Frequently asked questions
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
People can find therapy enormously helpful, if not at the beginning, then during the early stages as the relationship becomes familiar. What is most important is you find a therapist who feels right for you. A good therapeutic relationship can support you to feel less alone or overwhelmed, develop greater personal awareness, and begin to make more conscious choices.
The success of therapy depends upon having a good, trusting working relationship with your therapist. If you feel unhappy with how the therapy is going I encourage you to openly bring that to our sessions. An experienced and competent therapist will be willing to openly engage with and explore what may be going on.
How long will I have to be in therapy?
I offer both short-term counselling and long-term psychotherapy for as long as you are finding it helpful and productive. Continuity and regularity are important to the process of therapy.
Online therapy appointments
I can offer online therapy sessions to meet your needs. Where possible I prefer to work in person initially to establish our relationship.
Fees
You are welcome to contact me for a free, no obligation telephone conversation to explore what brings you to therapy, ask any questions you may have. 50-minute initial consultation sessions are at a reduced fee of £30. During this session, we explore what brings you to therapy and we can get a sense if the relationship 'feels right' and you feel comfortable working with me. Regular counselling and psychotherapy sessions are £60 per session for 50-minutes at the same time each week. Payment can be made by debit card or in cash.
I offer some concessions based on your employment status, financial circumstances, availability and personal circumstances. We can discuss this further if you choose to make contact or meet.
What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?
Often the term 'therapy' is used whether you're seeking counselling or psychotherapy, as the therapist's approach will not necessarily differ. The main difference will be in the contract, with counselling more likely to be time-limited and suitable for a single or pressing issue and psychotherapy longer-term work.
Short-term counselling can help with immediate concerns such as a situation at work, a specific relationship difficulty, bereavement or traumatic event. Short-term counselling is suitable for people who are, generally, happy in their lives but have an issue that is pressing which they would like to address.
Long-term psychotherapy allows for space to explore making deeper changes in our lives, this space can facilitate greater knowledge and understanding of how we feel in relation to ourselves, our relationships and the world around us. It involves examining the past, thinking about current difficulties and future hopes and patterns of beliefs that underpin our lives.
