Frequently Asked Questions

Will you give me advice and tips?

No! The aim of psychotherapy is ultimately to enable you to navigate your life more smoothly, authentically and autonomously, making more positive and considered choices and building conscious relationships. This means coming to rely confidently on your own judgement. Feeling more able to do this, comes about not by your me telling you what I think, or would do in your circumstances; but by working with you to help reveal how and why you form the judgements and make decisions you do. From there you may improve these processes so they feel right more often and get more satisfactory results for you. Although it can be frustrating to feel anxious and not be told what to do, withholding advice in favour of helping you look at your situation from different and/or deeper perspectives actually helps you get better in a much more sustainable way.

Does psychotherapy feel difficult?

While psychotherapy should ultimately bring about an improved sense of well-being, at times it can and will feel difficult. Exploring troubling events and relationships and opening up uncomfortable feelings so that you can manage them better, can feel challenging. Taking an honest look at ourselves can be confronting and can initially feel tricky. However, I am mindful of the need to pace the work so that you do not feel overwhelmed. If the work does begin to feel too hard, make sure that you speak up, this is your therapy! While psychotherapy may at times feel difficult, it should never be punishing. I will be supportive, non-judgmental, accepting and empathic at all times. I’minterested in and receptive to your feedback about how you are experiencing the psychotherapy.

I can’t afford the time to come every week, can we do bi-weekly sessions?

No. Committing to psychotherapy and counselling means coming to weekly sessions on a regular time slot. This time is reserved just for you and we only have 50 minutes every week to discuss all that has come up for you over the week, the challenges you may have faced, changing relationships and circumstances, as well as your historical experiences and deeper questions. Consider this an investment in your future and in your current well-being. Perhaps intensive coaching would suit you better?

I can’t afford the fee, do you offer discounted sessions?

My fee accounts for training, insurance, professional registrations and room costs, as well as regular supervision and ongoing training. I do offer a limited number of reduced fee slots to clients who are referred by other Transactional Analysis psychotherapists, or who are on very low-incomes. This is for long-term therapy only. Please see my availability posts.

As a UK resident you are entitled to free NHS psychological treatments provided by your local trust. These are accessed primarily through your GP. Generally you will be given an assessment by a psychological clinician who works in your GP surgery and who will then signpost you to the NICE recommended treatment of choice for your symptoms and their severity. Unfortunately due to funding shortages and high and increasing demand for services, the NHS tends to suffer from quite long waiting lists which may mean that you will not get access to the care you would like immediately. However, if you are prepared to wait, the NHS is home to excellently trained clinicians who will likely provide the most up to date treatments and a similar quality of care as you could expect to receive privately. It is important to bear in mind however that all NHS psychological treatments are 'time-limited', meaning that unlike private care you are unlikely to receive psychotherapy for more than a matter of months. The treatment duration tends to be defined by the type of psychotherapy offered, e.g. CBT tends to be offered for 6-12 weeks (sometimes online or text based), CAT for 24 weeks, MBT, DBT & Psychodynamic Psychotherapy can be offered for up to 18 months.

While there are no longer many free charity-based counselling centres in or indeed outside London (thank you funding cuts!) there are still a few available and there are a number of good low cost counselling centres in the area. I have offered counselling as a volunteer at Bromley Community Counselling where you can access many other therapists, including CBT. Another great resource to locate low cost or free psychotherapy services is your local Mind, the excellent national mental health charity. Mind operates counselling services across the country and can also help with information and signposting. Alternatively consider contacting one of the Psychotherapy Training colleges who may offer low cost sessions with experienced and well supervised Trainees.

I’m taking medication for depression can I still come to counselling?

Yes! You will have been prescribed medication to help you cope with symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses or diagnosed disorders. Medications don’t address the issues that have been causing you suffering. Counselling and psychotherapy can help you work with the reality of your experiences and sometimes get to the root causes. Using the time that you are on medication to access talking therapy, and to find someone to listen to you in a space and time slot that is solely focused on you and your well-being can help your healing and recovery. Research shows that a combination of medication and talk therapy can be more effective together.

Is counselling and psychotherapy really confidential?

All communications and session content are confidential and your data is also protected under GDPR regulations.

Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of a relationship of trust between us. We will discuss the boundaries of confidentiality in more detail in your initial session and in our therapy contract. I have regular supervision with a senior UKCP registered psychotherapist supervisor. I will share themes, and elements of your therapy with them in order for them to help me work to the best of my ability, safely and ethically. Your full identity will be protected.

Do you work with children?

I will work with young people from 17 years of age, and am experienced in the 17-21 age range, but I don’t currently work with children. Please refer to UKCP register to find someone who is trained to work with children and adolescents.

Do you work with couples and groups?

Coming soon.