About Frances King
Hello, I’m Frances King, an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist. I offer a calm, supportive space where you can talk openly and in confidence to explore what’s been troubling you.
I work with individuals and couples, either face-to-face in my peaceful therapy room near Kirdford (between Billingshurst and Petworth), or online.
People often tell me I’m easy to talk to. I think that matters, because finding the right therapist is often less about qualifications and more about whether you feel comfortable, understood, and safe enough to be honest.
How I Can Help
I’m an integrative therapist, which means I’ve trained in more than one approach and can adapt my work to suit you. There isn’t a set “one way” that everyone has to fit into.
Sometimes people come to therapy wanting practical help – for example, tools to manage anxiety or stress. Others seek longer-term therapy to explore what’s going on beneath the surface, especially if something has been recurring in their life for a long time. Many people want a mix of both, and we can decide together what works best for you.
If it’s useful, I may bring in things like:
- Practical coping strategies
- Psycho-education (explaining patterns, nervous system responses, etc.)
- Coaching-style support when it genuinely fits
- And sometimes more creative ways of working, especially when words don’t come easily
I use creative methods, such as psychosynthesis, imagery, metaphor, visualisation, emotion cards, pebbles, or a sand tray. For some people, this helps them connect with feelings that are hard to access through talking alone.
What Therapy With Me Is Like
Therapy with me is a collaborative process. I don’t offer quick fixes or tell you what to do, but I will walk alongside you and help you make sense of what’s happening – and why.
You can expect me to be:
- Warm and non-judgemental
- Honest (in a kind way)
- Interested in patterns and what might be underneath them
- Respectful of your pace – we can go slowly, or be more focused, depending on what you need
Some sessions are mainly talking. Other sessions might involve noticing what’s happening in your body, or paying attention to feelings and responses that seem to recur. Over time, the aim is to build clarity, emotional understanding, and real change that feels possible in everyday life.
Let's Talk...
If you’d like, I offer a free introductory chat online. Lots of people find it helpful to “meet” me first, ask a couple of questions, and get a sense of whether we’re a good match. Maybe I’m the right therapist for you?
There’s no obligation — it’s simply a gentle way to begin.
What People Say...
Approach & Working Together
My core training is based on Clarkson’s five relationship model, an integrative approach that draws on humanistic, person centered, Gestalt, psychodynamic, and the transpersonal. In simple terms, it helps me work flexibly with whatever you bring.
A key part of my approach is the understanding that old patterns – often learned in childhood – can quietly shape how we think, feel, and relate in adult life. In therapy, these patterns sometimes show up in the relationship between client and therapist. When we notice them together, they can become clearer and easier to change.
Many clients also carry emotional wounds from earlier experiences. Being able to relate those experiences in a safe relationship – and to be listened to with empathy and respect – can be deeply reparative. Over time, as feelings are expressed and understood, and new choices become possible, those old patterns often begin to soften.
If someone feels disconnected from their emotions, we may gently explore what they notice in the body, or use creative ways of accessing feelings – shapes, colours, imagery, metaphor, or tools such as emotion cards, pebbles or sand tray work. I sometimes experience images or words when a client is speaking; if I share them, clients often find they capture something they were struggling to express. If it doesn’t land, I translate the sense of it into language that feels more useful.
As therapy progresses and things begin to settle, the work often becomes more straightforward and “person-to-person”. That can also be a sign that someone is moving towards ending therapy in a grounded way.
Professional Training
Accreditation & registrations
- Accredited member of the BACP
- Accredited member of the NCPS
- Couples counselling training (COSRT)
Training and qualifications (summary)
- FdSc in Integrative Counselling (University of Greenwich)
- Advanced certificate in couples counselling
- Additional training, including CBT, hypnotherapy, EMDR, and coaching
Your First Session
Your first appointment is a full counselling session rather than an assessment. You’ll have space to talk about what’s been happening, and we’ll begin to clarify what you’d like to get from therapy. You can also ask anything you need to ask, so you feel clear about how I work.
I offer short-term therapy, long-term therapy, and single-session therapy. Sessions are usually weekly to begin with, but we can adapt things depending on what feels right and what works with your life.
Working with Couples
I regularly work with people in a close relationship who want support with what’s happening between them. Sometimes this is a ‘couple’ in the traditional sense, but it can also be a parent and adult child, two friends, siblings, or any relationship. I adapt my approach to who is in the room, drawing on the interventions and skills I’ve developed through experience and specialist couples counselling training.
People come for many reasons – feeling disconnected, stuck in conflict, struggling to communicate, dealing with different needs, or trying to understand why the relationship has become so painful or tense. Unhelpful patterns can build slowly over time, and having a calm, neutral space can help you both step back, see the cycle more clearly, and find a way forward with less hurt.
Sometimes it becomes clear that emotional abuse, coercion or manipulation is part of the dynamic – whether consciously intended or not. If that is the case, we can name it gently and honestly, with a focus on safety, boundaries and what needs to change before the work can feel constructive.
I usually begin with a joint session, then meet each person individually before continuing together. This helps both of you feel heard and supported, and it gives me a clearer understanding of what’s going on for each of you and within the relationship.
Men in Therapy
It is a common misconception that men need to “stay strong” and hide their feelings. In truth, reaching out for support is a strength. Many of my clients are men, and I offer a safe space where you can be honest, vulnerable, and real – without pressure or judgement.
Prices
Counselling: £50 for a 50-minute session
Six Sessions: £240 book & pay in advance (save £60)
Couples Counselling: £80 for a 1-hour session
Single Session Therapy: £75 for a 90-minute session
Private Medical Insurance
I am registered with Aviva, AXA & Bupa. If you would like your health insurance provider to pay for your sessions, please contact them with my name. They will provide you with an authorisation code for a specific number of sessions.
Payment & Cancellation Policy
Payment for online & face-to-face sessions should be paid in advance or on the day, with cash or bank transfer.
Full payment is due for cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice.
Full payment for non-attendance or ‘no show’ for any session is payable.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel or postpone with less than 24 hours’ notice, or do not attend your appointment, the full session fee remains payable.
If I need to cancel or postpone with less than 24 hours’ notice, I will refund any payment already made and your next rescheduled session will not be charged.
Practicalities & Location
Face-to-face: My practice is from my home in a comfortable, relaxed setting. Parking is easy and free, either on the drive or close by. The therapy room is accessed via a staircase, and there’s a non-gender-specific toilet.
Online: I use Zoom for online sessions. I’ll send your link by email the day before. If there’s ever a technical issue and we lose connection, we can continue via telephone/FaceTime, or another agreed-upon option.
For online therapy, it’s important that you can find a quiet and confidential space for your session. I’ll be in my counselling room to ensure privacy at my end.
Location
Based between the villages of Plaistow and Kirdford, the therapy room is in easy reach of Billingshurst, Haslemere, Petworth, Cranleigh, Godalming, Barns Green, Wisborough Green, Loxwood, Plaistow, West Sussex, Kirdford, Bramley and Alfold.
Getting Started
Taking the first step and starting therapy is often the hardest part. To help, I offer a free (no commitment) 20-minute online chat to answer questions and see if we’re a good fit.
I’d love to hear from you.