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Q&A

How long are the sessions?

Each session is up to 50 minutes long. 

How do I book a session?

If you want to book an appointment or change an appointment time, you can email me at:

deborahgillard.therapy@gmail.com

What do you do with
my notes?

Any client information will be held anonymously so that it is impossible to trace this information back to you individually. Any professional records I keep and the information recorded will comply with the Data Protection Act 2018.

You have the right to see your client record and this can be accessed by written authorisation by you. Notes will be kept for as long as it is necessary and appropriate and in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

What about confidentiality?

Your attendance to counselling with me is confidential, and so is what you will discuss during the sessions.

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Due to professional requirements, I see a supervisor who abides by the exact same terms of confidentiality as I do. I may discuss my work with you during supervision sessions, where your identity will remain anonymous.

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There might be times, though, when I would need to seek guidance from my supervisor to help me to support you: if you are at risk of harming yourself or others, when statutory law requires me to inform the relevant authorities or when instructed by a Court to disclose information.

If this happens, I will support you in bringing the concerns forward to any agency dealing with the issue. In case of impossibility to help you do so, I will discuss the breach of confidentiality with you and keep you informed about and throughout the process.

Will I need to fill out
any paperwork?

Yes, I will require you to sign a counselling agreement and to complete a quick client information form. These will be provided and discussed during our consultation call or our first session.

Are you currently taking
new clients?

Yes I am! Get in touch now to start therapy.

Where are the sessions
held?

All sessions are currently held online (Google Meet) or on the phone.

Do you offer a consultation
call?

Yes I do, and this is free of charge. This allows us to have an initial chat, answer any questions you may have and discuss how we could work together to help you in your journey.

Who can become your
client?

Any adult of any age and any young person 12 years old or older who has any life difficulties or mental health issues that they would like to explore in therapy.

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What if I need to cancel or
miss a session?

You can cancel your appointment at any time by emailing me.

If your cancellation email is sent within 24 hours of our session, you will still be charged for the full session. If the cancellation is done more than 24 hours in advance and you made a payment for that session already, it will be honoured at our next session or refunded if that is your preference.

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If you do not attend at the time we agreed for our appointment and do not cancel with more than 24 hours notice, you will still be charged for the full session.

Do you have any specialisms?

Yes. Even though I can and have worked with a wide range of life difficulties, I specialise in offering therapy to individuals affected by eating issues and/or relationship issues. My other clinical interests are abuse and bereavement.

What if my parent, partner or employer pays for my session(s)?

I accept third party payments but I require them to sign a third party payment contract. This confirms that while they are paying for the sessions, they are completely confidential and the person paying is not entitled to any information about you or your support.

How many sessions can I
have?

There is no limit on the number of sessions we can have. Regular reviews will help us assess how therapy is going for you.

What are your fees?

I charge £45 per session.

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I also offer a reduced rate for a limited number of clients at a time to make therapy more accessible. Contact me to request this.

What if I am late to one of
our sessions?

When lateness happens on your side, and it is more than 5 minutes, I invite you to let me know by email. I will wait for you for the duration of the session as planned, and I am happy to go ahead with the session unless you state otherwise. However, you will still be charged for the entire session, and the session won’t be extended as this may run into another client’s time.

Ending therapy?

You are free to terminate your therapy at any time, and I would ask if you could give me a couple of weeks' notice where possible. The ending is an integral part of our work, and I strive to create the space and bring meaning to the end of therapy.

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I reserve the right to terminate the contract at any time and, should this happen, I will aim to discuss this with you during one last session.

Are you currently undertaking
any training?

Yes, I am currently in the midst of my Couples Counselling Certificate provided by Relationships Scotland. This will allow me to provide therapy to monogamous and polyamourous partnerships/couples/throuples.

What can I do to make sure 
that our sessions will go well?

  • Please have all mobile devices turned off and out of sight during sessions.

  • Please make sure that you will not be disturbed for the duration of the session and that the door to the room you are sitting in is closed.

  • Please make sure that there is adequate lighting in the room you are in and that you do not have your back to a window or light – this can make it very hard for me to see you clearly.

  • Please do not record the sessions. I will not be recording any of the sessions.

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