approaches. For example, the person-centred counsellor’s belief in a client being his or her own best expert seems to us incompatible with forms of therapy which rely on counsellors making judgements about what is “wrong” with clients (e.g. a diagnosis like an “anxiety disorder”) then providing clients with appropriate seeming treatments or recommendations (like “try thinking of your breathing”). We don’t mean to belittle other approaches, but point out they can leave less room for a client to exercise authority over themselves than the person-centred approach we use. Our approach seeks to help clients become empowered, not to take power from them.

For information on other styles of counselling, see the website of our professional body, the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy http://www.bacp.co.uk/student/modalities.php .

In the UK, the terms “Counselling” and “Psychotherapy” are not defined by law and different people have different ideas. Our professional body, the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), does not distinguish “counselling” from “psychotherapy” and our style of “Person-Centred” talking therapy can correctly be called both. It can also be called “Rogerian” or “Client-Centred” Counselling / Psychotherapy. However, some people reserve the term “psychotherapy” to mean “counselling” over a relatively large number of sessions, suggesting the longer someone is in therapy the more likely it is they will experience “deeper” work. Since clients’ realisations and improvements in wellbeing, and “deep work”, do not always take a long time to happen, like the BACP we use the words “counselling” and “psychotherapy” interchangeably, to mean the same thing.

We recognise that talking about anything that really bothers you can be difficult, and even if you do bravely come along to your first session you may need several more sessions to feel safe enough before you mention what troubles you most. Trust building tends to happen naturally, and takes different time for different people. We make it our business to do all we can so you feel safe with us and don’t expect you to trust us just because we’re counsellors, though some clients do and that’s ok too. So, aside from coming along, and preferably talking at some point, there isn’t anything special that you have to do, aside from receiving and preferably signing a counselling agreement and privacy statement which we’ll explain at your first session. One thing we stress to those intrested in coming to us as as a couple: if you start as a couple we may only be able to see you as a couple, just as if you start as an individual client we may not later be able to hold sessions for both you and your partner. In other words, it is usually best that clients decide for themeselves whether to come to sessions on their own or as a couple (or more) from the outset, and to assume it is likely you will need to stick with that arrangement throughout your counselling sessions with us. 

We accept payments by cleared standing order / transfer in advance, or occasionally by cash on the day. 

Please enquire about our rates using the form on this website, stating your preferred counselling location/method (Nottingham, Loughborough, Skype etc) preferred times/days, and if you are a higher education student following a full-time course, and if you wish a very brief summary of why you are approaching us.

For all other enquiries, including about payment options for businesses or groups, please provide as much information as you can using the form on this website.

We respond to all bona fide website enquiries as soon as we are able to.

We try to accommodate clients’ wishes when life gets in the way and bookings may beed to me moved or missed. However, because our bookings are made on a first come basis, and late cancellations mean neither we nor other clients may be able to make use of an appointment slot, we charge up to the full fee for all sessions cancelled at less than 48 hours notice to us.