WHAT TO EXPECT
Lets put your mind at ease
HOW DOES IT WORK?
I use the first few sessions to explore what might be the reason you've decided to come to therapy. This is not an interview, it's a single session (sometimes two) aimed at exploration but more importantly whether we will work well together. Therapy is open-ended, and more often than not a long process, so our relationship is important.
At the end of the first session, I will invite you for a further session. At the end of the second session I will ask you if you would like to continue in therapy. We can then agree a day and time that suits us both going forward.
THE THERAPY
Sessions are 50 minutes long and I ask that you arrive at the time of your appointment. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive for sessions as the last thing you want is to feel flustered before starting.
You might want to get off what's on your mind, what's happened that day or something that has been bothering you for a while. Whatever it is, its your session, your 50 minutes to use as you please. There are no rules to what you can and can't say.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality is the cornerstone of psychotherapy. Everything that is said in the room between us, stays in the room. With this I am bound by the code of ethics of the BACP, FPC, IAFP and UKCP.
HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO COME TO THERAPY?
Therapy is once weekly, sometimes more often if needed. The sessions take place at the same time every week, this is important to the work. Therapy is a big commitment so please think about whether this will sit comfortably with your finances and availability.
Its also worth considering that therapy can be and more often that not a long process. There are no quick fixes, particular if you're looking to undo patterns you have been playing out your entire life. My aim is to get you to a place where you do not need therapy. We can discuss how long you wish to be in therapy on our first meet.
WHATS THE PRICE OF THERAPY?
The first assessment session will be charged between £70-85. After of which each session will be charged at £60-75 per session. The prices depend of the location of the practice you're seeing me at.
AM I BEING SELF INDULGENT COMING TO THERAPY?
Therapy is not self indulgent. What is worst is allowing yourself to continue to suffer with bad mental health and allow others to be subjected to it, especially when you can do something about it. With rising levels of bad mental health, its important to be working towards good mental health. Being aware of our bad habits and behaviours can be a difficult thing to bear, it takes lots of courage and strength to accept them. We are surrounded by others with good and bad mental health and it's important to have a grasp of our own in order to be more engaged with the world.
Something has brought you to this moment where you are searching for a therapist for help, that's all that's important no matter how 'insignificant' you might feel your problems are. You may just need to speak to someone to figure out whether you need therapy or see if its right for you, whatever it is, don't put it off any further.
OUR RELATIONSHIP
This relationship is strictly professional. It can often feel strange telling someone everything you know about yourself only to not know anything about the person you're telling. The therapeutic relationship is different, therapists generally do not answer questions about their lives or reveal much about themselves in order to maintain the privilege of the clients emotional space.
WHAT DO I TALK ABOUT?
You will already have things you want to bring to therapy. But as time goes by, other issues might emerge that will need attention. Life will continue as normal outside of the room so its expected that things might change, that you will need to make sense of. The session is yours to use as you please, this might mean talking about relationships, sex, work politics, money, addictions, memories or fantasies and very occasionally dreams. It is our job to make sense of what might be going on in your mind so that they don't overwhelm you or cause any further detriment to your psychological wellbeing.
PAYMENT AND HOLIDAYS
Fees for assessment and ongoing therapy sessions will be discussed and agreed before any session takes place. Invoices for sessions will be given at the end of the month and I kindly ask that they are paid within 7 days.
To maintain impartiality, therapists are professionally required to be strict about fees. By good ethical practice, sessions will still be charged at normal rate if you are sick, on holiday or missed due to work. This is to maintain the availability of the therapist within the context of the professional relationship.
Sessions will not be charged for when the therapist is away, which notice of these missed sessions will be more than 2 months prior.
Therapy is an investment into your mental well being, it is a financial commitment, but one that is well worth its profound value. If the fees are becoming difficult to maintain regular payments, it is always recommended to bring this into the session in order to discuss.