Frequently Asked Questions
If you are thinking about starting therapy and have questions, this page is for you. These are the things people most commonly ask before getting in touch — answered honestly and without jargon.
If something is not covered here, you are welcome to ask me directly in the free consultation call.
Getting Started
-
No. You can contact me directly — no GP referral, no diagnosis, and no waiting list. Simply get in touch or book an initial consultation call and we will take it from there.
-
No. You do not need to be in crisis, have a clinical diagnosis, or be able to clearly explain what is wrong. Many people come to therapy with a vague but persistent sense that something is not quite right — that they keep hitting the same walls, feel stuck, or are not living as fully as they would like.
That is enough. You do not need to justify your need for support.
-
Before we begin, I offer a 20-minute initial consultation so we can get a sense of each other. It's a relaxed, no-pressure conversation — a chance for you to share a little about what's brought you here, ask any questions you have, and get a feel for whether working together feels right.
To reserve your spot, a £5 deposit is required at the time of booking. Should you decide to go ahead with sessions, this will be deducted from your first session fee. The deposit is non-refundable for cancellations and rescheduling made in less than 48 hours or in the event of non-attendance.
-
The honest answer is that you may not know until we speak. The therapeutic relationship matters enormously — research consistently shows that the fit between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of whether therapy helps.
The initial consultation session exists precisely for this reason. If after speaking you feel I am not the right fit, that is completely fine. I would rather you find the right person than proceed out of politeness.
Sessions and Practicalities
-
Each session is 50 minutes.
-
Most clients attend weekly, particularly in the early stages of the work. Weekly sessions tend to support more consistent progress and allow the therapeutic relationship to develop more steadily. Fortnightly sessions are available for those who prefer a more flexible arrangement. I do not offer sessions less frequently than fortnightly as a regular arrangement.
-
There is no fixed answer — and I would be cautious of any therapist who gives you one before knowing anything about you. Some people come with a specific issue and feel they have what they need within a few months. Others are working through something more complex and choose to stay longer.
What I can tell you is that I do not offer a fixed number of sessions by default. We work at your pace, review progress regularly, and you decide when the work feels complete.
It is important to note that the Rewind Trauma Technique is expected to work within one to three sessions.
-
Yes. I offer in-person sessions in a private therapy room in central Harrogate, available on weekday afternoons, evenings, and some daytime slots although I mainly work online, which are also available across the UK on weekdays including evenings.
-
For most people and most presentations, yes. The research on online therapy is now well-established and consistently shows it to be as effective as face-to-face work for the majority of difficulties people bring to therapy.
For some people — particularly those working through trauma — being in their own familiar space can actually feel safer and more containable than sitting in a room with a stranger. For others, the physicality of being present in a dedicated therapy room is what they need. There is no single right answer. We can discuss what feels right for you.
Fees and Cancellations
-
Individual therapy sessions are £70 for 50 minutes. Speacialist Rewind Trauma Therapy sessions are £95 each.
A deposit of one session fee is required before the first session, which is redeamable for your last session.
A Student and Trainee Counsellor discount is available. I also offer a limited number of reduced rate sessions for those experiencing financial hardship — please get in touch to discuss further. -
Payment is by bank transfer in advance of each session. Bank details are provided when you book.
-
I ask for at least 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule a session. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice, or missed without notice, are charged at the full session fee.
I understand that genuine emergencies happen and I use my discretion where exceptional circumstances apply.
Confidentiality and Privacy
-
Yes. Everything you share in our sessions is held in strict confidence. I will not discuss you with anyone or share any information about you without your consent, with three exceptions:
If I have serious concerns about risk of harm to you or someone else
If there is a disclosure or suspicion of child or vulnerable adult abuse
If I am legally required to do so by a court order
Where possible, I will always discuss any intended disclosure with you before it is made.
-
As required by the BACP Ethical Framework, I work with a qualified clinical supervisor. I may discuss aspects of our work in supervision — this is a professional and ethical requirement, not optional, and exists to ensure you receive the best possible care. Supervision conversations are confidential and your identity is protected wherever possible.
-
I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and process all personal data in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Full details are set out in my Privacy Policy.
The Therapy Itself
-
You bring whatever feels most present or pressing — there is no set agenda. I will listen, follow the thread of what you bring, ask questions worth asking, and help you see things from angles that were not available to you before. Sessions are not passive — I work actively alongside you, and my aim is that you leave every session with something real: a new understanding, a connection you hadn't made, or a small but meaningful shift.
You might find it helpful to read the blog posts on what to expect from therapy sessions and how therapy works.
-
Not if you do not want to. The pace and direction of our work is always yours. That said, for many of the difficulties people bring to me — relational patterns, low self-esteem, anxiety, people-pleasing — early experience is often where the roots are. We may find ourselves going there naturally. But nothing happens before you are ready, and nothing is forced.
-
The Rewind Trauma Technique is a gentle, evidence-based approach for PTSD and trauma that works without requiring you to describe or relive traumatic events in detail. It is particularly helpful for intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares. I am trained in this approach and offer it where it is clinically appropriate. If you are interested in whether it might be suitable for you, we can discuss this in the consultation call or at any point in our work together.
-
Please tell me. I would rather know than have you sit through sessions that are not working. It is not rude — it is useful clinical information. Sometimes what feels like a lack of progress is itself something worth exploring. Other times it may be a sign that a different approach, or a different therapist, would serve you better. Either way, we address it together.
Still have a question not answered here? You are welcome to ask me directly — either by email at mail@counsellingwithmina.com or in the initial 20-minute consultation call.