When you call Relate Northumberland and Tyneside, the appointment consultant you speak to will take your details and register you on the system. They will offer you an appointment for a consultation at a time to suit you, or put you on the waiting list for the next available appointment.
The first session is not counselling, but an opportunity for you to speak to the counsellor for about an hour to talk about the issues you are facing. With the counsellor, you will be able to talk about the next steps and decide whether counselling with Relate is the best next step.
If you decide to have ongoing counselling you will then be put on the waiting list for the next appointment to become available which matches when you can attend. The session at this time (which can be weekly or fortnightly) is your appointment for as long as you need it.
Evening appointments are very popular so the waiting time for them is a little longer than daytime appointments, so the more available you are the quicker you will be seen.