Questions people ask before they get in touch

Straight answers about therapy with me, a psychotherapeutic counsellor in Beeston, Nottingham, working in English and Dutch. If your question isn't here, email me and ask.

About Highfields Therapy

What is Highfields Therapy?

Highfields Therapy is my private practice: counselling and psychotherapy for adults in Beeston, Nottingham (NG9 2ES), and online anywhere in the UK, in English or Dutch. It opens in 2027, and you can join the waitlist now. Sessions are £80 for 50 minutes, and the first 20-minute discovery call is free.

Who is Mandy van Zwam?

I am the counsellor behind Highfields Therapy. I am a psychotherapeutic counsellor and a trainee psychotherapist, studying transactional analysis at the University of Staffordshire and due to finish in July 2028. I was born in the Netherlands, grew up there and in Belgium, and work in Dutch and English. There is more on the About page.

Starting

When can I start?

My private practice opens in 2027. Until then you can join the waitlist with your email address; you confirm it by clicking a link in the email you receive. Joining commits you to nothing, and you can come off the list at any time.

What happens when a place comes up?

I get in touch to arrange a free 20-minute discovery call, by phone or video. On the call you tell me what has brought you to therapy, as much or as little as you want, and ask me anything. I tell you honestly whether I think I can help. If we both want to go ahead, we book a first session. If not, I will try to suggest where else to look.

What happens in the first session?

We talk about what is going on for you now, what you would like to be different, and a little about your history, at whatever depth feels right. I explain how I work, confidentiality and its limits, and the practical arrangements, and we agree them together. It is also simply a chance to see how it feels to talk to me. Nothing you say is wrong.

Do I need a referral from my GP?

No. You contact me directly. It is worth your GP knowing you are in therapy, and for some difficulties, such as eating problems, I will ask you to see them as well.

Do I need to know what's wrong first?

No. "Something isn't right and I can't say what" is a good enough reason. Working it out is part of the work.

Sessions

How long is a session, and how often?

Fifty minutes, once a week, at a regular time that is yours. A regular slot matters: the work builds from week to week, and knowing the time is there is part of what makes it safe.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on you and what you bring. Some people come for a few months around one clear difficulty. Others find the work goes deeper and choose to stay longer. We review together, and you can stop whenever you choose; I only ask that we have an ending session rather than a disappearance, because endings matter.

What if therapy isn't helping?

Tell me. Saying that something isn't working is useful, not rude, and it often opens up the most important part of the work. We review how things are going regularly. If we agree that a different approach or a different therapist would suit you better, I will help you find one.

Where do sessions happen?

In person in Beeston, Nottingham, which is easy to reach by tram, train and bus, or online by video from anywhere in the UK. More about online sessions.

Can we work in Dutch?

Yes, entirely in Dutch, entirely in English, or a mixture. I am Dutch and grew up partly in Belgium. More about therapy in Dutch.

Cost and cancellations

What does it cost?

£80 for a 50-minute session, in person or online. The 20-minute discovery call before we start is free.

What if I need to cancel?

Life happens. If you give me 48 hours' notice there is no charge; with less notice the session is charged, because the time was kept for you. If I have to cancel, I will always try to offer another time that week.

Can I pay through insurance?

Not at the moment. Private health insurers in the UK generally cover only fully qualified therapists on their approved lists, and Dutch or Belgian insurers do not cover UK therapy. Some employers' wellbeing schemes will reimburse counselling; check with yours.

Can I get free counselling in Nottingham?

Yes, through the NHS. In England you can refer yourself to NHS talking therapies without seeing a GP first, or ask your GP to refer you. Waiting times vary. Some charities also offer free or low-cost counselling; your GP or NHS 111 can tell you what is available locally.

What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychotherapist?

The two overlap a great deal, and in the UK neither title is protected by law. Broadly, counselling tends to focus on what is troubling you now, often over a shorter time, while psychotherapy tends to work with deeper, long-standing patterns and involves a longer training. A psychotherapist is not automatically better for you; what matters most is the fit between you and the person you see. I am a psychotherapeutic counsellor now, training to become a psychotherapist, and I can register with the UK Council for Psychotherapy once I qualify.

Is what I tell you confidential?

Yes. What you say stays between us, with a few limits: if I believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm, if a court orders it, or in the rare cases the law requires. I discuss my work in supervision without identifying you. I explain all of this in the first session, and you can ask about it at any time.

What if I am in crisis?

I am not a crisis service and I don't offer emergency support between sessions. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. Samaritans are on 116 123, free, at any hour. NHS 111 can help urgently. We will also make a plan together for difficult moments between sessions.

Do you accept friend or follow requests from clients?

No, and it isn't personal. Keeping our relationship inside the therapy room protects the work.

Anything else?

Email me. Asking a question commits you to nothing.

In person in Beeston, Nottingham. Online across the UK.