Mic Austen Counselling and Psychotherapy

Frequently Asked Questions and Contact Details

Do I need Counselling or Psychotherapy?
People often come into counselling/psychotherapy because they are in the middle of a crisis and find it difficult to cope. Others use counselling/therapy to understand their feelings and to explore the meaning of their life – using therapy as a means of personal growth. Both of these reasons are valid. Therapy can help you feel more in control of your life, increase your confidence and sense of well-being and help you deal with problems, challenges and relationships.

Who do you work with?
I work with men and women of all backgrounds and sexualities and I work with both individuals and couples.

What can I expect at my first session?
This will be an opportunity for both of us to get a sense of each other. It will also be a chance for me to gather some detailed information on your background and what has brought you to counselling or psychotherapy.

You will need to commit to a session each week, usually at a regular time, and be prepared to talk about yourself for 55 minutes. In fact you don't always need to talk, but you will need to be curious to understand yourself better, and some courage to face not just difficulties but also the possibility of change.

How long is a session?
Sessions last 55 minutes. However, if we decide to use EMDR in a session, we will book one and a half hours and I charge pro-rata for whatever time we use. For couples the first session is two hours long and subsequent sessions are 90 minutes.

How long will I be in Counselling/Psychotherapy for?
There is not a typical time for someone to be in counselling/psychotherapy - depending on what you bring, what you would like to work on and in what depth.
Short-term Counselling tends to be anything from six weeks to a year or more. Long-term Psychotherapy, which is about real change, tends to take longer. Psychotherapy usually explores issues in greater depth and leaves a more lasting effect.

How much do you charge?
My fees change each year and depend on where and when we arrange to meet. Fees are £10 higher in London and I charge an extra £5 for appointments after 4pm.

If you have genuine financial difficulty that may exclude you attending therapy, a form of sliding scale exists where fees are negotiated according to what you can comfortably afford. If the financial situation should change at any time during therapy, it is assumed that the fee would be re-negotiated.

What if I need to cancel an appointment?
If you are not able to keep an appointment, I ask for 48 hours notice of cancellation by telephone only for daytime appointments. (Please do not e-mail me to cancel an appointment as e-mails are not read on a daily basis.)

For evening appointments, I ask for full attendance. Although time can be taken off for pre-arranged holidays (up to six weeks in a year for long term therapy), it is expected that you would attend therapy as regularly as possible otherwise it is not possible to hold your appointment time open for you. This helps to ensure your commitment to the process.

Regular attendance and real committment is necessary for real change to occur

What about confidentiality?
Everything that we discuss during our time together is strictly confidential and the only person I discuss your case with is my Supervisor (see below), but this forum is confidential also.

There are times when confidentiality cannot be held - including intention to harm yourself or others, possession of a firearm or current abuse of children. In these exceptional circumstances it may be necessary for me to breach confidentiality and inform a third party. It is for this reason that I require contact details of your General Practitioner in the initial session, although you will always be informed if any action is to be taken in this regard.


Do I need a referral to come and see you?
No. The most usual route to get counselling and psychotherapy is self-referral, where you contact me directly and we agree to meet and discuss what you feel you need.

Alternatively, I also take referrals from G.P.s, Psychiatrists, other medical consultants, private medical insurance companies and Employee Assistance Programmes. I am an accredited provider with a number of private medical insurance companies, including BUPA so you may be able to claim for your counselling and psychotherapy through your medical insurance company.

Why go privately?
NHS counselling through GP surgeries is often time-limited and you may have to wait a long time to see someone. Usually counselling is not offered on a weekly basis and you are unlikely to have much choice about who you see, when you see them, or the approach they offer. Some counsellors are not registered/accredited to UKCP or BACP.

Do you subscribe to a professional Code of Ethics?
I work to the standards set down by the BACP* through their ‘Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy’, and the Code of Practice set down by the UKCP.

What training and accreditation do you have?
I have a Masters degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education (CCPE *), London, accredited by De Monfort University, Leicester. I also have a 4yr Diploma and a one-year Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

My personal development continues through attending workshops, courses, weekly supervision and my own psychotherapy.

I am accredited by the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP*) and abide by the ethics of the UKCP* and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).

Do you receive regular supervision?
Yes. I receive the correct level of baseline clinical supervision recommended by the UKCP and BACP. Client anonymity is always maintained.

Do you contract with your clients?
Yes. If we are both happy to continue after the first session I will give you a copy of the Contract, which includes much of what is on this page.

CONTACT DETAILS:

To arrange an initial appointment please call me on: Tel: 07788-442835 or 01277-213935

I am happy for you to e-mail me but, as these are not checked every day, I would ask that you do not send e-mails that require an immediate answer: such as to cancel your appointment. During non-holiday periods I ensure that all e-mails and phone calls are returned as soon as possible. On contacting you I will arrange a date and time for an initial appointment.

All messages and calls will be treated in strictest confidence. Both my e-mail account and mobile answer phone service are only ever accessed by me.

My Essex details are:

36, Warley Hill,
Brentwood,
Essex
CM14 5HA

Tel: 01277-213935 or 07788-442835

Map: CLICK HERE

In London, my practice details are:

C/o Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education (CCPE )
Beauchamp Lodge
2 Warwick Crescent
London W2

Tel: 07788-442835

Map: CLICK HERE



Other sites where I can be found:

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
Thomson Local
Yellow Pages
Local Search UK
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy - noticeboard

To return to the home page, click here.