Online counselling can be highly effective when approached intentionally. This page is designed to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare, so that your sessions are focused, meaningful, and productive.

Setting Up Your Space

To create a professional and contained environment for your session, please ensure you have:

• A private, quiet space where you will not be interrupted

• A stable internet connection and a device with camera and audio enabled

• Adequate lighting so your face is visible if using video

• Time before and after the session to arrive and leave without rushing

This allows you to give the session your full attention and helps the counselling process to be as effective as possible.

Session Expectations

• Each session is a focused, collaborative process.

• Progress depends on your willingness to engage honestly with the work.

• Some topics may feel challenging or uncomfortable; this is a normal part of deep, reflective counselling.

• Sessions are confidential and conducted under professional ethical standards.

• Where appropriate, standard outcome measures may be used collaboratively within sessions to support reflection and review. These tools are not used to define progress, but to help notice patterns and changes over time alongside the client’s own experience.

Responsibilities

• You are responsible for creating a safe, private environment.

• You are responsible for managing your own breaks, devices, and surroundings.

• You are expected to engage actively, reflecting on insights and considering how to apply them outside the session.

Boundaries and Limitations

• This service is not suitable for crisis or emergency situations. If you are in immediate distress, please contact your GP, local emergency services, or an appropriate crisis support service.

• Clinical, therapeutic, or personal matters must only be discussed within booked sessions.

• Sessions will proceed according to agreed appointment times. Punctuality is expected to ensure full engagement.

Final Notes

Approaching online counselling intentionally supports deeper insight, practical progress, and meaningful reflection. Preparing carefully is not about perfection—it is about creating the conditions for effective, focused work.

If you are feeling anxious or unsettled before your first session, you may find it helpful to spend a few moments with this pre-session grounding resource. It consists of two brief prompts designed to help you settle attention and arrive at your session feeling steadied and present.