dr jane fenn
BSc, MSc, DPsych, BACP & UKRC registered senior accredited counsellor

To understand how counselling works it can be useful to consider what counselling is not. It is not the same as going to see a medical doctor, or "expert" who advises you, interprets, directs or instructs you. Our relationship will be different from this as I realise you are the expert on you. I hope to share the power equally with you within our relationship. We will have clear boundaries of time, confidentiality and regular sessions lasting for 50 minutes.

We will spend our time talking, but it won't be like other conversations you may have, as I will be spending my time listening to you and trying to understand the issues you are communicating to me. Sometimes it may take you a time to talk, other times you will not want to say anything, that is ok, I am happy to wait until you are ready.

I have no interest in judging you, my interest is in helping you to understand yourself and to explore how your life can be as happy and fulfilling as possible for you. I believe that expressing feelings can be a healing process, we can explore options together, but any changes need to be those that you want to make, not because you think I want you to change.

I would like to help you to take responsibility for your own thoughts, feelings and behaviours. If you are coming to counselling to change something about yourself or your life this is usually a very useful thing to do. Often we blame others for making us feel a certain way, when usually we felt that way anyway but it was hidden and that person has put you in touch with those hidden feelings. We can begin by exploring what brings you to counselling at this point in time; I will help you to understand your own thoughts and behaviours.

At the end of each session we will book our next appointment and I will expect you to be on time for appointments. If you cancel without 24 hours notice or don't turn up this will be a chargeable session.

Drinking alcohol or taking mind-altering medication is not useful before sessions, and smoking during sessions is not permitted. I don't have any moral objections to these behaviours but these substances can mask our true thoughts and feelings. You will be wasting your time and your money if you come to a session out of touch with your "true" self. In return for these expectations I will offer you a contract of Confidentiality. I will be as wholly available as possible to you and you will have my attention.

I look forward to working with you