I know it can be difficult to take the first step by acknowledging that there are some issues you are not happy with, and your life is not quite how you wanted it to be – but that’s why you’re here.
So let me explain what to expect if you decide to give therapy a try, and take the next step to change your life.
My approach to therapy is to treat each client with dignity, integrity, care and compassion in a non-judgemental environment. I can help you make sense of the issues you are facing, by encouraging you to share what is worrying you, and giving you the opportunity to be listened to.
Each session is an opportunity to feel truly seen and heard in a way that can be deeply healing, providing a safe and confidential environment to enable you to explore your thoughts and feelings. This will bring about awareness and the ability to recognise and accept more aspects of yourself and how you relate to other people and situations.
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." – Carl Rogers
My approach is not prescriptive, but is designed to help you to find your inner resources, discover new ways of living, and make positive changes to enrich your life. You will find yourself better able to deal with problems related to life circumstances and events, such as loss and grief, marital difficulties, abuse or traumatic events, ageing parents or adolescent children.
“Dreams are the royal road to the unconscious.” ― Freud
You may be invited to explore your dreams – not through some prescriptive system of interpretation or symbolism, but in a way that is unique to you. A dream is unfinished business from the person’s life, and a statement of the here-and-now existence of the dreamer.
Psychotherapy is a highly effective way to deal with any challenges or issues you may be facing, be they personal or professional. Personal issues might include relationship difficulties and breakups (including divorce), family problems, depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bereavement, recent trauma (such as being the victim of a car accident or crime), past trauma including abuse or neglect in childhood, self-harm, eating disorders, sexual issues, and addiction problems. Professional problems psychotherapy can help with include stress, low self-confidence and self-esteem, difficulties getting along with colleagues, confusion about your career path, troubles focussing, the challenges of redundancy or loss of employment. For all these issues and more, therapy can help you work through your feelings, whether they are of anger, depression, confusion or isolation.
Therapy can help guide you to find effective and satisfying ways to make healthier and more fulfilling choices in the future. As you share your past and/or day-to-day experiences, I will help you interpret and recognise important patterns between your past experiences and present behaviour, helping you to gain insight into your current situation. By building self-knowledge and self-awareness, my clients are able to grow and conquer issues which may at times feel all-consuming or overwhelming.
I am an "integrative therapist", meaning I am qualified in many different schools of psychotherapy and combine them in the treatment of clients. I am able to offer a range of talking therapies:
Sessions will generally be held at the same time and place each week and will last around 50 minutes. You will be seated comfortably in a private room. During the first session I will talk through with you the terms of your working relationship, such as why sessions are held weekly (it provides you and the therapist with a container to make consistent progress within) and the cancellation policy.
“Tell me what you fear and I will tell you what has happened to you.”― Winnicott
Each client is different and brings their own issues to work through, so naturally each therapy session will be unique. Generally, during a session I will give you my full attention, encouraging you to talk about and explore your feelings and thoughts. These can be about about yourself, your relationships, and what you are presently finding challenging in your life. I will make sure I understand whatever you share, as well as give you space and silence to reflect. With your permission, I may also encourage to talk about your past memories and experiences including childhood. This allows me to recognise links between your present situation, or elements of your behaviour, and experiences in your past.
“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.”
― David Richo
Later on, I may use particular techniques such as dream work or visualisation, creative work, or Gestalt Therapy, but this will depend on my understanding of your situation and needs, as well as your personal preference.
The First Meeting (The Assessment)
Every client requires a unique approach.. At the first meeting (called the "assessment"), we will decide together whether we want to work together, and if so, how. I will ask you a number of questions, some of which may seem very personal, but the more honest and open you are the greater the eventual benefit is likely to be for you. There will also be practical questions, such as details about your family, your past, your present situation and what you hope to achieve. You will be encouraged to ask questions.
Subsequent sessions will usually be weekly, on the same day and at the same time each week. Sessions are held at my practice in Marlow, Bucks.
Once you have commenced therapy you will have started on a journey that may well change your life. Do not be impatient. Remember that you have spent a lifetime becoming the person that you are, and getting to this point in your life.
The fee payable for the first session ("the assessment") is £60 for each individual client.
The standard fees thereafter will be between £65 - £75 per session depending on the time of day for the regular appointment (evenings after 6 p.m. and weekend appointments are more expensive than daytime ones).
Fees for couples seeking relationship counselling are £90 for all sessions. Fees for group work will be notified to those participating prior to commencement of the group but are generally between £20 and £30 per session.
All sessions last a maximum of 50 minutes unless otherwise agreed. A discount may be available to psychotherapy students, members of equity, those serving with the emergency or armed services and those on low incomes.
"Loneliness does not come from having no people around you, but from being unable to communicate the things that are important to you.”
― Carl Jung
A discount of 2.5% may be available where it is agreed that a minimum of 10 sessions are paid for in advance in one payment.
Payment is in cash, cheque or electronic transfer the day prior to the session. I regret that I do not accept credit or debit cards although direct bank transfers may be agreed to provided that the transfer is made the working day prior to the agreed session.
Fees are reassessed in January of each year but are subject to review at any time.
Any alteration in fees will be notified to you in advance.