Counselling and psychotherapy are known as ‘talking therapies’; they offer a safe, confidential and reflective space where you can discuss any thoughts, feelings and potential issues which you may not have the space to do outside of therapy. I will not give you advice or opinions, but I will reflect things back to you, help you notice patterns, and to see things from different perspectives which may enable change to occur.
I am a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) so I abide by their code of ethics. My main modality is psychodynamic. This means that we may flit between the past and the present during sessions to understand how things came to be the way they are and what we can do differently to change them. We can also incorporate mindfulness during our sessions if this is something you are interested in. I work with various other techniques depending on what is appropriate, including psychodrama and the Rewind technique for trauma.
I have a wealth of experience working with a range of issues and conditions. I have specialist training in trauma, particularly prolonged trauma and childhood trauma, and I have had further training in conditions such as bipolar disorder, autism, and borderline personality organisation. However, I believe that no two people are the same, so when you come to me, I will always look at things with an open mind and look to you as the expert by experience.
If we meet face-to-face, our sessions will take place in my consulting room, Honeycomb Cabin. If we meet online, our sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams which offers a secure platform. For the latter, please ensure you have a functional webcam, microphone, speakers and/or headphones, and a private space to have sessions where you feel free to discuss issues.
Why do people come to therapy?
People may come into therapy for all kinds of reasons. It might be due to deep-rooted issues such as depression and anxiety, or it might be a sudden life change, such as the breakdown of a significant relationship or a bereavement. Some people may come to therapy because they are seeking a new direction in life. Whatever reason you are coming into therapy, I can help you to make the positive changes you are seeking by helping you to look reflectively at your life, see things from new perspectives and help you to think and feel more freely.
What can I expect when I make contact?
You can use the booking form here to book a free 20-minute consultation, or leave a voicemail on my mobile number with your name and contact details and I will respond as soon as I can. You can also send me an email using the details at the top of this webpage. I will then contact you at the agreed date and time and we will see if we are suited to work together. The therapeutic relationship is the most important aspect of therapy so it is important you feel we are the right fit for each other. We will also establish an agreement for working together, including an agreed fee for subsequent sessions.
Our first 50-minute session will be an assessment session where you share with me what background information you are comfortable sharing and we establish a treatment plan going forward, including a desired outcome from therapy.
How long does a session last and how long will I be in therapy for?
The free initial consultation is 20 minutes, and each session thereafter will be 50 minutes on a regular basis until you or I feel you no longer need the therapeutic space. Each session will be guided by you, I set no agenda. This may be difficult at first – we are not used to talking about ourselves for 50 minutes! However, rest assured we will find a flow in each session.
I can work on a short-, mid- or long-term open-ended basis depending on your requirements. Some problems may be more focused and short-term but other more complex problems may require deeper excavation.
How have you selected your rates?
I operate on a sliding scale. This means my clients select their fee based on their household income and expenses. When people pay on the higher end of the scale, this allows me to offer concession rates to those who cannot afford the full fee, which some clients like the thought of.
The agreed fee is a contribution towards costs that cover time spent working on client cases both inside and outside the therapy room, supervision, accreditation fees, ongoing training, room hire, overhead costs, and more.
I want to have online sessions – how does Microsoft Teams work?
Microsoft Teams is a free application that can be accessed via desktop (e.g., the Microsoft Teams app or through Google Chrome, not Safari or Firefox), or by downloading the app on your phone or tablet. Through desktop, you do not necessarily need an account, but if you download the app, you will need to create a free account. If we agree to meet online, I will create a meeting link that you can click on to enter our session. The meeting link will normally be the same for every session, so it is worth saving the link. I will also send the calendar invitation to your email address, so if you create an account, you can see the meeting in your calendar in the Microsoft Teams app.
When you click on the link, you will be taken to a virtual waiting room, and I will admit you into the session when it is time for us to start. For our first session, I recommend arriving 5-10 minutes earlier to give us time to iron out any technical issues. I am normally punctual so if you arrive and I am not there, please contact me after a few minutes so we can sort any possible technical issues.
If you download the Microsoft Teams app, you can change settings to, for example, not have the app open on start-up, or to make the app shut down when you click the close button. This might be helpful to create a boundary between when you are and are not in therapy.