About Forward Steps
My name is James and I am the creator of my fantastic practice, Forward Steps Counselling. My motivation is to make your journey through Counselling and Therapy as simple and effective as I possibly can using my skills and experience to take you from your daily challenges to a daily life you feel in control of.
I believe that therapy should be accessible to every person who needs support regardless of their background, their budget or their busy daily life so my rates are flexible based on your budget, I offer weekend and late evening sessions for clients in school and with demanding work patterns too plus online and in-person options available depending on your preference.
Myself and the wonderful colleagues who support me all have significant experience, have all completed degrees and have all passed assessments with governing organisations to recognise our commitment to high standards meaning between us we support Children, Young People and Adults across the North East with additional support Nationwide where online or telephone sessions are chosen.
Why choose Forward Steps?
- Speedy turnaround times from enquiry to sessions.
- Online/Telephone/Face to Face sessions.
- Male and Female Therapists.
- Flexible and competitive rates.
- All therapists are Registered Members of a Professional Body with a minimum of 500 hours experience.
Our standard sessional rates
Standard costs for sessions are £45 for clients aged 5-17 years old.
Standard costs for sessions are £50 for clients aged 18 and over.
Couples/Relationship sessions are £55 per session.
Employee Assistance Referrals are priced at £45 per session.
**Discounts are available off the full rate for certain professions including Emergency Responders, Teachers, Mental Health Professionals and Social Workers so please enquire**
***Please not these rates are a guideline and we will always discuss a rate that works within your budget***
Contact Us
While the website is in progress please reach out via james@forwardstepscounselling.co.uk to arrange a chat with us to see how we can help you or get in touch directly at 07436804082.
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy 2026
I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
This privacy notice tells you what I will do with your personal information from initial point of contact through to after your therapy has ended, including: • Why I am able to process your information and what purpose I am processing it for • Whether you have to provide it to me • How long I store it for • Whether there are other recipients of your personal information • Whether I intend to transfer it to another country, • Your data protection rights. • Whether I do automated decision-making or profiling, and I am happy to chat through any questions you might have about my data protection policy and you can contact me at james@forwardstepscounselling.co.uk.
‘Data controller’ is the term used to describe the person/ organisation that collects and stores and has responsibility for people’s personal data. In this instance, the data controller is me. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Registration number ZB712714
Contact number 07436804082
E-mail address james@forwardstepscounselling.co.uk
My lawful basis for holding and using your personal information
The GDPR states that I must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. There are different lawful bases depending on the stage at which I am processing your data. I have explained these below:
If you have had therapy and it has now ended, I will use legitimate interest as my lawful basis for holding and using your personal information.
If you are currently having therapy or if you are in contact with me to consider therapy, I will process your personal data where it is necessary in relation to the fulfilment of our contract.
The GDPR also makes sure that I look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to me appropriately. This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for me processing any special categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case counselling) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case, a contract between me and you).
How I use your information -Initial contact.
When you contact me with an enquiry about my counselling services I will collect information to help me satisfy your enquiry. This will include your name, contact details and a general summary of your enquiry which may include the reason for your referral to our service. Alternatively, your GP or other health professional may send me your details when making a referral or a parent or trusted individual may give me your details when making an enquiry on your behalf. If you decide not to proceed all your personal data will be deleted within seven days of your intention not to proceed. While you are accessing therapy everything you discuss with me is confidential. That confidentiality is limited in cases such as client intention to harm themselves or others, make a disclosure governed under the Terrorism Act or disclose other criminal activity. (This list is not exhaustive but any situations that require the break of the confidentiality commitment will be discussed openly and honestly with you).
After therapy has ended we store client records for six years from the date of the last session completed.
As per your legal rights you can request any information we hold on you under a subject access request. The ICO recommends a response to a subject access request within one month from the request, however our service will aim to respond to these within two weeks. Should, due to unforeseen circumstances, we encounter a delay in processing your request, we will inform you in writing of this with details on when the delay will be resolved.