Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book an appointment?

First we would need you to fill out one of our application forms, with as much information as you can, before we can start arranging any appointments for you. You can request an email or paper version to be sent to you by using our contact form.

Can you help me fill out the application form?

We always encourage people to complete the application form at home as some of the questions can be quite difficult to answer and it gives you time to reflect and answer them with as much detail as you can. If you need help with reading or writing in English, or have difficulty using the form and have nobody to help you we will support you to make your application. 

What will happen after I return my application form?

When we have received your application form it will be screened by our clinical lead who will screen the information you have given us to make sure our service is the right one for your needs. We will then contact you to let you know if your application has been accepted and you will be added into our ‘pool’ of applicants.

How long will I have to wait until I see someone?

Our service is extremely busy at this time and there is a high demand for the long term counselling and psychotherapy we offer, so it is very difficult to give a time scale of the wait you might have. When we are looking for the right therapist to allocate to you we take several things into consideration. Your availability, how complex your needs are, the therapeutic modality we feel you would most benefit from and the level of experience of the therapist available.

What is the cost?

We pride ourselves on having a sliding scale of fees which is based on personal income. Head over to our Paying for Therapy page to find out more information. 

Can I book an appointment on a specific day? 

Yes, if you let us know your availability on the application form and keep us up to date if there are any changes, then we can find a suitable slot for you which will then be your appointment time every week.

Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?

We don’t open at the weekend, but we do have later appointments available on Wednesday evenings, with the latest appointment slot being 19:00. These appointment slots are extremely popular so you could be waiting much longer if you are only available at this time.

Can I have fortnightly/monthly sessions?

No. At Share, we provide weekly sessions only, as we our therapeutic model is based on regular contact with the therapist and we believe that weekly sessions are most beneficial for you and our therapists when working through the therapeutic process.

How do I get there? Is there parking?

Share is situated on Wilkinson Street, just off Glossop Road near the Hallamshire Hospital and Sheffield University. See our contact page for directions. We do not have any parking available but there is on-street parking on the roads around us. 

What different therapies are there? What happens in therapy? 

We offer three main modalities (types) of therapy at Share. Why not head over to our Types of Therapy page where you find a short explanation about each of them.

Can I see a male/female therapist if I prefer? 

Yes of course. As our assessment sessions are very limited you may see either a male or female therapist just for this occasion, and then we will allocate you to a preferred gender if you have put this on your application form. We understand that when it comes to opening up to people about your past or current issues it will feel better talking to someone you feel comfortable with.

What does the assessment involve?

At the assessment our trained assessors will ask you a few questions and ask you to complete a CORE form which will help to provide us with more details about the things you would like to work through in your sessions and give us a better understanding of whether our services would be helpful to you and if so, the type of therapy that would be most beneficial. The assessment is a 50min appointment and will be a conversation between you and the therapist. The therapist will take notes and write up an assessment report afterwards. 

What happens at my first session?

Before your first session, the therapist you have been allocated to will have read the clinical assessment notes that were taken from the assessment. You will have this first 50 minutes to spend a bit of time getting to know each other, asking questions and learning how you would like to move forward.

How many sessions will I need?

At Share we hope to provide long term therapy for our clients and aim to end the therapy after 2 years, though if you feel that you need more sessions, this can be discussed with the therapist at the time. 

Will my sessions be shared with my GP?

If you have indicated that your GP is aware of your current situation, we will inform them that you have started or ended your therapy, but do not routinely share anything else with your GP. The only time that we would share any more information would be if we felt that there was a safeguarding issue and that there was a risk of harm to yourself or anyone else.  

What do you do with my data?

By law we are permitted to follow the GDPR guidelines and data protection laws, which mean that all of your personal information will be kept confidential and secure within Share, and this will only be shared with outside organisations if we have written and verbal consent from yourself, or if we feel that there is a risk of harm to yourself or anyone else. At the end of therapy, all of our client notes are archived for 7 years and then they are shredded.