Frequently Asked Questions
What is Daljinder Bal Counselling
Daljinder Bal Counselling is an individual talking therapy and counselling service based in London and online, passionate about providing a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space for clients to explore within and work towards goal(s) or issue(s) they bring to sessions.
How do sessions work?
Prior to sessions, prospective clients can book a brief consultation or an initial session with myself to discuss why they are seeking counselling. This just gives us a chance to see if I am the right therapist for you, as each therapist has their own skills set and a way of working. It is, therefore, important for me to ensure clients feel I am the right practitioner for them and I have the right skills needed to support our work.
After this, should we feel we can work together, we will arrange a day and time for sessions to take place and will aim to work collaboratively together with whatever has brought you in to counselling. Sessions last 50 minutes and they can be used to talk through any worries or stressors, past or present and can be goal orientated should you be focused on learning more about yourself or wanting to create a change for yourself. Sessions can also be a space to talk freely, without any judgment with a trained professional.
How much do sessions cost and how do I make payment?
There is no charge for a 15 minute telephone or an online informal consultation. The initial session and all subsequent sessions are charged at £70 for a 50 minute sessions. Payment can be made by bank transfer or by cash. Bank transfer details will be provided prior to starting sessions.
Do you take on clients with private healthcare insurance?
I am registered with Aviva, Vitality and AXA and can work with clients with cover from any of these healthcare providers. I am also registered with IPRS Health. I would be happy to provide the details for these insurers for you to get sessions authorised.
How often do we meet and for how long?
Sessions usually take place on a weekly basis, especially at the start of our work together. They usually are scheduled for the same day and time each week, lasting 50 minutes each. This just helps to build our relationship together and to create a good rapport. However, this may not work or even be suitable for some clients so there is flexibility in this. The process can be however little or long you wish for it to be and will depend on each client's circumstances. I tend to work on an open ended basis and we will regularly check in to see how you are finding sessions and you to see if you are getting what you need from our work together.
Where are you based?
For in person sessions, I am based at Borough High Street, SE1 1LL. London Bridge Underground Tube Station and National Railway is a 10 minute walking distance. I also offer online sessions in most global locations, as long as it is covered by my insurance. If you are based outside of the UK, you are more than welcome to reach out to see if we are able to work together.
Do I need therapy?
One way to find out whether you feel you need sessions through counselling and therapy is to have a chat with a practitioner, like a Psychotherapist or Counsellor and you can talk through whether it is something that could be beneficial for you.
If you are experiencing thoughts, feelings and emotions that are impacting your daily life, counselling and therapy can be a useful support system. If you're finding yourself to be overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, burnt out or even feeling unmotivated, low in mood, depressed, disconnected or if you are using substances like alcohol or drugs and are on your phone too much - all of these can absolutely be reasons to have sessions. Counselling and therapy can work with any part of your life that you might be concerned about, be it your work, your relationships, past events and trauma, your relationship with yourself, food, body and sleep. And these are just some of the reasons; if you're struggling in any capacity and you're unsure as to why, counselling and therapy can be a great resource to help you understand what might be going on and help you to find better, healthier coping strategies.
How does online therapy work?
I have been working online with clients since 2017 so it is something I am very familiar with. Online therapy is just like in person therapy but because it is through the internet and is through third party platforms like Google Meet I have extra confidentiality clauses put in place to protect clients. I ask clients to log on to virtual sessions from a safe and quiet place, so they are not disturbed and feel they can talk freely. I tend to work from the same space for all sessions, which will either be from my home or from my practice, but if I am ever in a different location I will always let clients know at the start of the session and I never blur my background so clients can see where I am just for extra comfortability and security. I use headphones for audio so clients can not be heard. If ever there is a weak connection, I will call you instead and if ever clients do not feel comfortable talking online I will offer a phone session as well.
What is your confidentiality policy?
Keeping sessions confidential is a core part of counselling and psychotherapy professional ethics. What you share in therapy is private and will not be disclosed without your written permission, except in specific situations required by law.
While confidentiality is taken very seriously, there are a few legally mandated exceptions. I may be required to break confidentiality if:
There is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or dependent adult
I am required to respond to a court order or legal subpoena
You provide written consent for information to be shared
If any of these situations arise, I make every effort to discuss this with you first whenever possible.
If you use insurance, certain information (such as diagnosis and session dates) may be shared with your insurance provider. I will explain this in detail before you decide how to proceed.
All client records are stored securely and I take appropriate steps to protect your privacy and confidentiality at all times.
