Brief initial telephone call

​The first step is to have brief telephone call so you can tell me a little about what has prompted you to get in touch, your hopes for therapy and to ask me any questions. We will also talk about some practical matters such as availability and fees. If you are comfortable to, we will then arrange an initial exploratory session.

​Initial exploratory session

​This is an opportunity for you tell me more about your circumstances and the things that are troubling you. I can also answer any further questions you may have about how I work and together we will decide the next step. There is no obligation to commence regular therapy with me following the exploratory session, and I can suggest other sources of support if appropriate. If you decide you wish to start therapy, we will arrange a regular weekly appointment time.​

​The sessions

​In our sessions I will listen with empathy to the things that are troubling you. I will help you to make sense of your emotions, understand the roots of your difficulties and enable greater understanding of yours thoughts, feelings and behaviours. This may involve looking at recurring emotions, relationships, your patterns of behaviour and thinking, your early years and significant life events. 

Our sessions will help you to see your difficulties more clearly and perhaps from a different perspective. Understanding yourself better will enable you to make positive changes, find your own answers and strengthen your ability to cope. 

How many sessions will I need?

​​This will depend on whether you are coming to explore a very specific, current concern which we may be able to address in say 6-10 sessions. Alternatively, you may wish to explore more deeply-rooted difficulties which will require longer-term work over a period of months or years. I work on an open-ended basis which means that together, we will regularly look at how you are progressing in sessions, and agree together when you feel ready to bring your therapy to an end.