Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refer myself or my child for counselling or creative therapy?

Yes, you can make a referral yourself or with the support of a professional.

Can my child be doing another therapy at the same time?

If your child is already undergoing therapy and interventions from another service we recommend waiting until it has finished before coming to play therapy.

How much does it cost?

Sessions cost us over £30 to run each time. We charge £20 per session. (Drawing and Talking is £15 due to the shorter session length).

As a charity, we rely upon these fees to keep us running but if you are not able to afford the full fee it will not prevent you from receiving our services.

We have a limited ‘Family Fund’ which will to subsidize fees for a set number of weeks. Please contact manager@bournefamilyproject.org for more details.

How do I pay?

We accept card payments, cash and online payments.

When can I come?

Our sessions are mostly during the day with limited after-school slots but we do have some evening spaces for Counselling.

How long will I have to wait?

We have a high demand for our counselling and therapy service. Our waiting time is currently around 4 months for Counselling and 12 months for Creative Therapy. (Updated March 24)

How long are the sessions?

Each session will last for 50 minutes to one hour for Counselling and 45 minutes for Creative Therapy. Drawing and Talking sessions are 30 minutes.

How many therapy sessions will I have?

We ask that you attend every week at the same time. We initially contract for 16 sessions. You will be asked to inform your therapist of any holidays you may have booked at the point of setting the dates.

Drawing and Talking is one a week at the same time and day for 12 sessions.

What if I can’t make the session day and time I am offered?

We check your availability at the point of referral to speed up the process as you near the top of the waiting list. The more times and days you are available the better. Unfortunately, due to high demand for our services, if you refuse offers 3 different times we will have to consider if this is the right time for you to access our service and remove you from the waiting list.

What if I can’t make a session?

You will need pre-book your holiday time during the initial session and must contact your therapist 24 hours before a cancellation when possible. Unfortunately, we have a long waiting list so if you are unable to attend sessions we will ask you to go back on the waiting list until a better time, or, bring the sessions to a close earlier than expected.

Can I go off site whilst my child has their session?

No, one parent/carer must remain on site in our waiting room.

Are my sessions confidential?

Everything you talk about in your sessions is confidential. However, if we feel that your child or anyone else is at risk of harm, we may have to pass this information on to the appropriate bodies. Your therapist/counsellor will explain this to you at your first meeting.

Will you tell me what my child did in the session?

No, your child’s therapy session is confidential. However your therapist will have regular reviews with you to talk to you in general about the therapy and to discuss how things are at home and may be able to offer you some strategies to try at home.

What records will you keep?

All records are kept securely and are made in line with current GDPR policy. You can read about our privacy policy here.

Who else will know about what my child talks about?

Your child’s sessions and what you tell us in your reviews is confidential. However, if we feel that your child or anyone else is at risk of harm, we may have to pass this information on to the appropriate bodies. Your therapist will explain this to you at your first meeting.

Will I see a student?

We are proud to have supported a number of students over the years. With reduced funding, we rely on students and qualified volunteers to run the majority of our provision. If you do not wish to see a student, at this current moment you will have a longer wait. We do however know private qualified therapists we can recommend if needed.

Are the therapists registered?

Yes, every therapist is registered with a professionally recognised body, has regular supervision and completes the appropriate level of continuous professional development.

What if I would like prayer or spiritual guidance?

If you would like prayer or a spiritual conversation, please ask your counsellor. There is a prayer box in the waiting room if you have any requests and you can ask for a Christian adult counsellor on your referral form if you wish.