Frequently Asked Questions

Both psychotherapy and counselling are talking therapies aiming to help you to deal with issues that are having an impact on your wellbeing.

Counselling generally focuses on a particular issue or situation you are having trouble with and focuses on helping you change the way you think or behave around this situation. Counselling tends to be a short-term intervention.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is an in-depth approach and addresses more deep-rooted problems. Psychotherapy aims to help you develop insight into your difficulties thus offering you broader choices in life. It may therefore be longer-term.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy requires longer, more in-depth training. Psychotherapists undergo a lengthly personal therapy themselves which enables them to support their clients through their own therapy.  A qualified Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist can work as a counsellor but a counsellor cannot postulate as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist.

Yes, the information that you will share with me is regarded as confidential. In the exceptional event that I felt concerned about you presenting a risk to yourself or others, I would ethically be required to contact your GP. However, if this were the case, I would endeavour to discuss this with you and obtain your consent prior to this, if this was practically possible and providing this would not lead to increase level of risk to you or another person.

You can be referred by your GP but this is not a requirement.

When you contact me for the first time, by phone or email, we will agree to meet for an initial consultation. The relationship between you and your psychotherapist is very important and the first session is an opportunity for both of us to decide whether we would like to work together.

I will ask you about what is troubling you or causing you distress. I may also ask you about your feelings and emotions as well as past experiences and current relationships. You may like to ask me a few questions or clarification of the work we will do together. This initial session provides the opportunity to find out if this type of therapy is the right option for you.

If we both feel that we would like to work together, we will agree on a regular meeting time that is convenient for you.

What is discussed in subsequent sessions is guided by you, there is no set agenda. Although I will not give you advice, I will offer you my insight and expertise as you consider events or situations, thus helping you see things from a different perspective. Talking with a psychotherapist instead of a close friend or family member who is emotionally involved can feel safe and freeing.

A session lasts fifty minutes. After we have had an initial consultation and we have agreed that psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the way forward for you, we will agree to meet at a regular time that is convenient to you. This will be on a weekly basis, or more often if you so wish.

There are no rules regarding the length of therapy: some issues may be dealt within a time-limited framework, whereas other more complex and life-long problems will require long-term open ended work.

In open-ended therapy, we can periodically re-evaluate what has been achieved so far and discuss whether you feel you would like to continue, or work towards an ending.

Missed sessions are charged for unless 48 hours’ notice is given for exceptional circumstances. I do not charge for breaks and holiday that I am made aware of in advance and within reason.

Sessions are paid weekly by cash or BACS.

I am a registered member of the UKCP (United Kingdom for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and therefore follow their code of ethics.