The therapeutic relationship is an important one but it takes time to establish. First impressions might indicate that you would be happy to work with a particular therapist but what else should you be looking for? At the very least you should expect your therapist to be qualified and registered with a professional body, such as the BACP.

We verify all these details with all our associate therapists so rest assured if you see a therapist at The Hill Counselling Practice they will be fully qualified*, registered with a professional body, insured and registered with the ICO.

This is a difficult question to answer as it is completely unique to each individual. Some clients seek therapy to work through a particular circumstance that might only require a few sessions, while others want might want to work more longer term on aspects of themselves that they feel are a barrier to their growth and development. We use the consultation session and frequent reviews to ensure you are getting what you need from the therapy.

Each therapist sets their own fees but you can expect to pay from £40 - £70 per session.*

*individual 1:1 sessions.

Weekly sessions are advised at least for the first six weeks of therapy in order to build a rapport and to help you keep on track with the work. It is normal in therapy to explore things in our lives that are unpleasant or distressing and leaving too long between sessions can mean there is a lot to hold or manage in that break. Again this all depends on the presenting problems and in some cases fortnightly appointments are appropriate. Your therapist will work with you to determine the most suitable schedule.

No. You are welcome to get in touch to arrange a no-obligation consultation. If you decide to book further sessions we will include frequent reviews to ensure you are getting what you need from therapy. There are no minimum session requirements. You are free to pause or end therapy at any time you wish*.

*we may recommend that more sessions may be beneficial but we will always aim to collaborate with you to best meet your needs at the time.

If you’re unable to make a scheduled appointment, contact your therapist directly (email or text is usually best). Diary permitting your therapist will work with you to re-schedule the appointment and you won’t be charged for the session. However, if you cancel within 24 hours of the appointment start time, there will be a cancellation fee.

People end therapy for a lot of reasons, the best being that things have significantly improved and it feels like a good time to navigate the world without regular therapy sessions. There is a good chance you & your therapist will have discussed this beforehand to prepare for the ending.

And of course there are other reasons... If you do want to end therapy, you can let your therapist know in a session that this or a future session will be your last. If that doesn’t feel possible, you can email them. It is always beneficial to have a final session of therapy to reflect on the work that has been done.

It is often helpful to arrange a follow-up session a month later, by way of check-in and if you decide, closer to the time, that you don’t want this session, you can get in touch to cancel it. If you want to restart regular sessions, that can be arranged.

Counselling & Psychotherapy services at The Hill Counselling Practice are delivered by a team of freelance associate therapists who manage their own diaries and so they can work with you to find an appointment time that fits with your schedule.

Appointments can typically be scheduled any time from 8am - 8pm.

Some of the practitioners also offer weekend appointments.