FAQs

What is counselling with Jay like?

Think of our time together as a calm, honest chat where you don’t have to perform, mask or have everything figured out. I’ll bring my clinical training, but I’ll also show up as a real person — down‑to‑earth, trauma‑informed, LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent‑affirming. We’ll go at a pace that feels manageable for you and keep checking in about what’s helping.

What do CBT, ACT, CFT and DBT actually mean?

You might see terms like CBT, ACT, CFT or DBT and feel a bit put off by the jargon. In simple terms, these are just different therapy tools: CBT looks at how your thoughts, feelings and actions link together; ACT focuses on what matters to you and how to live more in line with your values; CFT helps build self‑kindness instead of harsh self‑criticism; and DBT offers skills for managing big emotions. You don’t need to remember any of this before we start – it’s my job to bring the tools, and together we’ll find what feels most helpful for you.

How do I book a session?

To get started, you can fill in the enquiry form on my Enquire about Counselling page. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can to confirm details, answer any questions and/or agree our first session together.

What can we talk about?

People bring all kinds of things: anxiety, low mood, burnout, stress, identity questions, relationship difficulties, past experiences, or a general sense of feeling “not yourself”. You can also bring things linked to being autistic, ADHD, neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, or living with other access needs. Nothing is too small or too “silly” to talk about here.

How long is a session?

Each session lasts around 50 minutes. This gives us enough time to settle in, explore what’s going on and ground again before you leave, without feeling rushed.

Is counselling confidential?

What you share in our sessions stays between us. There are a few legal and safety limits to this — for example, if I’m seriously worried about your immediate safety or someone else’s. I’ll always explain these clearly, and wherever possible we’ll talk together about any steps that might need to be taken.

Practical details & fees

I’ll walk you through location, timing, fees, and the process.

Session details

Our therapy sessions last between 50 and 60 minutes. Before we start, I offer an initial talk of 15 to 30 minutes to get to know each other. I meet people in person in Hyde, or we can connect virtually using Doxy.Me.