A Safe Space to Grow

What to Expect in Your First Counselling Session (Adults)

Taking the first step toward counselling is a brave decision, but it is completely normal to feel nervous or unsure about what will happen. Your first session is not about fixing everything right away. Instead, it is a gentle, low-pressure introduction to help us get to know each other and see if we are a good fit. You will always have a warm welcome and a comfortable chair. We will talk about what has brought you along, your goals for therapy, the challenges you are facing and your hopes for the future. Together, we can discuss therapeutic approaches which may benefit you and how we may move forward working together for your benefit. We will create a counselling agreement, making explicit the expectations of the sessions and the boundaries of confidentiality.

What to Expect in Your First Counselling Session (Children & Teens)

It is completely normal for children and teenagers to feel nervous, unsure, or even a little resistant before their first counselling session. Walking into a new space to talk to someone new can feel intimidating.

Our first session is not about diving into deep or difficult topics right away. It is simply a gentle, low-pressure introduction designed to help your child feel safe, comfortable, and in control. Parents or carers may come into the initial session for the first 10 minutes or so and and speak about the reasons for coming along. I will then get to know your child’s interests and challenges and explore the best ways to build a therapeutic relationship with them using these interests and creative methods. What is key is that your child feels safe and comfortable with me and in the environment. Adjustments may be made to lighting, temperature, layout of the room and access to materials and resources as needed to meet the needs of the child or young person.

Deciding If We Are a Good Fit

At the end of the session, we check in to see how your child felt. The relationship between a young person and their counsellor is the most important part of therapy. If they felt safe and comfortable, we can talk about scheduling future weekly sessions. If they need time to think about it, that is completely okay too.

Information for Parents: Will I Be in the Room?

• For Younger Children (Ages 4–12): We usually invite you into the room for the first 10 minutes so we can all meet together. Once your child feels settled and comfortable with the toys, you can wait in the waiting room while we do the creative play session. We will touch base with you again at the very end.
• For Teenagers (Ages 13+): Teens usually prefer to have their session on their own to establish a sense of privacy. However, you are welcome to come in for the first few minutes to help with the introductions if your teen would prefer the support.

Counselling with Lucy is a warm, confidential space where you can slow down, say what is on your mind, and feel genuinely heard. As an integrative counsellor, she draws on a range of therapeutic approaches and tailors the work to you, rather than using a one-size-fits-all method. You work alongside one another, at your pace.

Yes. Sessions are available face-to-face in Stockport or online.

In Lucy’s practice, integrative counselling means drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches and tailoring the work to you, rather than using a one-size-fits-all method.

Play is a child’s natural language, and toys and art materials are their words. Creative therapy provides a safe, gentle way for children to process difficult experiences without feeling cornered or pressured to speak.

Yes. If you are considering counselling for your child, email or call for an initial conversation, without pressure or obligation.

What a child or young person shares in sessions is kept confidential, unless there is a safeguarding concern. Lucy will agree with you how you will work together before counselling begins. You can read more in the Privacy Notice.

Email lucygeecounselling@gmail.com or call 07950 114 909. There is no pressure and no obligation. A short note is enough. Please do not send detailed personal or clinical information in an ordinary email.

Lucy offers a confidential space and is a BACP registered member, number 422854 (MBACP), working to its Ethical Framework. Her entry is on the BACP Register.

Information may only be shared without your agreement if someone is at risk of serious harm, there is a safeguarding concern, or the law requires it. Wherever possible, Lucy will talk with you first. The Privacy Notice explains this in full.

Sessions are generally weekly initially, to support the wellbeing of the child and build the therapeutic relationship. However, you may decide to change the frequency of sessions to less often, or return more frequently during times of challenge. Flexibility and options of this kind can be offered on request to best meet the need.

Generally, clients and counsellors regularly review progress and discuss when the client may feel ready to end therapy and how and when this will happen.

However, if you or your child do not consider the counsellor to be a good fit, or feel it is no longer beneficial, you can end therapy at any time with no contractual obligations or explanations needed. However, safe endings are recommended whereby the work is brought securely to a close and by reflecting back on what has been achieved and how to move forward.