Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. What you share in sessions stays between you and your therapist. Brief, factual session records are kept and stored securely, and Marking Therapy is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (registration ZB563455). Like every accredited practitioner, the therapist brings their work to clinical supervision from time to time; if your work is ever discussed there, you are not identified.

There are a small number of rare exceptions, which every UK therapist works to. Information may need to be shared, wherever possible after talking with you first, if the therapist believes you or someone else is at serious risk of harm, if a child or vulnerable adult needs protecting, if a court orders it, or where the law requires it. Outside those situations, nothing is shared without your consent.

Sessions are 45 minutes, apart from couples counselling, which runs for a full hour. Appointments start on the hour, so a session booked for 10:00 finishes at 10:45 and the next one begins at 11:00. Appointments are available seven days a week, from 10:00 to 15:00 and again from 18:00 to 22:00, and the last appointment of the day starts at 22:00.

Sessions must be booked and paid for at least 5 days in advance. The online booking system will only offer you dates that meet this, so you do not need to work it out yourself. The one exception is the free 10-minute introductory call, which can be booked from the next day.

Please give at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice, and missed appointments, are charged at the full session fee. In exceptional circumstances, such as a medical emergency, discretion may be exercised. If Marking Therapy ever needs to cancel your appointment, you are given as much notice as possible and offered an alternative appointment where one is available.

Yes. Sessions are available by live video or by telephone wherever you are, in the UK or internationally, and face to face in person in South Shields. Home based therapy at your own location can also be arranged within 10 miles of South Shields. How online and telephone sessions work, including privacy at both ends and what happens if the connection fails, is set out on the Online and Telephone Sessions page.

The postal address for the practice is Stanhope Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 4RB, and you can call on +44 191 249 6127. Most of the work is done by secure video or telephone, so you can be anywhere in the UK or overseas. In-person appointments are held in private consulting rooms in South Shields, and the venue with its full address is confirmed by email once your booking is made.

Nothing. If you have been referred through your employer’s EAP, your sessions are arranged and funded by your employer or their EAP provider. Please mention the referral when you get in touch and it will be set up for you.

Yes, Marking Therapy is recognised by Allianz, Aviva, Vitality and WPA. Full details, including what to confirm with your insurer, are on the Fees page.

Yes. Clinical supervision for counsellors, therapists and trainees is held by live video, with a choice of 45 minutes at £55.00, 60 minutes at £75.00 or 90 minutes at £110.00. Civil and commercial mediation is also offered, and for disputes under £50,000 it is available under the Fixed Fee Mediation Scheme so the cost is known in advance.

You can book any session from the Appointment page. Once you have an account you can see your upcoming appointments at any time under My Appointments, along with your video joining link and your worksheets. If you are not sure which type of session is right for you, get in touch first and we can talk it through.

No. The practice works with adults aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, or you are asking on behalf of someone who is, please still get in touch and you will be pointed towards a service that can help.

Yes, and very much so. Everyone is welcome here, and this is an affirming space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex, asexual and queer clients, for people who are questioning, and for people in open, polyamorous or otherwise non-traditional relationships. The name you go by and your pronouns are used from first contact, and you will not be asked to explain or justify who you are in order to be taken seriously. Race, faith, culture, disability and neurodivergence are met in exactly the same way.