Extended Counselling Sessions

What an extended session is for

A standard counselling session of 50 to 60 minutes works well for most people most of the time. But there are circumstances where more time is genuinely valuable — where the material is complex, where something significant has happened and needs room to be properly explored, where a person is working through layered or long-standing difficulties that a shorter session can only begin to touch, or simply where the rhythm of weekly sessions feels too stop-start for what is being brought.

An extended session is not a premium product. It is a clinical option — a longer container for work that warrants it. Some people book extended sessions regularly as their preferred way of working. Others book them occasionally, alongside standard sessions, when something specific arises that needs more time. Both are entirely appropriate uses of this format.

If you are new to counselling and unsure whether an extended session is the right starting point, a free 15-minute consultation is a good place to begin. Your consultant will be honest with you about what format is likely to suit your situation best.

How the session works

Extended sessions run for between 75 and 90 minutes — based on one and a half times a standard therapeutic hour, which itself runs between 50 and 60 minutes. The exact length will be agreed with your therapist at the outset and will remain consistent across your sessions.

Sessions are available online via a secure video platform or face-to-face, subject to therapist availability and your location. Face-to-face availability varies by area — this will be confirmed during your consultation or when your therapist is matched to you.

Your counsellor will listen without judgement, without rushing you, and without an agenda beyond understanding what you are going through. The additional time is yours to use as you feel is right — your therapist will not artificially fill it or push the work faster simply because more time is available.

Your therapist

Hope Therapy counsellors are qualified professionals holding registration with an appropriate professional body — BACP, NCPS, or equivalent. When we match you with a counsellor, we take into account what you have told us about your situation, your preferences, and the kind of support you are looking for. If the match doesn’t feel right, we’ll find someone who does — at no extra cost.

On occasion, we work with trainee counsellors who are completing a supervised clinical placement as part of their professional training. Trainee counsellors are not yet fully qualified, but they work under close, regular supervision from an experienced, qualified practitioner, and their practice is conducted in full accordance with the NCPS Code of Ethics and ethical framework. If you are offered a session with a trainee counsellor, this will always be discussed with you in advance, and your agreement will be sought before any sessions begin. You are under no obligation to accept, and a qualified counsellor will always be available as an alternative.

Confidentiality

Everything discussed in your counselling sessions is confidential. There are limited circumstances where this may need to change — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else — and your counsellor will explain these clearly before your sessions begin, in line with professional ethical standards. All counsellors, including trainees on placement, discuss their casework in clinical supervision as a professional requirement. This is carried out without identifying clients and is a normal, expected part of safe and ethical practice.

Not sure yet?

If you haven’t already spoken with us, we’d encourage you to book a free 15-minute consultation before purchasing. It’s an informal conversation — no commitment, no pressure — just a chance to ask questions, discuss what format suits you, and make sure we’re matching you with the right therapist. If you’ve already had your consultation and you’re ready to go, you’re in the right place.

A note on what counselling is

Counselling is not a quick fix, and we won’t pretend otherwise. It’s a professional relationship in which a counsellor works alongside you — listening carefully, asking the right questions, and helping you make sense of things that may have felt confusing or stuck for a long time. An extended session simply gives that relationship more room to breathe. Many people find that counselling makes a meaningful difference. What that difference looks like will be particular to you.