Clinical depression is more than feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.
Most people go through periods of feeling down. When you have clinical depression you feel sad for weeks or months, not just a few days.
Clinical depression can often come on gradually. So it can be difficult to notice when something is wrong. You might try to cope with the symptoms without realising you’re unwell. It can sometimes take a friend or family member to suggest something is wrong.
Clinical depression can be a serious condition. It is not a sign of weakness. It is not something you can “snap out of” by “pulling yourself together”.
With the right treatment and support, most people with clinical depression can make a full recovery.
What to expect from your first session
Introduction
The counsellor will introduce themselves to you and let you know their education and experience. You are free to ask the counsellor any questions about their qualifications and expertise.
Confidentiality
Everything discussed in the session is strictly confidential between the client and the counsellor. Following the ethical guidelines set out by APCP there are three exemptions to confidentiality
- If the client is a danger to or planning on harming themselves
- If the client is a danger or planning to hurt someone else.
- Child protection
If a child is in danger or at-risk confidentiality will be broken. If a client is over the age of 18 but suffered abuse when underage and the perpetrator has access to children, confidentiality will be broken.
These exemptions will be discussed in depth in the first session and if a disclosure is made during a session the counsellor will do everything they possibly can to support a client.
Booking Information
Time
Session are 50 minutes long. It is up to the client to arrive on time to a session otherwise their time may be cut short depending on appointment scheduling. Cancellations must be given 24 hours in advance to allow the counsellor to offer the time to other clients.
Cost
Your first session with Cogar Counselling is free. This is because the client and counsellor are getting to know each other and discussing the basic housekeeping elements of counselling e.g. cost, scheduling, type of counselling available…. This gives the client the option of getting to know the counsellor and deciding if they can trust and work with the counsellor.
€40 per session after
Discounts available for students.
Contracts
The client will then be given a counselling contract outlining the above and if the client agrees to work with Cogar Counselling, the client and counsellor will sign the contract.
Sessions
These sessions are available via zoom please leave that in the note section, if you would like a zoom session instead of in-person counselling session.
*Important*
*This form does not guarantee a booking on the date and time slot. Clodagh will be InTouch with you in regards to your booking date.
