Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs about general practicalities
Who do you work with?
I offer counselling to people aged 13 and over. I offer supervision to counsellors and therapists, as well as people in a range of different types of professional helping roles. I am based in New Plymouth in Aotearoa New Zealand. I work both in-person and online with people local to this area, as well as online with people from all over Aotearoa New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other countries too. If you are based outside Aotearoa New Zealand and the United Kingdom and you think I can help you then please message me to see if we can work together (with due regard for insurance limitations and the relevant law in our respective countries).
When are sessions available?
At the moment I offer sessions between 8am - 2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (New Zealand Standard Time).
Where are you based?
I meet people for in-person counselling sessions at the Paper Plane Counselling therapy room in central New Plymouth. The address is Third Floor, Brougham House, 50 Devon Street West, New Plymouth. I also meet people for online counselling sessions, usually by video call using the Zoom platform. You can choose whether to meet in-person or online for each session depending on what is more convenient for you.
What are your fees for counselling?
If you are based in Aotearoa New Zealand, a 50-minute assessment or counselling session is $160 (NZD) + GST. If you are based in the United Kingdom, a 50-minute assessment or counselling session is £70. If you are based in a country with a different currency, the fee will approximate to the above rates and can be invoiced and paid in your local currency. Fees can be paid by bank transfer in your local currency (there are no additional currency conversion fees). Please contact me to discuss whether I can work with you (depending on the law in our respective countries) and for the exact rate in your local currency. Invoices and receipts are issued by email on request.
What are your fees for supervision?
If you are based in Aotearoa New Zealand, a 60-minute assessment or supervision session is $160 (NZD) + GST. If you are based in the United Kingdom, a 60-minute assessment or supervision session is £70 (GBP). Longer appointments are charged on a pro-rata basis of this fee. For example, a 90-minute session would be $240 (NZD) + GST or £105 (GBP). If you are based in a country with a different currency, the fee will approximate to the above rates and can be invoiced and paid in your local currency. Fees can be paid by bank transfer in your local currency (there are no additional currency conversion fees). Please contact me to discuss whether it’s possible for us to work together and for the exact rate in your local currency. Invoices and receipts are issued by email on request.
Are my sessions confidential?
You can read my confidentiality policy which gives you detailed information about confidentiality and its limits. If you have any questions then you can either ask me in person or send me a message.
What records to you keep?
Brief notes of all sessions are held securely on electronic and paper-based systems, and your data is available for you to view on request. My systems comply with New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020, New Zealand's Health Information Privacy Code 2020 and the UK's Data Protection Act 2018. Detailed information regarding how your data is stored can be found on the Privacy page of this website.
FAQs specific to counselling & therapy sessions
How long is a counselling session?
A counselling session is usually 50-minutes long. This includes time to discuss and agree following appointments if necessary. Sessions start on time so if you are running late the session will still need to finish at the pre-agreed time. If you want to finish a session early then that is absolutely fine – it is your choice whether to stay until the end of the time or not.
How frequently do I need to attend?
For counselling to be as effective as possible, the research shows it is best to attend sessions on a regular weekly basis. Some people find that this is too little or too much. So, it is also possible to attend either twice a week or to attend once a fortnight if one of these rhythms suits you better.
How many sessions will I need?
Some people come to counselling for a handful of sessions and some come for much longer - sometimes years. A lot depends on what you want to get out of your counselling sessions, and how long-standing and complex the situations are which you want to think through. At your initial assessment we will discuss roughly how many sessions you might need and use this as a starting point. Together we regularly review how the counselling is going and might agree to either shorten or lengthen our work. This is very much a joint process and I will not pressure you into attending sessions for longer than you need nor will I encourage you to leave before you feel ready.
Are you accepting of difference?
I work with lots of people who feel different to the majority group. That might be because they come from somewhere else, they are neurodivergent or they don’t identify as cisgender heteronormative. I aim to honour the identity (or identities) of everyone I meet as I find them. I will try to work with you in a way which helps you get what you are looking for out of counselling. I will not try to change who you are to fit in with someone else’s idea of what someone’s life is meant to look like. You might like to check out my About page as well to get some more information on this.
Do I need a diagnosis to see you for counselling?
No, you don't need to have a diagnosis or behave in any particular ways to have counselling with me. I do not offer psychological assessments for diagnoses (although I may be able to signpost you towards other professionals who do if this is something you're looking for). If you have got a diagnosis of something (like a mental health condition or a neurodiversity diagnosis) then I will be interested to talk with you about this if you want to; to explore what it means for you and how you find that your life is shaped or affected by it.
Do you tell my doctor that I am having counselling sessions?
No, I don’t routinely tell your doctor that you are having counselling sessions with me and the records that I keep are not linked to any other databases. It is not usually recommended for someone to see two (or more) counsellors at the same time. If you know that your doctor (or another professional) has referred you for counselling elsewhere then please tell them that you are already receiving counselling sessions with me. You can then discuss with them whether you need extra support at this time. Likewise if you are already seeing another counsellor, or know that you have been referred and you’re waiting for an appointment, please let me know this when you contact me.
Are you available in an emergency?
It is sometimes possible to set up an emergency counselling session at short notice but it will depend on my availability. If you are in crisis and need support with your mental health right now then you can find details of some organisations which you can contact on the Urgent Help webpage.
FAQs about online and telephone sessions
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of meeting online rather than in person?
Meeting online is different from being in person. It is not necessarily better or worse (it depends on your viewpoint), but it is different. Some of the advantages of meeting online are: You don’t risk picking up or spreading infections (such as Covid 19). You also don’t risk having your sessions interrupted if either of us is mildly unwell and cannot meet in person. You save time and money as there is no need to travel to and from a therapy room. Online sessions fit more easily into busy schedules. You can easily and consistently access counselling or supervision if you live remotely or if you travel a lot. There is less impact on the environment as you don’t need to drive or take public transport to attend sessions. You can choose from a wide range of counsellors and supervisors, some of whom specialise in working with particular issues or groups of people – not just those practitioners who happen to be geographically close to you. If you are a parent or guardian, you do not necessarily need to leave your home while you attend sessions so you may not need to arrange childcare. Online sessions may be a more practical option if you live with a disability that limits how easily you can attend sessions in person. You may simply prefer to connect online rather than in person in which case meeting online may feel like a natural choice for you. Some of the disadvantages of meeting online are: At times everyone has problems with Internet and telephone connections. There will be times when videos freeze, audio is dropped or there might be a delay in speech. This can interrupt the flow of real-time counselling sessions. Online communication can never be 100% secure. While I do my utmost to ensure your privacy (by using software platforms that encrypt data and do not sell users’ personal data), the privacy of online communication can never be 100% guaranteed.
What do I need to meet with you online?
A safe and confidential place where you can be during your sessions. This means being in a place where you cannot be overheard and your screen cannot be seen by others. This might be a room in your house or your (parked) car. Ideally you will be in a place where you won’t be interrupted during your sessions. Either strong mobile phone reception or broadband (with signal strength enough to watch Netflix) A device - such as a computer, tablet or smartphone – to connect to your sessions. A working microphone and webcam (for video sessions). Headphones are also useful for privacy and comfort. You will need to check that the device which you are intending to use to connect to your sessions is capable of running the software. Patience! When communicating online or by telephone it is much easier to misunderstand someone than when you are with them in person. If you think I’ve misunderstood something you’ve said, please don’t be afraid to correct me as soon as you can.
How is my confidentiality protected online?
I cannot 100% guarantee that your online communication with me will be private. (This is impossible for any individual or organisation to do.) However, I do as much as I can to protect your data both on and offline and I strongly suggest that you do the same. I carefully select the third party software which I use to communicate and conduct counselling sessions with you, and I reserve the right to change the platforms we use if their privacy settings change making them unsuitable for delivering therapeutic work. I can offer you advice on how to protect your confidentiality when engaging in online counselling. For example, I recommend using strong passwords for all accounts you use to connect with me, and changing them regularly. I recommend only sending me information about yourself by encrypted means (not doing so is the electronic equivalent of sending me a postcard written in pencil). All emails I send to you are in encrypted format.
How do online sessions work?
We agree in advance a time and day for your session. If we are meeting by telephone (for people based in Aotearoa New Zealand only), you can call me when you are ready any time from the agreed start of your session time. For Online video and audio sessions I usually use software called Zoom. This software platform encrypts all data sent in transmission and does not require you to become a ‘contact’ with me, which helps to protect your confidentiality. You will need to download Zoom software to the device which you are going to use; you will be prompted to set up an account but you can choose not to do this and still attend the session. I will send you a Zoom meeting link prior to each session by encrypted email. If you are not comfortable with using Zoom, I usually use Doxy.Me as a back-up platform. This is encrypted and designed for use by healthcare professionals. It does not require you to download anything in order to use it.
Can I do a mix of online and in-person sessions?
Yes, absolutely. You can choose for each session whether you would like to meet in-person, by telephone or online on a video or audio call.
I'm not very good with technology. Can I still work with you?
I'm happy to speak with you and discuss what connecting online involves. We can consider what devices you have which you can use to connect and I will do my best to help talk you through what you need to do to set them up.
Is online counselling appropriate for everyone?
Many people find online counselling helpful, and many find it as helpful as in person counselling. However, online counselling is not recommended if you: self-harm regularly and/or severely are in the middle of a crisis and you have plans to take your life. If this is you and you need help right now then you can find details of organisations who can support you immediately on the Urgent Help page of this website have a diagnosed eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia live with serious mental health issues, of the type which mean that your view of the world and what is “real” is radically different from other people’s. This includes people with a diagnosis of psychosis have a long-standing dependency on alcohol or other substances.