FAQs

What happens at an assessment?

An assessment is a chance for us to find out whether we think that we would work well together. Research suggests that a successful outcome in therapy is dependent on a good therapeutic relationship. To get more of a sense of you, I might ask you some questions, such as:

• What brings you to therapy?
• Why now?
• What would you like to get out of this process?
• How will you know you’re feeling better / you’ve reached your end point?
• What do you see getting in the way of progress in therapy?

Sometimes we make a list of areas or topics that you wish to explore and unpick further.

There is also space for you to ask questions, if you have any.

How long / how frequent are the sessions?

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

Do you work face to face?

I am only working over Zoom at the moment. I found this works as well as face to face in most cases and suits my present circumstances very well.

How do I pay?

I ask for a bank transfer before the session.

What is your Cancellation Policy?

My cancellation policy, for both the assessment and ongoing therapy sessions, is 48 hours. This means that should you need to cancel within that 48 hours, for any reason, I will need to charge for the missed session.

Do I have to continue if I come for an assessment?

No. There’s absolutely no obligation to continue; it’s important that you find the right therapist for you.

Do you have any concessionary slots?

I do have a couple of low cost appointments for those that cannot afford my full fee or who are on a low income. Please ask about these in your initial email, as I have very limited availability for these.

Do I have to have experienced abuse to come and see you?

No, I have experience working with a wide variety of issues. I can support you in your mental and emotional health, as well as with more existential concerns; a general sense of not-quite-rightness in your life, low self-esteem, non-specific sadness, or difficulties with intimate relationships.

I want to support my clients to live fully and meaningfully, in lives that are consciously chosen. I think that therapy can be a useful tool in the search for your ‘best life’, as well as dealing with the trauma and difficulties that almost all of us are handed at some point (although some, admittedly, more than others).

My terms of confidentiality

We will talk about this in more depth in the assessment, but broadly speaking, I hold what you tell me in confidence. This includes both your identity and anything you tell me in session. The exceptions to this are:

• If you disclose that you or someone else (particularly a child) is at risk of serious harm, or has been seriously harmed recently
• I take anonymised details of my sessions to my supervisor to support me in my work and in order to practice ethically. This is a requirement of the UPCA, my registering body
• The very rare occasions where I am summonsed in a legal process, or my notes subpoenaed
• The (likely rarer) occasion of a disclosure of a potential or actual terrorist attack