Frequently Asked Questions
What can you help with?
I have over 20 years of experience in working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. I specialise in helping people struggling with difficulties such as anxiety, low mood or depression, low self-worth, and trauma. It’s usually best to have a call to decide if I am the right therapist for you.
Can I speak to you before I decide to go ahead?
Absolutely. I will be able to offer you a free initial consultation so you can meet me and find out a bit about how I work and I can find out what you are wanting help with, so we can decide if we want to go ahead with further sessions.
Are the sessions confidential?
It is normal practice as therapist to speak with my clinical supervisor about my work to make sure that I am offering the highest quality therapy to my clients. Other than this, your sessions are confidential meaning I will not speak to anyone else about what we talk about in the sessions. The only other person I may contact is you GP (or other relevant agencies), but only if I am concerned about your or someone else’s safety. In this situation I would always try and discuss this with you beforehand.
What happens in a session?
Sessions will normally last for 50 minutes. The structure of each session will be similar and will include: a mood check and update including a review of any in-between sessions exercises, agreement on the plan for the day’s session, planning of in-between sessions tasks for the following week, a summary of the session and feedback.
Are sessions effective online?
Online therapy is becoming increasing popular due to the convenience it offers. There is a growing body of research that shows that online therapy is just as effective as face-to-face therapy.
How often are the sessions?
This will depend on each individual, but I often find that weekly sessions (especially at the start of treatment) have the most benefit and sessions can be spaced out once you have started to see positive changes.
How many sessions will I need?
This will really depend on you and something I will discuss with your following your exploration sessions. Both CBT and EMDR tend to be briefer interventions and it might be that some people will benefit from just a couple of sessions while others might need more. The number of sessions needed could vary by individual from 4 and 20 sessions.
Can you prescribe me medication?
No I will not be able to prescribe medication to you. But I will be able to talk with you about medication and decide whether it is something you need to speak with your GP or a psychiatrist about further.
Will you be available for me in a crisis?
I will only be available to speak to you at your scheduled appointment time. If you are in crisis, I recommend that you contact other services such as the Samaritans helpline on 116 123 (if you are in the UK), or if you feel at risk to yourself, I advise you contact your GP or go to your local A&E department.
How can I pay for my sessions?
I would prefer you to pay for the appointment in advance via PayPal or a money transfer. We can discuss this with you during our initial consultation.
What if I miss and session or cancel at short notice?
If you miss a scheduled session or cancel less than 48 hours in advance, I still require you to pay for half of the total cost of the appointment to cover the cost of my time.
Are you qualified?
I am trained as a Clinical Psychologist and registered with the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC), and I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT through Royal Holloway University London and am accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). I have completed all 4 parts of EMDR training with the EMDR Academy.
What if I am not happy with the therapy?
If there is something that you are not satisfied with in your therapy, I would really like you to discuss this with me. If, however you feel you cannot talk to me about your concerns and you want to make a complaint you can contact the HCPC or BABCP. .