A practical guide
Your first appointment
Your first appointment is time to begin talking, ask questions and find out how it feels to work with your counsellor. There is no expectation to explain everything at once.
Before your appointment
For matched counselling, choose your fee and complete the short suitability check before selecting your first appointment. If you are choosing your counsellor, follow the booking steps for that counsellor.
You do not need to prepare a speech or write out your history. If it helps, make a short note of what has brought you here or a question you would like to ask.
A little practical preparation
For an online session, find a space where you can speak privately and check your camera, microphone and connection.
For a face-to-face session, check the location and allow time for your journey.
If you need an adjustment to help you attend or communicate, contact us beforehand to discuss it.
Your appointment lasts 50 minutes. The first appointment is a paid counselling session at the fee for your chosen route.
During the conversation
Your counsellor will explain how sessions work, talk through confidentiality and its limits, and invite you to say what has led you to seek support. You can ask questions too.
You might begin with what is happening now, something you have been carrying for a while, or simply how difficult it feels to start. Your counsellor can help you find a starting point.
It is okay to pause, cry or not know what to say.
You are not doing anything wrong. Talking about something personal can bring tears, a pause or difficulty finding words. You do not need to apologise or keep speaking to fill the silence.
Your counsellor can give you time, help you slow down and ask whether you would like to pause. You can say, “I do not know what to say,” or “Can we take a moment?”
There is no need to push yourself to share more than feels manageable. You also do not have to cry or feel a particular emotion for counselling to be useful.
After your first appointment
You can reflect on whether you felt listened to, able to ask questions and comfortable enough to continue. Trust can take time to develop, so you do not have to make a perfect judgement after one conversation.
Most people continue with the same counsellor. If a specialist need becomes clear, we can discuss a different match. If something does not feel right, raise it with your counsellor or contact the team.
You can decide whether to continue. If appointments are already booked, let us know promptly; the cancellation terms still apply.