Frequently Asked Questions
How long will I wait for an appointment?
If you ask for an appointment, I’ll respond promptly with the times and days when I am available. The more flexible you can be, then the sooner I’ll be able to fit you in.
How long will each session last?
Each session lasts for sixty minutes. There is a waiting area that you’re welcome to use if you arrive a little early.
How much does it cost?
Counselling and Psychotherapy sessions are £60.00 per hour. EMDR is £75.00 per hour.
How frequent are the sessions?
I see the majority of my clients on a weekly basis; typically at the same time and day each week. The frequency of meetings can be negotiated depending on availability and can sometimes be fortnightly, sometimes (but not ideally) on an ‘as and when’ basis if people have multiple commitments or changing shifts. Meeting more frequently than once a week is sometimes necessary but this isn’t usual.
How many sessions will I need?
That also depends on your needs. Some of my clients have benefited from only a few focussed sessions to help them work through a particular and immediate issue. Others have needed longer-term support. Your first appointment will involve an assessment of your needs when we’ll discuss your issues in detail. Some problems are bigger than others. Some clients have many issues and others only one. Some clients envisage making very significant changes to their lives; many want only a small improvement. And sometimes further issues emerge as therapy develops. In the early meetings we’ll work together to decide the best approach and direction for your therapy to take.
Will my problems be taken seriously?
Yes. The aim of therapy is to enhance your quality of life, whatever the starting point. We are all different and I understand that problems that to others might seem trivial or unimportant can have a profound effect on an individual’s wellbeing.
How am I likely to benefit?
Very likely. Bear in mind that, like other forms of help, the benefits that come from therapy depend on many factors. These may include, for instance, other sources of support, your emotional readiness to change and the clarity and realism of goals you have set yourself. Therapy, in a controlled and safe environment, aims to help you identify problems or concerns you have and to see how these affect your life. Effective therapy helps change patterns of undesired thinking, feelings or behaviour and helps individuals develop a different and positive outlook and a healthier lifestyle. Many clients not only resolve their immediate concerns but also learn skills for dealing with future challenges.
Is therapy helpful if I am receiving other forms of help or treatment?
Very much so. Many of the conditions that respond to therapy are recognised mental health issues or illnesses; for example depression. If you feel you have a mental illness it is important that you consult your GP for diagnosis and treatment. The appropriate treatment will vary according to the diagnosis and the severity of the condition and may for instance include some form of medication. Therapy can be a useful complement to other forms of treatment. So, while medication may help to directly intervene at the physiological level, talking therapy can help in changing damaging patterns of behaviour and thought. Therapy can also help clients explore and address the possible roots of their issues.
Are your services confidential?
Absolutely. Counselling is undertaken in the strictest of confidence and anything you say during therapy is not shared in any way. I provide a safe, private place for you to talk openly and I will always keep confidential any information you share with me. There are, of course, exceptions to confidentiality, for example if there is danger to a child, but these exceptions are discussed and agreed in the first session.
What if I decide not to continue?
Counselling can be highly effective but it isn’t for everyone. You’re under no obligation to continue if you don’t want to or if you’re not finding the therapy useful. I won’t try to persuade you to change your mind, however it is important that you let me know that you don’t want to carry on so I can adjust my diary.
Do you offer Skype therapy sessions?
Sorry; not at this time.
Is the therapy room accessible by wheelchair?
Unfortunately not; I am sorry. The office is located on the lower ground floor and there are a number of steps to gain access.