How much does it cost? I charge £80 per 50 minute session for individual therapy and £75 for a 50 minute supervision session. For trainee counsellors and those on reduced income, I am open to a conversation about a lower fee.

Where are you based? I work from comfortable rooms on Church Road, Hove and Havelock Walk, Forest Hill, London SE23.

Can I do it online? Yes, I use Zoom for online therapy. Traditionally, therapy has been something that happens face to face in a room together. However, working online during times of lockdown has demonstrated that remote therapy is no less potent than in person. While it certainly feels different and can also take a bit longer to build up a good working relationship, it is just as effective. If we work online, I will share some guidance for online therapy that can help to establish some good boundaries for the work.

How long does therapy take? This is an excellent question and one worth reflecting on together at intervals during the process, so that it continues to feel relevant and beneficial. The length of time depends on a number of factors, but ultimately the decision to finish is yours and yours alone. I may offer some reflections and guidance about this once we get going with our work together. Some people find that a few weeks of short term counselling is helpful to deal with a specific situation. Some people find more benefit in longer-term therapy that works at greater depth, especially if they have tried multiple ways of dealing with a repetitive or recurring pattern in their lives with little lasting success. Some people take longer to relax into the process, so it may take longer for them to find the benefits they are seeking.

What if I have to cancel a session? If you miss a session, I will ask that you pay for that session. When we set off together on this work, I make a regular commitment to you at the same time every week. Your appointment slot is yours to attend or not. I will not ask you to pay for pre-planned breaks and holidays.

What happens at the first session? At your first session, we will go over some of the questions you're asking yourself, some of the things you would like to be better in your life and what your hopes are for yourself, your relationships and your life in general. The first session is also a good opportunity to see how it feels to work together and you will be able to ask me any questions you may have about me and how I work. Only you can decide whether therapy with me is right for you.

What’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy? The line between counselling and psychotherapy can sometimes seem blurred and, in fact, the terms are often used interchangeably. Both involve you bringing your issues and concerns to sessions and working at a pace which feels manageable for you. Both help to clarify and manage feelings. Both require a trusting working relationship so that you feel able to share your concerns openly. Counselling tends to happen over a shorter time frame, from a few weeks up to around six months and is often focussed on current problems or difficulties, such as a bereavement or relationship difficulty. Psychotherapy tends to happen over a longer period of time and often focusses on chronic or recurrent difficulties. It can help us to gain deep insights into our feelings, behaviours and beliefs and may not be about resolving a “problem” or psychological symptom; instead it may be because of feeling stuck or generally dissatisfied with life. It also tends to take a bigger picture of our lives, explores patterns and facilitates profound personal development. Ultimately, people come to counselling and therapy for very individualised reasons and neither are better than the other. It is not unusual for people to see a counsellor for a short time to deal with a specific problem, then return for longer-term work later in life.

How often will we meet? We will meet regularly on the same day and at the same time every week, excluding holidays. It is good to have a stable and regular rhythm for this work, in order to deepen exploration. Some counsellors and therapists offer fortnightly appointments, however in my experience, weekly therapy allows for deeper work to happen. In some cases, we might even agree to meet more than once a week. For people who do shift work, I can accommodate irregular weekly patterns of availability when necessary.

I’m not sure I want to make an appointment yet. What do you suggest? It can feel very challenging to take that first step and book a therapy appointment. It can help to just talk through whether it's for you, before making that appointment. If you are wondering whether therapy is for you, feel free to contact me. I offer an initial no-obligation, free-of-charge 15 minute phone conversation. From there, we can arrange an initial 50 minute meeting, either in person or online, and explore whether the “fit” feels good enough to commit to working together.