Joanna Osborne Counselling

FAQ’s

Contact Joanna

Where is the location for face-to-face sessions?

I primarily offer sessions online. I have some limited availability for face-to-face sessions in East Preston, BN16.

I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?

It’s normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It can be hard to talk about feelings out loud. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as you are. I’m committed to finding a way to ensure your sessions are as comfortable as possible.

I’m here if you want to talk about it during a free phone consultation.

How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?

Take your time to read through my website. You can email me if you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading.

During a free phone consultation, you can ask me more about my training and education, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific to you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and we can decide together how I can help.

What if I don’t want to talk about something?

It’s natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things we’ve been through. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. We will collaborate on understanding what you feel ready to open about.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

I highly value your privacy and trust. What you say in counselling is confidential and what you discuss stays between us. There are a few exceptions to this which I will explain in our first session.

How long will therapy take?

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief immediately.

If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing positive effects after the first few sessions.

By that point, they feel a little more confident in themselves.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 3-6 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges, while other clients feel more supported by longer-term therapy.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

What can I expect during the first session?

Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

  • What brought you to therapy? 
  • What’s present for you in your life right now? 
  • What goals would you like to reach by attending therapy?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about my training or what sessions will be like. 

The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel calm, heard, and cared for with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again. 

How can I get started?

I’m here to talk during a free phone consultation where you can share what’s going on for you and we can decide together how I can help. Send me an email to arrange this.