Diane Mathewson

A useful and positive counselling experience is very often due to the trusting connections made between client and counsellor. Providing a confidential, client centred and non-judgemental environment is key in supporting a client to be able to explore issues and difficulties in their lives, and for that person to be able to contemplate the possibility of positive change.

I provide short term and longer-term counselling. Length of counselling is very individual; some people benefit from just a few sessions whereas for others a longer-term counselling relationship is more beneficial. Each session is between 50-60 minutes.

Fundamentally, my counselling practice is informed by the client in the room and the issues they bring. It is also informed by my psychodynamic training and understanding that past experiences influence our present selves. But I use techniques, theory and understanding from a range of counselling methods as well as use the experience I have gained over the past 16 plus years of practice.

Currently I am not seeing clients face to face. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the emergence of a 'second wave', it is likely that online counselling will continue into 2021. 

Currently I am using Skype and Google Meet to video connect with clients.

The first session always includes a discussion about confidentiality and what this means within the counselling relationship.

Also included is a little about contracting: session length and frequency, cost, cancellations.

At times some of these basics are not always fully covered in the first session as a client may want to talk more about what has brought them to counselling. This is normal and natural and so I will send my contract out to a client before the second session and we can discuss any issues not covered in the first session.