Frequently Asked Questions

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I use Psychology Today's Sessions platform for my online counselling work.  

Sessions has end-to-end encryption ensuring that communication between all meeting participants in a given meeting is encrypted using cryptographic keys known only to the devices of those participants. This ensures no party, including Sessions, has access to the meeting.

Sessions complies with all applicable privacy laws, rules and regulations in the jurisdictions in which it operates, including the GDPR and CCPA.

• In CBT, you and your therapist will focus on what is going on in your life right now.  Sometimes our current difficulties are related to things which have happened in our past, and so these might also be part of what we talk about.
• When we’re low or upset, we often fall into patterns of thinking and responding which can worsen how we feel. CBT works to help us notice and change problematic thinking styles or behaviour patterns so we can feel better. 
• During the sessions, you'll work with your therapist to learn new coping strategies and techniques that can be used in everyday life, even after your counselling sessons have finished. 
• Agreeing on some activities to work on in your own time between sessions. This may be completing worksheets or evidencing certain things relating to your therapy. These tasks are always planned together. 

CBT is designed to be a short-term therapy and each client and their issues are unique. 

Typically sessions last from between six to twenty weeks. There are no set rules and if more sessions are required then that's not an issue. 

You will usually have one session each week. Each session lasts for 50 minutes. 

Sessions are regularly reviewed every 4-6 weeks in order to assess how progress is going. 

Yes. Counselling sessions are confidential. However, by law I am, in some circumstances, required to break that confidentiality.

Confidentiality would be broken if:

1. The client infers involvement in or knowledge of an act of terrorism, acts of money laundering or drug trafficking, the therapist is obliged to inform the authorities.
2. The therapist is required to do so by subpoena (court order) or instructions from a coroner.
3. You, or others, in the opinion of the therapist, seem to be in danger or at serious risk of being harmed.
4. The client infers knowledge of or involvement in behaviours that may. in the therapist’s opinion. Lead to harm or neglect to children and/or vulnerable adults.

After you have made the initial contact to me by email, I will offer you a free of charge, 15 minute telephone consultation in order for you to decide if I am the right fit for you and that my services are suitable for your needs. 

Should we decide we are compatible and we can work together regarding your presenting issues then I would aim to have you booked in at the earliest possible time that is convenient to us both.

To make an appointment with me is really straightforward, simply email me via my gmail account at: drichardscounselling@gmail.com or use the convenient Contact Me page on this website.  

I will answer all enquiries within 48 hours.

Please note - If you send an email over the weekend; I will respond first thing on the Monday - Thank you.