Counselling
I work from a person centred model, which means that I use my whole being to interact with the whole of your being. Read more.....
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP's)
Employee Assistance Programmes are becoming increasingly popular as a way of offering support through work. Read more.....
Valerie Shipp
As an accredited counsellor with the BACP I have met the standards for training. Read more.....
FAQ's
What happens in counselling?
Counselling is a special kind of relationship between the therapist and the client. It is unlike other kinds of relationships in that it only takes place for one hour every week or two weeks, and in that time you are invited to talk about the areas of your life that you perhaps feel unable to talk about anywhere else.
Is it confidential?
Yes – that’s one of the key qualities about counselling – no-one else knows what is talked about, and even the fact of you being a client is kept confidential. There are, though, two exceptions to this. While I am seeing clients I am required by the BACP to see a supervisor every month to discuss my casework. Secondly, if I think that you or anyone else is at risk of harm, I will discuss with you what measures need to be taken to reduce that risk.
Tell me about your supervisor
My supervisor is a working counsellor who is also trained in supervision. She lives and works in Glasgow. Her job is to ensure that my work meets a professional standard, and that no ethical issues are arising. She is the only person I can talk to about my work, and this means I am not working in isolation. She supports me and protects you. We also have an agreement of confidentiality.
Do you keep records?
So that I can keep track of the work we do in counselling sessions, I keep manual records. These are anonymous and kept in a locked filing cabinet which no-one else has access to. You can see them at any time. When a client has finished their work with me I destroy their records after a period of time.
How many sessions will I need?
I don’t know. Each client has their own individual needs and the decision about when to stop is agreed between us as part of the counselling process.
How much is it?
A counselling session lasts about an hour, and for each session I charge £42 for individuals, £47 for couples. I also offer concessions for students and people on a means tested benefit.
What happens if I miss an appointment?
Of course life can get in the way of counselling appointments. Who hasn’t forgotten the dentist or mislaid the card for the doctor? If you know you are going to miss an appointment, I do ask that you phone me as soon as possible. If you can’t give me 24 hours’ notice, I will charge a cancellation fee.
What if I try it and don’t like it?
Counselling is not suited to everyone, but this should be apparent after a few sessions, or even one! The best policy is to be honest about it – I won’t be offended, and will welcome some feedback.
What kind of person comes for counselling?
In my 9 years as a counsellor I have seen a huge variety of people from all walks of life with all kinds of concerns. For some, counselling may feel like a last resort but sometimes people choose it as a healthy way of supporting themselves. There is no typical client and most people find it beneficial to talk about what is troubling them.
Do you ever have counselling yourself?
Yes, in fact my first contact with counselling was as a client. I went through a period of crisis and depression which I came out of after a lot of personal work. It was this experience which inspired me to train as a counsellor myself and to pass on the gift which my first counsellor gave me. Since then, there have been various times when I have been a client, either to help me through difficult periods or as part of my own self development.