Psychotherapy is a therapeutic intervention rooted in psychological principles, serving as a form of treatment.

It is based on a therapeutic connection between a qualified psychotherapist and a client, with the aim of addressing emotional, psychological, spiritual or behavioural issues and fostering better well-being.

Psychotherapists collaborate with clients to assist them in exploring and understanding various facets of themselves and their experiences. This involves delving into the root causes of issues rather than merely addressing the symptoms.

Counselling generally concentrates on employing short-term, solution-focused approaches to address specific life events, such as grief and loss, relationship therapy, domestic violence, and related concerns. It aids in developing strategies to cope with what the client is struggling with.

I work within the UKCP and BACP ethical guidelines that stipulate that counselling conversations are confidential between clients and their counsellor.

At your first session you will have the opportunity to ask me questions and share any concerns you may have about confidentiality.

This is impossible to know! Some clients come for six sessions, some are much longer term - it really is down to the individual. 

We will review regularly to check how you are getting on with the sessions. 

The type of therapy I practice is generally relational and allows for a trusting relationship to develop between us. My experience is that a longer period of therapy allows this process more chance to develop.

Finding the right therapist or counsellor and starting therapy at the right time for you is key to success. 

Research shows that the two factors most important in producing successful experiences from therapy are your motivation and our relationship.  So, take your time to choose your therapist and consider if you are in the right place to start your journey.

There may be spells of being in touch with painful emotions, sometimes for the first time, which may temporarily lead to feeling worse. This is part of the process of facing and learning to live with your feelings.

The process of psychotherapy or counselling can make people question the way they live their lives and make relationships, but all our sessions provide a safe space for reflection.

The first therapy session can be a source of anxiety for some people. If you are nervous about your first therapy session, that’s normal.

Sessions last 50-minutes. Many people see their counsellor once a week, but this can be flexible depending on what you need – some may meet more or less often, over time.

It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous before your first appointment. As your therapist I understand this and will do my best to make you feel at ease. During our first meeting, i’ll explain how everything works. And of course, you’ll also have time to ask any questions you may have.

It is not unusual for one half of a couple to have reservations about couple counselling and these will be explored and discussed openly at your first session. You can also let them know that I will be able to help you and your partner to have constructive and supportive conversations about difficult and sensitive issues.

It can also be helpful to think about booking a first session just to explore together what the pros and cons of couple counselling could be for you as a couple before deciding to attend a course of couple counselling sessions.

At your first session we can discuss together how frequently you attend couple counselling sessions which is usually weekly to begin with. Key factors in achieving useful changes to your couple relationship and/or situation are being able to attend regular sessions, and you and your partner having discussions in-between sessions about what you have been exploring and working on in the sessions. I like to see you both together in the first session and then individually in the 2nd and 3rd sessions to get a sense of you both as individuals and in the relationship.

There is no set timescale for how many couples counselling sessions you and your partner should attend.

No, but I will help you to understand in a non-judgmental and non-blaming way how you may both be contributing to your couple relationship problems and dilemmas.

Understanding how you are both contributing to your relationship dilemmas will help you move away from blaming and judging each other and focus on what skills you both individually want to learn and develop for making a positive difference to your relationship and/or situation.