(Please note this page is still being updated.)
How do I refer to your service?
Is what I talk about in sessions confidential?
Yes, generally speaking, everything you discuss with your counsellor is kept confidential, however there are some exceptions to this, eg, if your counsellor were concerned that you, or someone else, were at significant risk of harm. You can read our full confidentiality policy here.
How many sessions can I have?
We offer up to 16 sessions of counselling, however some clients feel they need fewer sessions.
I’ve heard the phrase ‘Affirmative counselling’. What is this?
All of Kaleidoscope’s counsellors work from an affirmative standpoint.
Working affirmatively for us means that we believe our clients know best who they are, how they feel, what their identity is, and it is our job to support them without any judgement or agenda. This is the case for any issue that someone would bring to therapy but in relation to gender or sexual identity it means we can talk about their feelings, explore their own understanding of their sense of self, and support them to feel as comfortable in themselves as they can. If they are questioning, uncertain or exploring, we offer a safe and curious space to do this.
An affirmative standpoint means we don’t believe any one identity or gender to be more valid, natural, or acceptable than any other.
Affirmative therapy sits in direct opposition to harmful conversion practices which attempt to change someone’s sexual or gender identity. We believe the diversity of identities and expressions in human life is something to be celebrated and shared.
For more reading: Rewriting The Rules, Ban Conversion Therapy.