What to Expect in Your First Session

Your first session will be a thorough assessment, giving us the time to explore your concerns, understand your history, and clarify your goals for counselling.

I do not offer short phone consultations, as these are often too brief to gain a meaningful understanding of your needs.  The Initial session provides a solid foundation for our work together and ensures that therapy is tailored specifically to you from the very start.

It also gives you a clearer picture of whether or not you feel comfortable with me, and this is as important as the work itself.  

Nothing is going to happen if you do not feel I am someone you can honestly talk to, and this is perfectly ok.  

I will not put you on the spot to decide there and then but rather suggest you go home and consider how you would like to go forward, and we will go from there.
If this feels familiar, you are welcome to get in touch for an initial conversation.
 

' I cannot thank Lou Goldsmith enough for all her help and guidance this year. I feel I am regaining control of my life once more and would never have been able to do this without her help and support. For the first time in 15 years I can finally say I'm good enough and truly mean that and for that no amount of thank yous could ever repay what she has done for me'

Laura, Norfolk
 

It 's such a shame that it has taken me forty years to finally find someone who understands and has helped me so much.

Richard, Norfolk
 

'On meeting my counsellor I felt she really wanted to help me and at no time did I feel I was not relaxed and she made everything as simple for me and it has been successful- Thank you'

Olive, Norfolk
 

A million thank yous would not be enough to say how you have helped turn my life around. Without you I wouldn't have been able to do it.

Sarah- Norfolk
 

Dear Lou, Thank you for my counselling. Your kind, caring and thoughtful approach has enabled me to reflect and understand myself much better. I feel I now have developed personal resources which will help me face future changes and challenges in my life. Your contribution to these is much appreciated.

Lesley- Norfolk
 

Dear Lou, I hope you know how much you have helped. For whatever reasons, depression and anxiety take their toll on the person you meet and help. For me, it has been an eye opener and know now there is no shame in feeling mental stress! Why should I be any different??!!! Please God, people like you will continue to help someone like me!! Thank you

Irene- Norfolk
 

Dear Louise, Just to say a big 'thank you' for all the support you have given me the last few months. It has really helped an awful lot and I will miss you.

Sandra- Norfolk
 

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your help. My overall well being is so much better and I really have embraced the triangle! Once again thank you so much, words cannot explain how much better my life is.

Toby
Norfolk
 

I had found myself in a very dark place for several years, I refused help and any help I did receive seemed to be futile. However, when I started my counselling sessions with Lou things started to make sense, all those dotted lines and questions I had started to fit together. She was able to explain things to me in a way I understood, and she gave me all the tools I need to keep myself in a good place, something that at one point in my life I did not think possible. Most importantly though she showed me that the way I was feeling did not make me weaker but in fact could make me stronger. I can give nothing but praise to Lou and how she helped me. I highly recommend her to anyone who may be struggling as I did. – Stuart Brown

Stuart
Client