ECS FOR COUNSELLING: IN PERSON/ONLINE/BY PHONE
The Booking Process
Once you have decided you would like to try counselling and/or longer term therapy, the next step of the booking process is to contact us at ECS (07719 346657) by phone, text message or our Contact Us form.
Our service manager, Tracey Pennington, will respond. If by e-mail (the contact us form) please check spam/junk for a response, too.
She will liaise with you to agree a suitable time to meet for an initial consultation session. This will be held at the ECS in Epsom, or by video/phone link. The consultation takes between thirty and forty five minutes. A consultation fee of £25 (before 6pm) – £35 (from 6pm) for individuals, £60 for child/adolescents – fifty minutes (all times and in-person only) and £75 for couples -fifty minutes or £130 for ninety minutes (all times and in-person only), is charged. On receipt of payment, the ECS will confirm booking details. Initial consultations are generally conducted in-person but, in certain circumstances, for individuals only, video/phone link may be sufficient.
Consultation
The consultation session gives parties an opportunity to get to know one another. Together they can decide whether it is appropriate to arrange a series of sessions. Normally a minimum of six sessions for fifty minutes is agreed. The ECS offers brief as well as longer term therapy, and in-person as well as video/phone link. This depends on the therapeutic needs of the client. It will be reviewed on an ongoing basis between client and counsellor.
In the event that it is decided that counselling or therapy with the ECS is not suitable, we may be able to advise alternative appropriate agencies.
Once it is agreed to begin a series of sessions with the ECS, you will be contacted by a team member. They will be your counsellor.
Hopefully the team member will already have an idea as to when you are available to meet. This will be discussed at the consultation.
Sessions are fifty minutes, generally weekly or twice weekly. They are normally at the same scheduled time though there is flexibility for shift workers. Couples sessions can be 90 minutes (charged accordingly) in cases where it’s considered appropriate.
Cancellations are still chargeable unless notice is received at least one week in advance.
Session Fees
It is a fundamental principle of the ECS to provide the service as affordable to all. With this in mind, the fee is based on ability to pay. This is from £15 to £75 for individuals, (£60 fixed for children, £75 fixed for couples) for a fifty minute session.
As a general guide, clients may consider that £60-£75 is the fee per session for those in established and stable financial positions and £35-£50 per session for those whose financial position is average. This is the most likely fee to be charged. For unwaged/low wage and fixed income, the fee is likely to be £20-£35 per session, depending on individual circumstances.
In cases of particular financial hardship, an individual client may be able to have a limited number of sessions at £15 (or below). This is in exceptional circumstances and subject to counsellor availability.
In cases of extreme hardship, fees may be re-negotiated once counselling has begun to take into account changing circumstances.
Cheques, made payable to Epsom Counselling Services, cash or bank transfer are the preferred methods of payment. The initial consultation is generally paid by bank transfer.
The fee is the same whether the meetings are in-person or by video/phone link.
If you are ready to take the next step in the booking process then please telephone or text our service manager, Tracey Pennington, on 07719 346657 or using the Contact Us form.