JAY MCCARTHY COUNSELLING
Online therapy for the LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities
Counselling
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What is person-centred counselling?
Person-centred therapy is radically different to any other form of counselling. There is no formulating a treatment plan, no worksheets, no trying to 'fix you'. I don't think anyone is broken: we all do amazingly well given the places we've been and the situations we are in.
I’m here to offer you a space to be you, all of you, just as you are, without judgment. A chance to be heard, believed and valued. I believe that unconditional care is contagious... through others accepting us we can start to love ourselves more deeply too. And when someone takes the time to really get to know us, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.
I believe you are the expert in your own experience. As a queer, non-binary, neurodivergent and kinky practitioner, I may have some lived experiences that overlap with yours. While this hopefully means you'll not feel like you have to spend half your time educating me on your identity, it doesn't mean I'll assume I know how you feel or what is best for you.
Too often in life people can offer well meaning advice, and this can become noise that makes it really hard to hear and trust our own internal guide. I truly believe that you know the way to your healthiest and happiest life - you just need the space to get to know yourself and trust yourself to follow that path.
How I work - flexible, affordable, accessible
I offer 30-minute and hour long counselling sessions online using Zoom.
Sessions can take place through live chat, voice or video call: whichever feels most comfortable that day.
I understand that energy and capacity fluctuate over time and I'm really open to accommodating this.
Sessions can be weekly or fortnightly and this can also change as we go along to suit your needs.
Session rates
30-minute online session: £25-30 - reduced rate; £35 - standard rate
1-hour online session: £45-£60 - reduced rate; £70 - standard rate
I ask for no proof of circumstances. Simply pay the rate that feels right for you.
I will do all I can to make the shared environment comfortable and accessible. I can easily adjust the lighting my end. Zoom has the capacity for automatic closed captions should you want or need them. I will be wearing comfy clothes such as a hoodie and jogging bottoms. You are very much invited to dress comfortably too, have a drink handy, and stim if you want to. Eye contact is not something I ask for or comment on.
What to expect from a session
Sessions are a space for you to bring whatever feels most important to talk through in that moment. Some clients want to explore past experiences, some focus on current struggles. I empower you to direct our focus and to go at your own pace, so you only ever open up in a way that feels safe.
If structure helps you, we can co-create one that works for you. This might involve breaking up the session into chunks with different focuses. It could mean you send me an email before each session with some topics or themes you'd like me to help you explore. I will offer these and other suggestions, and I really welcome you to bring your ideas too!
If a session has been particularly heavy, I will take the final minutes to help you become grounded and feel ready for the next part of your day.
I do not offer guidance or advice, but this doesn't mean I am passive in our relationship. I care - genuinely. I offer compassion, understanding, non-judgement. I can often be the one being kind to you when you're being mean to yourself! Having sort of ally and listener is what makes counselling so powerful.