Some fREQUENTLY aSKED qUESTIONS

The first session offers a space to get to know how we’ll work together as well as for us to consider whether we feel we can work together. You’re under no obligation to share everything all at once nor to censor yourself.

In starting out, it can be useful to consider areas within your life that you may wish to bring to our sessions that feel most relevant to you to start the therapy conversation that can take place between us.

However you wish to express yourself is prized in our first meeting and going forward, if we choose to work together beyond the initial session.

Overall, the initial session allows us to get to know each other, discuss what brings you to therapy and how you’d like to use the time we have together. You’re very welcome to bring any questions to this session and the sessions beyond this.

This makes sense given we’re focusing on you and your experiences. Talking about yourself and what’s going on for you might be an unfamiliar experience.

Throughout the sessions, we work at your pace. I endeavour to create an environment where you’re welcome to be as free as you need to be. You’re under no pressure to share more than you’re comfortable with; there’s no ‘correct’ way of being in person-centred therapy.

This is a question I’ve been asked on a number of occasions and an understandable one. On many occasions, people have this fear at the start of a session and frequently find they have more to say than they expect by the time the session ends!

Practicality-wise, I’m equally comfortable working with verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. If required, I have pens and paper available for expressing thoughts and feelings in non-verbal ways and/or when words feel out of reach. I’m also comfortable with silence and responding to the different meanings silence might hold at any given moment.

Therapy is a confidential space; a space for you to freely explore, without judgment from me, whatever is troubling you or causing difficulty. 

What makes this space different from talking to friends and family (for example) is that we do not meet beyond the therapy space and that our work together is held in place by an ethical code I abide by. It can be a relief to leave some of the private areas of our work together, metaphorically, in the therapy room.

During the sessions, the focus is on you which can be a unique experience and one that can mean different things at different times during our work together.

The work we do together in the therapy space and the way I relate to you is different from the to-and-fro of everyday conversations where there may a multitude of implicit and explicit expectations as to how you ‘should’ be or what you ‘should’ say. You’re under no requirement to censor yourself or protect me in the sessions, as you might in other contexts. All of you is welcome.

I can appreciate this may have been a lonely experience. How I work as a person-centred therapist is an active process and one where I aspire to be alongside you in whatever way works best for you.

Essentially in the sessions, you’re in the driving seat as to where we go and I’m an empathic companion sharing my responses and endeavouring to communicate my understanding of your unique experience.

Rather than me directing you towards what to explore or giving advice, my role is to create an accepting and empathic environment where we can work together to enable you to explore, reflect upon and process areas that are most relevant for you.

The reason for this approach is that experiencing an actively validating environment can help you connect with your inner resources as well as connecting with self-understanding and self-acceptance. This can be very helpful for life beyond therapy sessions.

I very much welcome any feedback or reflections you might have, at any point, regarding your experience of us working together, how therapy is going or the therapy process more generally.

You’re under no obligation to attend sessions if you do not feel that us working together is right for you or you no longer require meeting for therapy sessions.

We work with the number of sessions that feel useful to you, rather than prescribing a set number of sessions. For example, we could work together for one session, several weeks, several months or for several years. The number of sessions is unique to every person I work with/have worked with.

Neurodivergent ways of being and any sensory needs you might have (e.g. stimming, not making eye contact etc.) can be facilitated. For instance, I can offer fidgets toys (if these are helpful to you). Additionally, you are not required to sit in any one place in the therapy room and are welcome to move around and/or sit on the floor if that feels more appropriate for you. Overall, we work with your unique processing style.

It is understandable that you are curious about me as your therapist, particularly if we have worked together for a period of time. You are free to ask me questions and if I feel comfortable, I’ll answer them and receive them with empathy

I hold the majority of sessions on a weekly basis; however, I have some availability for fortnightly sessions.

I have offered twice weekly sessions in the past when they’ve been required.

I do not offer monthly sessions to new clients. I offer these after working with clients for a longer period of time, if required.

Furthermore, I am happy to work in an ad hoc way, session-wise with people I have been working with for a period of time e.g. those who might wish to return for several sessions.

Yes, my practice is hybrid so I’m very happy to work with you in the Dalston practice room or on Zoom (the online platform I use). I work with people in the local area, across London and the UK.

I also offer telephone sessions.

I’ll send you a different Zoom link for each session. This will be sent shortly before each session.

I charge £80.00 per 50 minute session.

I offer a £70.00 concessionary fee for students training to be counsellors and psychotherapists. This is also for a 50 minute session.

I can work for up to 1.5 hours and would be happy to discuss this, if required.

Payment is made via a bank transfer and I have a 48 hour cancellation policy.