Informed Practice

Neurodivergent-Affirming Counselling

Small changes in how counselling is set up can reduce stress and sensory overload. It can make communication clearer, help you feel safe and comfortable, and make therapy more useful for you. There are reasonable adjustments which can be made in the session, or in your home if your counselling session is online. Your counsellor will ask you about this during your initial chat and Assessment, but you can talk to your counsellor about this at any time.

Possible adjustments include: longer or shorter appointments, soft lighting, using fidget toys or a weighted blanket, not having cameras turned on for online sessions, having a movement break, crafting while we talk or wanting to be outside. You can also ask to bring someone with you to some or all sessions.

Counselling should be flexible and focused on your comfort.

Therapy can include your favourite topics, your strengths, and talents. This can make therapy more engaging for you. Share your passions and interests with your counsellor, it’s a great way for them to get to know you.

Knowing the process for beginning with a counsellor can be helpful, here is some more information on the process:

After you contact one of our counsellors they will arrange a free 15 minute chat with you. This can be a phone call or an online call, with or without cameras. During this call they will tell you about how they work, about their availability, payment, reasonable adjustments, and find out a bit more about you. At the end of this chat, if you wish to go ahead, you can book your first full session.

Before your first full session your counsellor will send you the Counselling Agreement, a small contract between you and them. It outlines the limits of confidentiality, payment details, and you will have space here to write down any reasonable adjustments. If you have any questions about the Agreement please email your counsellor before your first full session. Once you’re happy with the agreement please sign it and email it back to your counsellor.

Your first full session will begin with a short Assessment. Your counsellor will ask about your support network, your work or study, and your GP. They will ask about your current mental health, and finish by asking about why you have come to counselling now, and what you hope to get out of it.

If working in person and a photo of the parking access and counselling room are helpful, these can be provided in advance of the session.

Trauma-Informed Counselling

Trauma-informed counselling recognises that past experiences can affect how safe, comfortable, and supported you feel in counselling. Reasonable adjustments in how sessions are approached can reduce distress, help you feel more in control, and make therapy feel safer and more useful for you.

A trauma-informed approach includes understanding how your body responds to stress and triggers. Counselling may involve learning grounding and stabilising techniques to help you feel more present and regulated in everyday situations. These tools are explored first, so you have support for managing triggers and stress day to day, before exploring anything that may be held more deeply.

Feeling safe is an important part of trauma-informed counselling. You are encouraged to move at your own pace and to share only what feels right for you. You do not need to talk about traumatic experiences unless you want to. Your counsellor will check in with you and respect your boundaries at all times.

Counselling should support your sense of safety, control, and understanding. A trauma-informed approach aims to help you feel more grounded, build coping tools if helpful, and make sense of your experiences in a way that feels compassionate and empowering.

Accessible Counselling

Disabilities and long-term health conditions can be part of a person’s identity and/or life experience, and barriers are often created by environments, systems, and attitudes. Counselling should be accessible, flexible, and responsive to your needs, so that you can engage in therapy in a way that works for you.

Reasonable adjustments can be made for any reason, for example: physical, sensory, neurological, cognitive, or chronic health conditions. You do not need to educate your counsellor about disability or justify your needs in order to receive support.

Small changes to how counselling is offered can reduce fatigue, pain, stress, or access barriers. Reasonable adjustments can be made in sessions, or in your home if counselling is online. Your counsellor will ask about access needs during your initial chat and Assessment, but you can discuss or change adjustments at any time.

Some example of adjustments may include: flexible appointment lengths, pacing sessions with rest breaks, having food and drink accessible, agreed toilet breaks, self-administering medication while in session, using a face covering, captions or written summaries, using chat or email alongside speaking, reduced sensory input, being off-camera for online sessions, meeting outdoors, adjusting posture or position including standing or walking during sessions, or bringing a support person to some or all appointments.

Choice, consent, and collaboration are vital in counselling. You are the expert in your own body and experience. Counselling should adapt to you — not the other way around.