The first step is to contact me via email (jennifer@therapybyjennifer.co.uk)(mailto:jennifer@therapybyjennifer.co.uk), through the contact form on this website, or contact me on 07961572772. You can send a text message or leave a voicemail as I cannot take calls while I am in sessions, however I could arrange an appointment to call you back. I offer a free 15-minute chat to discuss booking you in and an opportunity to ask any questions. Once we both agree to an appointment time and day for you to be seen to, I will send across my framework document to sign by sending this via email. Once I receive this, we'll schedule your first initial assessment session.

Your first initial assessment session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other. We'll discuss what's brought you to therapy, your current difficulties, and what you hope to achieve. I'll explain how I work and answer any questions you have. There's no pressure - it's a space for you to decide if therapy with me feels right for you. All being well, we'll plan together your counselling journey with me.

The first initial assessment session is 60 minutes long, for either an individual or couple. Moving forward, sessions thereafter are 50 minutes long. This gives us enough time to explore issues in depth while maintaining a sustainable therapeutic structure.

We'll discuss what frequency works best for your needs and circumstances during our initial assessment session. You'll need to be reasonably sure you're able to commit to regular weekly or fortnightly sessions before embarking on your therapy journey. Most clients find that having clear boundaries around sessions helps them prioritise therapy in their lives and that this consistency helps them get the most from the process and keeps the work safe and containing.

We all need to take holidays and I offer up to four holiday cancellations (or two if you're working with me fortnightly) in a 12-month period that aren't charged for, but please give me at least seven days notice of these. I take four weeks holiday a year, not including bank holidays, and will give you at least seven days' notice of these.

If you wish to reschedule a session and give me sufficient notice I will always endeavour to find you an alternative slot that week. But if I don't have availability or the slots I have available aren't convenient for you, the session will still be chargeable.