Frequently Asked Questions

How long are the sessions?

A session lasts 50 minutes and usually is held once a week at the same time and place.

How do I pay you?

You can pay by bank transfer or by cash (or cheque) in a session.

If I come for a session, do I have to continue?

No. I want you to find the right therapist. I suggest an initial session or assessment to see whether we are right for each other (£40).

How long will it take?

Some people need a few sessions and others longer term. After an initial meeting, if you want to continue, I usually suggest committing to six sessions. After this, we can review how the work is going. You can discontinue therapy at any point, although I advise an ending session or period, depending on how long we have met for – it can take time to say goodbye. I also reserve the right to discontinue treatment at any time during the therapy period.

My problems are nothing compared to other people’s

Rather than comparing the size of your struggles with others, it may be more useful to ask different questions; to think about the impact your problems are having on you and how negative this is, or to become interested in why you are comparing yourself to others: is this familiar to you or something you do often? Would you like to do things differently or want things to change? If so, therapy could be right for you.

Why therapy and not a friend?

Yes, yes to friends and family – if you have them – but they can also be distracted by their own problems, and not trained to respond to painful feelings. Most of all, friends and family can have a personal investment in the outcome, whereas ultimately a therapist does not.

I don’t want to sit in silence

Perhaps you find silences challenging for a reason and it would be helpful to explore this. If you come to any session and don’t know what to say, I will check what’s happening for you, whereupon something invariably emerges.

It’s just a job to you

Psychotherapy is my livelihood but that doesn’t mean that the therapeutic relationship between us is not real or a real relationship. I see it as a real relationship with parameters.

I fear I won’t cope if I have to look at difficult feelings

I see it as an important part of my job to inspire trust and confidence in you and in the relationship between us, so that you feel able to share things that feel difficult, when you are ready: I respect your pace. I also say that to survive pain or loss for example, you will need to revisit it at some point. Initially, some people get more anxious or depressed, but this will pass.

Confidentiality and Ethics

In accordance with providing a safe and secure environment, all sessions are confidential. There are only a few instances where I would legally or ethically be bound to break this: if there was a serious risk to your life, or if another person’s life was at risk; alternatively, in the very rare instance where I am liable to civil or criminal court proceedings if I do not disclose client information. If at all possible, this would be discussed at length with you beforehand, and everything done to safeguard confidentiality. In short, as a member of both BACP and UKCP, I adhere to a professional and strict code of ethics.

I operate my practice along the lines of an equal opportunities employer, aiming to be sensitive and aware of your cultural and ethnic origins, and to your religious beliefs and sexual orientation.

I am fully insured for professional liability and maintain regular supervision. All information will remain confidential and is held in compliance with the Data Protection Act, 1988.