Counselling FAQs
What to expect from counselling
In your first session, the counsellor may ask some gentle questions to understand how best to support you. This might include asking how you’re feeling, what has brought you to counselling, and what you hope to get from the sessions. You are always in control of what you choose to share, there is no pressure to talk about anything you're not ready for.
The counselling Process
Counselling often requires you to discuss upsetting emotions and painful memories. Bringing up these thoughts can feel difficult to start with and initially, you may feel worse. This process is necessary to move forward and in time, you should start to feel better.
To get the most from your counselling sessions you should aim to make them consistent. Some sessions will feel more helpful than others, but it's important to realise that everything your counsellor is doing is designed to help you in the long run, even if it doesn't feel like it in the beginning.
It's also worth remembering that counselling is not a quick fix, and that your counsellor will not be able to tell you what to do. The counselling process requires a strong relationship between you and your counsellor and a degree of effort on your part - together these two elements create a successful method to help you.
What is Pre-trial Therapy
Pre-trial therapy for survivors of sexual abuse refers to therapeutic support provided to individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or assault before their case goes to trial. This type of therapy aims to address the emotional and psychological impact of the traumatic experience, and it can play a crucial role in helping survivors navigate the legal process.
There are legal provisions in place to protect the confidentiality of therapy sessions for our clients.
Therapists may collaborate with legal professionals to ensure that the therapy is conducted in a way that complies with legal requirements. This collaboration may involve providing information to the court about the therapeutic process and its importance for the survivor's well-being.
The police and/or CPS may request to see the notes we make during sessions if they believe the notes may contain material relevant to the investigation or trial.
Only material relevant should be disclosed to the police or CPS and you have the right to agree to the disclosure, to see the notes, and to agree to all documents released to the police. Although our notes will be minimal, accurate, general and objective; you also need to be aware that if disclosed, these notes will be viewed by the defence.
If you choose to access therapy before your case goes to court, we adhere to guidelines from the Crown Prosecution Service. Read their latest guidance on pre-trial therapy.
What would happen if I remembered anything new about the incident?
If you remember anything new relating to your current police investigation during one of your therapy sessions, we will ask you to complete a “First Disclosure Form” where we state the new information you have disclosed. This form will be objective, concise, and factual.
Will my notes be used in court?
It is possible that we could receive a request from the prosecutor or a court order saying we must disclose your counselling records. Our counselling notes are very brief and factual.
The police will not have access to all your therapy notes; only very specific pieces of information related to the disclosure or incident under investigation (or what they call “a reasonable line of enquiry”). If the police ask us for access to your notes, we will always ask you first whether you want them to be shared.
You are not required to share your notes if the police ask for them, and our service is not legally obligated to provide them either. Although this is very rare, it’s important to understand that if either you or we refuse to share the notes, the Crown Court may later issue a court order to access them during the investigation.