How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
When you contact us, we will get back to you within a few hours. It will always be our aim to see you within 48 hours. Although we are a very busy counselling organisation, we ensure we always keep a few appointments free every day to accommodate new clients.
How long does a session last?
A counselling session lasts 50 minutes with another few minutes to schedule further appointments, answer any questions and bring the session to a close before you leave.
Can we have a longer session?
Some clients, especially couples, prefer a longer session. We do offer longer sessions. These are usually 90 minutes.
What can I expect at my first session?
During your first counselling session, the counsellor will assess the nature of the challenges and issues you are presenting to them. As the counsellor gathers the relevant information, they will be taking notes to ensure they can build a support plan specific to your needs. We will also want you to ask questions to ensure you know what to expect from your counselling process
Do we need to prepare for the first session?
There is no need to prepare anything for us on a first session or go into too much detail during your initial call with our senior counselling consultant, Florence. If you are part of a couple, we prefer not to be given any details about the relationship until you are both in the room.
How do we pay?
After your session is booked, our admin department will confirm your appointment by email and send you details about Nightingale which will include our terms and conditions and payment options.
Do you provide phone or email counselling?
We do provide telephone, email and Skype sessions. This means we can work with you wherever you are in the world. Some clients will also use these services if they simply cannot get to our consulting rooms.
What are your opening times?
We are very flexible with our appointments and always try to accommodate our clients. We are a team of six counsellors for individual work, six couple counsellors including Florence and two psychologists. We are open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm. On Saturdays, we offer appointments from 9am to 4pm.
How many sessions will I need?
Generally, we are looking at 4 -6 sessions, we will always review at 6 sessions to assess where we are at and if further sessions are needed. On some occasions, we may have identified a need to work with one of our other counsellors using a different modality of counselling.
Do we need to come to sessions weekly?
We would like to see you weekly for perhaps three sessions, we then may move to two weekly or monthly to encourage you to work in between sessions. We will use worksheets and directed reading to encourage further learning in your own time.
Where can I park?
There are parking meters outside our building and there is always space available. Parking is free in the evening after 6pm and at weekends.
Do you have wheelchair access?
Yes, if you have an issue with stairs for whatever reason you can come into the building at street level.
Confidentiality
It is important for clients to know that what happens during our counselling session is private. Within 5 La Belle Place, Nightingale has two consulting rooms. The other rooms are rented by other therapeutic services such as acupuncturists, chiropractors and a few other counsellors, therefore no one knows why you are entering the building. If you are easily recognised by the public, we will provide access which is concealed from public view.
If we work together as a couple do, we attend every session together?
Yes, if you are in a couple counselling process, we want you to attend together to ensure there is nothing said that cannot be said in front of your partner. If you want to speak individually, we can provide another counsellor.
What is your cancellation policy?
We require 48 hours clear notice, should you wish to cancel your appointment. Late cancellations will incur the full fee.