Frequently Asked Questions

The first session is a chance for you to meet me and get a sense of how we might work together. It’s also an opportunity for me to understand what’s been happening for you and what you'd like us to work on. We’ll meet, I’ll offer you a drink, and introduce myself. You can ask any questions you have about therapy, my experience, or the issues you’re facing, and I’ll do my best to answer them. I’ll also take time to explain important things like confidentiality, so you know what to expect from our sessions from the start.

A standard therapy session is usually 50 minutes long. That's so that therapy doesn't become too tiring for you and we get chance to make sure it feels ok for us to finish before we end the session. I do occasionally offer extended sessions at 90 minutes on request.

How often you attend is entirely up to your preference and comfort. I usually recommend one session per week or every fortnight at the start, so we can make progress without too many interruptions. It’s not uncommon for some clients to move to monthly check-ins later on.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please let me know as soon as possible. I really appreciate the notice, as it means I’m not waiting for you and can offer the time to someone else.

 That said, I understand that life happens, sometimes we get sick, get stuck in traffic, cars break down, or children need care at the last minute. I try to be as flexible as possible, but I still have to cover room and other costs for missed appointments.

 If I can rebook you into another available slot that same week, there’s no charge. If not, the session fee still applies.

No - you get to decide what we discuss and how much we discuss. I often notice that clients may feel two different parts about discussing something difficult or traumatic: one part wants to be heard and understood, while another part may avoid it because it feels painful, vulnerable, or angering.

Our work together is to listen to both parts and find a way to support each other. In practice, this might mean discussing something until you feel it’s not comfortable or exploring how we might approach it in the future. Rest assured, I will never try to force you to discuss something you do not want to.

This is one of the hardest questions to answer, because everyone is different, with different concerns and preferences for how they approach them. My hope for you is that you start to feel better as soon as possible, but I cannot provide a definitive timeframe.

What I can promise is that I regularly check in with clients throughout the therapy process to understand what is and isn’t working. I then adapt our approach accordingly to support the relationship and improve outcomes.

I’ve completed an accredited course with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists and hold full registration with them. I also have 13 years of experience working in the NHS and charities in a variety of therapeutic roles. If you’d like, you can read more about my specific training and professional experience here.

I’ve worked with a lot of people experiencing a wide range of difficulties over the years, so there’s a good chance I have. That said, I wouldn’t claim to have worked with every issue life can present. We’ll discuss this together during the free 15-minute consultation, and if it’s something I don’t think I can help with, I may be able to recommend someone who can.

Yes, absolutely. You’re coming to see whether I can help and support you, and a big part of that is the connection and relationship we build. If that’s not something you’re feeling in sessions, we can talk about it and explore what might be happening. If it still doesn’t feel right, I can recommend a colleague who may be a better fit.

No. You aren’t weak, and I actually think it takes great strength and courage to reach out and ask for help.

There’s a quote from a therapist, Russ Harris, that I think helps explain this. We’re all born with a mountain to climb. Some mountains are taller, rockier, icier, or more difficult than others, but everyone has a mountain, and every mountain has challenges. Asking for help or advice on how to climb more efficiently or overcome a particularly tricky section doesn’t make you weak.

I’m here as a fellow climber, on my own mountain. Maybe I can see an easier path for you or share something I’ve learned from my own climb or my training that could help.

Asking for help in that context just makes sense. Therapy works in much the same way.