3 Counties Counselling Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 What will it cost?

A1 Our standard counselling fees are £40 for individuals and £60 for couples, each per 60 minute session.

We offer discounts to students and those on income support. Please tell us if you are in either category. In particular, students learning to become counsellors are invited to enquire about reduced prices if they must receive long-term counselling as a qualification requirement.

Fees are payable one session in advance (i.e. you will pay twice at the first session but not at all at the last session). Non-attendance is chargeable in full unless notified a minimum of 24 hours beforehand.

Q2 How many sessions will I need?

A2 Only you will be able to determine that, but you will be free to stop at any time. Some problems and issues can be resolved reasonably quickly (e.g. 3-8 sessions). Others may take rather longer especially if several issues are grouped together (e.g. 9-25 sessions). Some clients benefit from longer-term counselling because they need ongoing support to cope with life's challenges. Our counsellors will be sensitive to your needs, your goals and your capability to invest your time and money to get the help you seek.

Q3 Which days and time of day can I come?

A3 We try to operate on each day of the week, except Sundays and Bank Holidays, including during Monday to Friday evenings. Couples may be seen on Saturday mornings. We shall try to begin seeing you as soon as the existing client load will permit.

Q4 How will I know where to come for counselling?

A4 Your initial enquiry by phone or e-mail will be responded to by one of our team of counsellors, who will try to match you up with one of us according to your choice, need, availability and ability to travel. Now that we work from several different locations, you can obtain directions and contact information from the counsellor with whom you book an initial appointment.

Q5 How do I know you will keep what I say confidential?

A5 We offer an exceedingly high level of confidentiality. It would be professionally unethical for us to do otherwise, save for three important exceptions:
a) If you tell us you intend physically to harm yourself or another person.
b) If you tell us you intend to commit an act of terrorism.
c) If we should need to talk about our work with you during our own subsequent Counselling Supervision (though we would never identify you to our Supervisor).

Q6 What is a Counselling Supervisor?

A6 Every ethically practising counsellor or psychotherapist in Great Britain is obliged to meet regularly with their Counselling Supervisor. This brings objective support and guidance to the counsellor and promotes good practice to the benefit of the client. If your own counselling is discussed in Supervision, your counsellor will keep your identity from the Supervisor (and will disguise any facts which might conceivably identify you otherwise).

Q7 Do you offer Christian Counselling?

A7 No, but some of our counsellors are Christians and you are free to request one. In fact we offer a diverse range of counsellors, varying in gender, age, faith (including humanism), height, shape, colour, marital status and every other variable that distinguishes one human being from another. If you want a counsellor with a particular characteristic (e.g. a man or a woman) please mention it at your initial enquiry.

Q8 Do you have facilities for those with Activity Limitation?

A8 We shall do our best to accomodate those with access restrictions. We now practice from our own homes or rented counselling rooms. Several of these locations do have ground floor counselling rooms however, regretfully, none have toilets specifically designed for wheelchair access or use by those with any physical disability requiring special equipment.

Q9 Can you counsel in languages other than English?

A We do not have access to translators, so we can only counsel in English, with the exception of one counsellor who can work in French as well. You are welcome to bring a translator with you, but are advised to consider the implications of that for your confidentiality during the counselling sessions.

Q10 Do you offer Couples Counselling?

A10 Yes, one of us (Peter Eldridge) is a trained Couples Counsellor. He sees couples at his home in Fleet, Hampshire on Thursday daytimes, several weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Q11 Do you offer Supervision for other Counsellors?

A11 Yes, one of us (Charlotte Johnson) is qualified to offer either individual or group supervision to both trainee and qualified counsellors. Fees quotable upon application via telephone or e-mail.

Q12 Do you offer counselling for Senior Citizens?

A12 Yes. We understand that older people can benefit from talking to a counsellor because counsellors are good listeners. If you feel you have concerns about any areas of your life, sharing them with a counsellor can give you a better understanding of them and help you cope with them.

Q13 Do you offer Group Therapy?

A13 Yes. Peter Eldridge is co-leader of a 10-session Thursday evening programme of psychological education and group therapy, based in Fleet, Hampshire. The next programme will run from January 2010. Please send an e-mail to info@3ccs.org to request details.