Both counselling and psychotherapy provide a space for support and help in the management of and treatment for a wide range of mental health and emotional issues.

Counselling tends to be short term, say 8 – 16 weeks, and looks at specific problems or issues that might arise in life, looking for practical solutions. It can also be an opportunity to talk with someone, be heard and supported while working through an issue or experience.

Psychotherapy is longer term, often open-ended, and will go deeper into issues identifying how patterns of thinking and behaviour may have built up over time to affect our experience of life.

There are many different schools of counselling and psychotherapy, falling broadly speaking into three main categories: Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic, Cognitive–Behavioural, and Humanistic and Person-Centred. I work integratively, which means I draw from all of these modalities to support whatever difficulty or presenting issue emerges for the client. The integrated approach acknowledges that each client is different, each client’s need might change over time, and that each therapeutic approach is helpful and relevant under different circumstances.

The transpersonal approach regards the individual as part of a larger existence and with a consciousness that is more encompassing than personal awareness. It considers influences from our shared culture, shared humanity and consciousness as well as of our essential nature, subtle experience and “spirituality” on our everyday experience.

You, understandably, might want to find out more about the process of counselling and psychotherapy before making a commitment. Once you contact me, we can set up an initial consultation so we can learn more about each other and explore if either would be appropriate for you right now.

Therapy works best in the context of regular sessions at a regular time. This helps frame and ground our work together. Sessions are generally weekly and last for 50 min. However, we can arrange to have them more frequently if the need arises.

In the event of a difficulty, I shall always aim to rearrange where possible. However, the session fee will be payable if you cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice of the appointment time.

It is widely understood that the experience of therapy can sometimes feel worse before it gets better and it is sometimes difficult to see progress. This does not mean failure or that nothing is happening. Instead it is very often a time to explore these feelings and to trust that something difficult is being worked through.

Yes. I maintain confidentiality and your anonymity throughout. Professional and ethical standards mean I might, occasionally, discuss aspects of our work with my supervisor but my supervisor is bound by the same code of practice and ethics as I am. There are however rare instances where the code of ethics might require a therapist to break confidence. This would be, for example, where you or someone else was in danger and is a usual requirement of all health care professionals. I would never break confidence without first discussing the matter fully with you and my supervisor.