find out more about us....

Counselling can be a very fluid and varied process and we offer an integrative approach that reflects this, creating an environment that  is safe, is free of judgement and values that you are the expert in your issues. 

Counselling and therapy is based around trust and transparency and we believe our operation should reflect those values too which is why our costs are detailed here for you to look at. We have reviewed our pricing to make it as affordable and as fair as possible and prices will be charged based on YEARLY income:

Private Counselling

In receipt of benefits or Yearly income below £5,000- No Charge

£5,000-£10,000= £7.50

£10,000-£12,500= £12

£12,500-£17,000 = £17.50

£17,000-£20,000=£20

£20,000-£25,000=£30

£35,000-£40,000= £40

£40,000-£60,000= £50

£60,000 or above= £60 

Support Groups- 

Free Introductory session then £5 per session.

Referral Incentive- Help us spread the word!

To support us in spreading the word of our amazing new service we are offering one free session for every client who is referred to our service (provided once each client has completed two sessions with us).

We will NEVER ask you to block book appointments as we believe this approach undermines the integrity of what we do.

***Please note to protect our ability to provide this service sessions not attended without notice of cancellation will be charged at the full rate***

We work with anybody who requires support.

At present we support pupils in Primary Schools between the ages of 3 and 11 and can provide support to families and teaching colleagues too. We are looking to offer support to High Schools in the near future.

We have supported clients from many walks of life from early years pupils to clients in their 70's and 80's and this is something we are really proud of at Forward Steps.

Privacy Policy 2024

Your privacy is very important to me and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to me. 

I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. 

This privacy notice tells you what I will do with your personal information from initial point of contact through to after your therapy has ended, including: • Why I am able to process your information and what purpose I am processing it for • Whether you have to provide it to me • How long I store it for • Whether there are other recipients of your personal information • Whether I intend to transfer it to another country, • Your data protection rights. • Whether I do automated decision-making or profiling, and I am happy to chat through any questions you might have about my data protection policy and you can contact me at james@forwardstepscounselling.co.uk.

‘Data controller’ is the term used to describe the person/ organisation that collects and stores and has responsibility for people’s personal data. In this instance, the data controller is me. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

Registration number ZB712714 

Contact number 07436804082

E-mail address james@forwardstepscounselling.co.uk

My lawful basis for holding and using your personal information 

The GDPR states that I must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. There are different lawful bases depending on the stage at which I am processing your data. I have explained these below: 

If you have had therapy and it has now ended, I will use legitimate interest as my lawful basis for holding and using your personal information. 

If you are currently having therapy or if you are in contact with me to consider therapy, I will process your personal data where it is necessary in relation to the fulfilment of our contract. 

The GDPR also makes sure that I look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to me appropriately. This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for me processing any special categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case counselling) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case, a contract between me and you).

How I use your information -Initial contact.

When you contact me with an enquiry about my counselling services I will collect information to help me satisfy your enquiry. This will include your name, contact details and a general summary of your enquiry which may include the reason for your referral to our service. Alternatively, your GP or other health professional may send me your details when making a referral or a parent or trusted individual may give me your details when making an enquiry on your behalf. If you decide not to proceed all your personal data will be deleted within seven days of your intention not to proceed. While you are accessing therapy everything you discuss with me is confidential. That confidentiality is limited in cases such as  client intention to harm themselves or others, make a disclosure governed under the Terrorism Act or disclose other criminal activity. (This list is not exhaustive but any situations that require the break of the confidentiality commitment will be discussed openly and honestly with you).

After therapy has ended we store client records for six years from the date of the last session completed.

As per your legal rights you can request any information we hold on you under a subject access request. The ICO recommends a response to a subject access request within one month from the request, however our service will aim to respond to these within two weeks. Should, due to unforeseen circumstances, we encounter a delay in processing your request, we will inform you in writing of this with details on when the delay will be resolved.