FAQs
What ages do you work with? I offer counselling and rewind trauma therapy for adults aged 18+.
Do I need a referral? No. You can self-refer by email here.
Do you offer relationship or couples counselling? No, I am only qualified to support individuals.
What times do you offer sessions? I offer regular slots between 9.45am and 2.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Ad hoc sessions and enquiry calls may be possible at other times.
Do you have a newsletter? To receive updates about webinars, courses and other resources, please enter your email here.
Do you have a minimum threshold for support? No. If you feel you would benefit from counselling or rewind trauma therapy then you’re welcome to contact me to see how I may be able to help. It is usually better to seek support early, instead of waiting for the situation to escalate.
What can you help with? I am a general therapeutic counsellor and a rewind trauma therapist. This means I can support with a range of life issues. I am a neurodivergent counsellor and many neurodivergent clients come to me for this reason as they would like someone who may have a more direct understanding of what they are experiencing and who works in a neurodivergent-affirming way. I aim to offer a safe space for all, and have particular experience with home educating and LGBTQIA+ clients. You can find out more about how I work and what I can help with here.
How do I know if you’re the right counsellor for me? It’s really important that you feel safe and able to be open with whoever you choose. Different counselling modalities work better for different people, and for different therapeutic aims. I therefore offer a free 15-minute online call so you can see if you’d like to work with me. There is no obligation to proceed on either side.
Do I have to have a 15-minute online call or can I just start working with you? The free consultation is not compulsory. Some people prefer to book a first session and get started right away. I always need clients to complete an information form before we speak to ensure I am suitably qualified and able to support you. If I am not then I can usually offer signposting to another therapist who may be better able to meet your needs.
Where are you? I offer sessions online from my base in North Cornwall, United Kingdom. Please note I now offer therapy exclusively online and no longer offer in-person options.
Is it confidential? Yes. Everything you discuss with me in our sessions is confidential with a few exceptions: All counsellors have clinical supervision where we discuss our cases with another qualified counsellor, who is also bound by confidentiality. This is to ensure my practice is of a high standard and that I am doing the best for you. I won’t use your name, and only provide information that is clinically necessary for the supervision process.
If I have a reason to believe that you present a serious risk to yourself or someone else, or there are child protection issues or other legal obligations, I am required to act upon these concerns. In that case I am obliged to breach confidentiality by speaking to, for example, a crisis team (serious harm to self) or the police (serious harm to others) or child protection services. If I have to breach confidentiality, then wherever possible I will discuss this with you first. There are instances where it would not be legal for me to do so, such as if you indicated support for a proscribed terrorist organisation.
If I was to encounter an emergency myself and was unable to contact you, your name and contact details might be shared with a trusted person to inform you that I would not be able to attend our session. No other personal information would be shared. I would only disclose information in other circumstances when subpoenaed and required to do so by a court of law.
Will it go on my medical records? No. I’m a private counsellor and do not pass on information to the NHS. The only time I would contact your GP is if you asked me to, or if there was serious risk, for example if you told me you intended to end your life.
Am I supposed to act a certain way? You are welcome in sessions in whatever way feels comfortable for you. For example, you are very welcome to drink, draw, stim, etc, as you wish. You can make as much or as little eye contact as you like. You can use mouth words or AAC such as typing or writing or other forms of communication – or a mixture.
Can I have my camera off? I am only able to offer online sessions where people are ok with having their camera on. This is because my auditory processing difficulties mean I find it harder to process speech when I can’t see the person I’m talking to. For this reason I do not offer telephone therapy as I would not be able to deliver as high a standard of service.
I use Google Meet which allows you to turn off the box where you would see yourself if you prefer to do so. You are also welcome to minimise the screen if you would prefer not to be able to see me either.
If you want or need to have your camera off completely then I am happy to signpost to other neurodivergent counsellors who are able to offer this.
How much are sessions? I offer a free 15-minute online call so you can decide if you’d like to work with me. Sessions are then £80 for a full 60 minutes. (Many counsellors and mental health services work on the basis of a ‘therapeutic hour’ of 50 minutes.)
How often are sessions? I aim to be as flexible as possible in my approach. Clients have weekly, fortnightly or ad hoc sessions. Some continue with the same frequency for the duration of our work together, while others alter this as their needs change. I do not have any set requirements and we can discuss what you feel would work best for you. Some people book a one-off session, for example to discuss neurodiversity, while others book infrequently whenever they feel they have something they really want to discuss.
How many sessions will I need? You are free to work with me for as few or as many sessions as you like. If you only require rewind trauma therapy then this typically needs two or three sessions, but more may be required if you have a lot of traumatic memories or events you would like to rewind. If you would like counselling then the number of sessions can vary widely depending on the individual, the nature of the things you would like to work on, and how many different things you wish to cover. Most people find they need at least six sessions of counselling, and others continue to benefit from a much longer period of work. Some like to have ongoing therapy to help them process life events and have a safe place to talk as part of their self-care.
Can I work with you if I don’t live in the UK? The laws on this depend on the country you will be in when you have sessions, and which country or countries you are a citizen of. If you don’t live in the UK then please let me know this on initial enquiry.
Can I contact you between sessions? General contact is around arranging or rescheduling sessions, but you are welcome to email information that you would like to discuss in our next counselling session.
What are your qualifications? My qualifications are listed here.
Are you a member of a professional body? Yes, I am an accredited member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). I am registered with the ICO for data processing and I am DBS checked.
Do you offer a crisis service? I work with people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts but I am unable to offer a crisis service. If you are in crisis, please contact your preferred helpline or call 999 if your life is at risk. A list of many UK-based services is available here.
Do you diagnose people or prescribe medication? No. In the United Kingdom these are not services that counsellors can offer.
Do I need a diagnosis to work with you? No. I work with neurodivergent people at all stages of their discovery journey. Some have already been diagnosed autistic, ADHD, or another neurodivergence. Some are exploring their neurotype. Others have self-identified and decided not to pursue a formal diagnosis. It’s entirely up to you.
What do all these neuro- terms mean? Neurodiversity terms and definitions are explained here.
Why do you work as an ND-affirming counsellor? Our knowledge of the human brain is ever evolving, and I believe the neurodiversity paradigm is the most helpful and accurate way of understanding brain differences at this point in time. I’m very much in favour of doing what works when it comes to improving mental health, while recognising this will be different for everyone. I believe therapy is most helpful when it’s in tune with the way an individual’s brain and nervous system work, instead of trying to push neurodivergent clients into neuronormative boxes.
I grew up feeling different but not knowing why. I eventually saw being different as a positive, before I was even aware I was neurodivergent. Developing this positive identity was key to my self-esteem, and I believe this is the case for most, if not all, neurodivergent people.
For example, research has concluded that to improve the mental health of autistic clients, therapists should aim to facilitate development of positive autistic identities. When you’ve been told you’re disordered or wrong your whole life, it’s hardly surprising if your self-esteem is low.
Developing a positive identity doesn’t mean promoting toxic positivity or denying struggles, but recognising and deeply believing that there’s nothing wrong with being neurodivergent, challenging internalised ableism, and embracing autistic or other neurodivergent cultures in a way that feels right for the individual. If you are wondering what a positive autistic identity might look like, this video is one example.
Can I follow you on social media? I am unable to accept friend requests from clients but you are welcome to follow my public counselling and neurodiversity accounts:
Facebook
Substack (Neurodiversity Newsletter)
Instagram
TikTok
Bluesky
Medium
Linktree
I want to become a counsellor, how do I do this? I have written an article explaining how to become a counsellor in the UK which outlines some of the different routes you can take and the qualifications you need. If you would like to discuss this you can book a one-to-one session with me to talk about your personal circumstances and ask me any questions. If you subscribe to my mailing list then my monthly newsletter will include details on any webinars I run on this topic.
Jade Farrington - Neurodivergent Counsellor and Rewind Trauma Therapist 