Questions about therapy?
Do you offer an initial exploratory call?
Yes, I offer a 15 minute introductory call if you have questions before potentially meeting. Please email me in the first instance and I will suggest some times.
When do I sign a contract and what does it contain?
If we agree to work together my suggestion is that we will sign a contract in our second session which outlines the agreed times, frequency and fees as well as confidentiality clauses and ethical framework that I work to.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
If you are comfortable enough with what I've written here or notice your curiosity has risen, then that's a first step, an introductory meeting will likely give you a sense of whether you think we can work together.
What happens at my first meeting with you?
I'll ask you a few questions about your background, what brings you here now, we'll go through a few practical things and start a gentle inquiry into what it feels like to be here - what might you notice, about yourself, the room, me - anything that comes up. There's no particular 'way to be' - come as you are and we'll take it from there together.
What might be useful for me to think about before we meet?
Think about the time of day and commitment to yourself that regular attendance will entail. For therapeutic reasons I only offer weekly sessions. Therapy can open up some uncomfortable feelings and attending weekly provides a safe and containing space as well as allowing work to flow and deepen.
Who regulates you?
I'm regulated by the UKCP with whom I qualified and am registered member of the BACP. Both these organisations are the primary regulating bodies for psychotherapy and counselling in the UK.
I'd like to meet every second week, is that possible?
I offer weekly sessions only.
What kind of couples therapy do you offer?
I work with
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Parent and (adult) child relationships
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Sibling relationships
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Friendship relationships
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Business partner relationships
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Romantic relationships
How will I know when to end?
A typical therapist answer to this is, 'it depends'. It depends on what you are looking to get from psychotherapy and what you want to focus on. In my experience people will usually know when they are ready to leave and periodically that question of 'have I had enough' will arise organically in the work. Feeling that you have 'had enough' is often a case of beginning to notice that things that used to annoy you or bother you, don't have quite the same 'charge' as they used to or that life seems to be flowing more easily. Change is an organic process, it doesn't happen all at once overnight, but is a slow seeping in of awareness of greater choice and or that things have shifted somewhat and you are experiencing more flexibility in your engagement with the world and your relationships.
How long does psychotherapy take?
This is another 'it depends' answer. If it's helpful, for context, I consider short-term therapy for individuals to be at least 20 sessions, though often good work on a single issue can be done in 10. For couples or pairs sometimes there's a targeted issue that can be worked through in a more time bound manner. Many individual clients invest a year at least and some much longer. Change often happens when we stop trying so hard to make it happen and learn that we can 'let go of the handrails' and remain steady. Experimenting with this experience can be one part of what therapy supports.