The process

Initial Consultation

The Initial Consultation lasts 90 minutes and gives us a chance to get to know one another and to discover if a working relationship would be beneficial. It will also give me the opportunity to gather information about your concerns and make a recommendation about which approach would be most appropriate. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, we then schedule the Counselling Sessions.

For any concerns related to children, the initial consultation will be held with parents only as to give us a chance to freely discuss the presenting challenges. Depending on the outcome, the next step forwards might entail:

• Assessment session with the child

• Home observation

• School observation

• Meeting with teachers

• Counselling

Counselling session

Counselling Sessions last about 60 minutes, depending on the agenda or objective of the session. The sessions are tailored to your needs and involve talking, reflecting back and at times drawing and engaging in various exercises. If Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is indicated, you will be given work to do at home and bring back to discuss in the follow-up session. At times I might suggest EMDR as the most suitable approach.

• Cognitive behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that emphasizes the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. CBT is considered one of the most effective therapies for treating a number of different mental health conditions. It however requires active participation and involvement. You will be given a folder that contains information sheets, homework assignment and various worksheets. 

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic approach designed for working with distressing or traumatic memories. In an EMDR session you will be asked to recollect a painful memory while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus like my finger as I move it from side-to-side in your line of vision or to sounds or tapping sensations which occur in sequence from left to right.

Code of Ethics and Practice

I abide by the standards of the national regulating body, the Kenya Counselling and Psychology Association (2998/14) and and I am complying with the terms of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR-UK). I am therefore registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). Information from sessions will remain confidential. However, should information relating to a life-threatening risk to you or others be disclosed, I am obliged to share this information with your listed next of kin. I will discuss this with you before sharing information, unless it is deemed that doing so will increase any serious risk.

Payment:

• Payment is required directly after the consult either by Mpesa or in cash.

• If you would like to pay through your health insurance I can provide a letter or complete any forms required to submit claims, however please note I do not invoice insurers directly.

Cancellations & non-attendance:

If you need to cancel an appointment, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours will incur a cancellation fee:

• Missed appointments or those cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice from the time of your appointment will be charged at the full fee.

• For cancellation fees, these must be paid before further services can be offered.

• Kindly note the appointment timings and fees are fixed and that on late attendance, time cannot be extended as not to interfere with the next client’s appointment, nor can the fee be reduced.

In case of emergency:

Please note that I am not able to provide a crisis service. In case of emergency where you are concerned about any risk to your mental health or safety, please contact your doctor or other medical emergency service.