{"id":2315,"date":"2026-05-18T11:51:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T11:51:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/?page_id=2315"},"modified":"2026-06-13T10:56:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T10:56:41","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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FAQ<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I get asked lots of questions about therapy and how I work. I’ve included the most common ones here. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for, but if not, please get in touch and I will do my best to help.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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‘Counselling’, ‘psychotherapy’ and ‘therapy’ are often used interchangeably as there is a big overlap between the terms. Both refer to issues that are limiting your enjoyment of life and causing emotional distress. Sessions usually take place once per week.<\/strong><\/p>

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Psychotherapy is usually long term and involves a deeper and more subtle exploration of life experiences, patterns and concerns. Sessions are usually twice weekly.<\/strong><\/p>

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Coaching is generally more specific, goal-focused and motivational, often focusing on achieving optimum performance. Sessions are usually time limited or on an ad hoc basis.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What happens in your first session? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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The first session begins with some practical matters such as contact details, session fees and payment arrangements and confidentiality. You will then have a opportunity to begin telling me what has brought you to seek help. There is no pressure to be comprehensive or precise and it’s all entirely at your own pace.<\/strong><\/p>

My aim is to get an overview of the issue you are facing, the meaning it has for you and what you hope to achieve from therapy.<\/strong><\/p>

You are welcome to ask questions at any stage and if you would like to continue further sessions can be arranged.<\/strong><\/p>

Over the following weeks we may explore how past experiences relate to current difficulties, including what emerges between us in our sessions.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How much do sessions cost? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Individual sessions: \u00a380<\/strong><\/p>

Couple sessions \u00a3100<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do you offer weekend or evening appointments?\u00a0 <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Evening appointments are usually available. I do not offer appointments at weekends.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do you accept private medical insurance? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yes. I am registered with Bupa, AXA, Vitality, and Aviva.<\/strong><\/p>

If you have a different provider, please contact me and I will check whether your fees are covered.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Are sessions confidential? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yes, confidentiality is an essential part of therapy. The only circumstance in which I may need to break confidentiality is:<\/strong><\/p>

‘If I believe that you are at immediate risk of seriously harming yourself or someone else.’<\/strong><\/p>

All other matters are strictly confidential.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Can I cancel an appointment? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yes – by phone, email or text.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Full payment is required for all cancellations, unless 48 hours notice has been given.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Can I contact you outside of sessions? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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You can contact me by phone, email or text for changes in appointment times and other administrative matters.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Everything else you can bring to your next session.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How many sessions will I need? How often will I have to come? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Most people come once or twice each week. How long it takes depends on where you are now and where you want to get too, as well as the support and resources you have available. Get in touch and after a chat on the phone I may be able to give you an idea of how long it might take.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do you belong to any professional organisations? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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I am a full member of the UKCP and the BACP and follow their code of ethics. I am also fully insured.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tContact<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions I get asked lots of questions about therapy and how I work. I’ve included the most common ones here. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for, but if not, please get in touch and I will do my best to help. What is the difference between counselling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2315","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2315"}],"version-history":[{"count":149,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2852,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2315\/revisions\/2852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevefoxpsychotherapy.com\/excelsior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}