How I work
A calm room, clear steps and honest limits.
You should know what you are agreeing to before you arrive. Here is how the work runs, from the first conversation to the last session.
Integrative counselling
I am an integrative counsellor. I draw on more than one counselling approach, and I match the approach to you rather than the other way round.
Some sessions are mostly listening. Others look closely at a pattern, or at a thought you keep coming back to. We decide together which kind of session helps most, and we check in on that as we go.
Sessions at a glance
- Length
- 50 minutes
- Where
- In person in Room 2, or online by video
- How often
- Usually weekly, sometimes fortnightly
- Fee
- £65 a session, see the lower-cost places
About me
Hester Calloway
I trained in integrative counselling at Brindlemere College and have worked with adults since 2015, first at a bereavement service and now in private practice.
I have regular supervision and keep up my training every year.
Training and practice
- Diploma in integrative counselling, Brindlemere College
- Working with adults since 2015
- Four years at a local bereavement service
- Regular clinical supervision
A first session
What the first session is like.
Arrive a few minutes early
Room 2 is quiet, and there is a box of tissues within reach. Nothing is asked of you before you sit down.
Talk about what brought you in
In your own words, and in whatever order makes sense to you. There are no set questions, and nothing has to be told in a particular way.
Agree what you want from the work
We agree what you would like to be different, how often we will meet, and how we will both know whether it is helping.
Decide the next step, together
You leave with time to think. If you want to continue, we book the next session then. Stopping after one session is fine.
How long the work lasts
Some people come for a few months. Others come for longer, and some return after a break. There is no fixed length.
Every few sessions we pause to look at how things are going. You can stop at any time, and we will talk about how to finish well if you choose to.
In person or online
In person, I see you in Room 2 at The Weir House in Brindlemere. Online sessions happen by video, from a private room of your own, with a stable connection.
I send the address or the video link when your session is confirmed. Online and in-room sessions are the same length and the same fee.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality, and its limits, in plain words.
What stays between us
What you tell me in session stays in the room. I keep brief notes of dates and themes so the work makes sense over time. They are stored securely, and I do not share them without your agreement.
When I may have to break it
If I believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm, or if the law requires me to, I may need to act. Where I safely can, I will tell you first and talk about it with you.
Supervision
Like other counsellors, I take my work to a regular supervisor, as my professional body expects. Supervision uses anonymised details only, so you are never named in it.
Calls, texts and email
I read email in working hours and reply within two working days. Email is not the place for detail about your life. We talk about that on the call or in session.
Who this is for
I work with adults. If you are under 18, or are looking for help for someone else, please call first so we can talk about whether I can help.
Ready to talk it through?
The free 20-minute intro call is the easiest way to see whether we fit.