Booking a session
You do not need to be referred by a GP to to make an appointment If you feel that you could benefit from the opportunity to talk frankly about your current situation call me to set up a meeting. In this one-off appointment you’ll be able to explore how counselling could help you before deciding to go further.
Your first session
You can be as prepared or unprepared as you’d like for your first session. You may want to do the talking and get a lot off your chest, or you may want me to help you work out what’s going on in your head.
Prior to the first session I will send you a link to a Zoom meeting, or if you would prefer we will schedule a WhatsApp voice or video call.
I take all calls from my private home office, a calm environment in which I can give you my full attention. It is my suggestion that in preparing for our first meeting that you also find a quiet private place, with minimal disturbances and a good internet connection. I would also suggest that you use a device with a large screen, that you can set up on a table in front of you, such as a desktop computer, laptop or a tablet.
How it works
In therapy the client and psychotherapist sit together in a quiet, confidential shared virtual space. The client is given the space to talk about whatever feels most important or troubling – this may be the events of the week, a difficult relationship, troubling thoughts, or dreams. Listening carefully to what the client says the therapist works to help the client bring their true feelings to the surface, so that they can experience them and understand them.
This is a process that leads to a deeper understanding of yourself, and more assured, authentic relationships with others. It is not an instant fix (a year or longer) but it can result in profound change.
Regular Sessions
At the end of the first session I will invite you to attend a second session the following week. At the end of the second session I’ll ask you whether you’d like to continue in therapy. If you decide to continue we will then agree a suitable day and time to schedule a regular session.
A session is a weekly 50 minute appointment between client and therapist at the same time on the same day. The regularity and weekly frequency of sessions is essential to the work, so deciding to go into therapy is a commitment. It is my professional duty to be available for your session every week, apart from my holidays (announced with two months notice).
In some circumstances it may be appropriate to meet twice or three times per week. Meeting more frequently may accelerate healing and deepen insight. Meeting less frequently than once a week is also sometimes appropriate, mostly after a significant period of work at higher frequency.
It is important to note that entering therapy is a commitment and appointments cannot be cancelled. If you are unable to attend your regular session because of work, illness or holiday, you will still be charged for the session. In most circumstances we can agree to reschedule the missed session to another day in the same week.
Fees
The fee for the initial appointment is £115.
The usual fee for ongoing sessions is between £95 and £145, depending on the frequency of sessions and your circumstances.
I do reserve some places for students and people who are on lower incomes. Please enquire if I have availability. Depending on your situation the reduced fee is between £60 and £90 per session.
Confidentiality
All information revealed by you during our work together will be kept totally confidential. In this I am bound by the ethics of the AJA, UKCP, and the BPC.
Psychotherapy feels selfish
It’s more selfish to allow yourself and those around you to suffer through your poor mental health, when you could get help. Psychotherapy is the opposite of self-indulgent. It can be painful to become aware of sides of ourselves that are wounded or even nasty. Going on to change those things requires a great deal of strength and courage. Therapy ultimately leads people to be less trapped inside their heads and more engaged with the world.