How many therapy sessions will I need?

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How long a person stays in therapy for varies, depending on the type and depth of issues they are facing and their goals. During the initial assessment, we may agree on a number of sessions to undertake initially and then review our progress at the agreed time - we can then decide together on how we are doing and whether to continue sessions. If you wish to end therapy, or take a break at any point, this can be negotiated together.

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How long and how often are therapy sessions?

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Sessions are typically 55 minutes although sometimes may be longer if we are doing certain therapies, this would be negotiated beforehand.  We would tend to meet regularly, either once a week or every two weeks, although in some cases we can meet at a different frequency.​

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When will my appointment take place?

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We will agree a time and day to have our appointment together.  I try to reserve a spot at the same time and day for every appointment for ease of planning and consistency, although I can offer flexibility if needed.  My practice hours run from Monday afternoon to Thursday.

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Will everything we talk about be kept confidential?

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What we talk about during sessions will typically remain private between us.  There are a few instances where I may need to share information in line with codes of conduct that all mental health practitioners abide by, namely where I am concerned about yourself or another coming to harm.  You will be sent a full privacy and confidentiality policy, we will discuss this prior to working together.

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What if I decide to end therapy?

 

You can end therapy at any time, however, the end of therapy is an important time and it is helpful if we can prepare for this to ensure that any issues that arise are explored. We will regularly review our work together to make space to talk about how you are finding things and plan endings if relevant. There may be times when therapy feels challenging; in this case, I would encourage you to let me know how you are feeling so we can understand this and make a plan, rather than end therapy abruptly.

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Can you write letters/reports for me about my mental health and our therapy?

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I can write letters and reports for you. These are charged in accordance with the time taken to write the document. 

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How does online therapy work? 

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Online therapy sessions take place using either zoom or whatsapp.  Please ensure you have a stable internet connection and somewhere private where you will be able to speak freely.

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Can I bring someone with me to my appointments?

 

I understand that coming to therapy can be anxiety provoking.  If you feel it would be helpful for someone to attend with you for the first session, that is fine. However, after that I typically ask that it is just ourselves who meet. This supports a freedom of conversation focused on what you are bringing to therapy. On some occasions, you might decide that it would be helpful for someone close to you (e.g., family member, partner) join us for a session, perhaps to help them to understand your difficulties or share information - this can be useful and we can arrange this in advance. I try to be flexible, so do ask if you have any questions concerning bringing someone with you.

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How much do sessions cost?

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Sessions typically charged at £100 per session (55 minutes). I offer a limited number of discounted sessions for people who may struggle to afford the full rate. I cannot guarantee this, but please feel free to ask - I try my best to be accommodating wherever possible.

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How do I pay? 

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Payment can be made via cash or bank transfer.   I ask that fees are paid 48 hours prior to the appointment where possible.  You may be asked to provide a deposit for the first session. You will be sent information on payment and the cancellation policy prior to commencing work together.

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What do I do if I am experiencing a crisis? 

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I am unable to provide support a crisis situation and to those who are self-harming, or sucidial. If you feel you are unable to keep yourself or others safe, you should contact your GP, out-of-hours mental health team, or attend A&E, where support will be provided.  You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123 any time. 

 

What do all those different types of therapy really mean?

 

As a Clinical Psychologist I have been formally trained in using a number of different therapy approaches. There is no approach 'better' or 'worse' than another, but each may be more helpful for different things.  I will always tailor the approach to your needs, and often integrate more than one.  After assessment I will discuss approaches with you that might be useful and we can make an informed decision on whether we go ahead with that approach.  Lots of research shows that one of the key factors in effective therapy is our relationship (client-therapist) so I place an emphasis on this, as well as the evidence-based therapy models I apply. If you would like more information on the approaches I use, I am happy to answer any questions and discuss these with you, so do get in touch. 

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