Fees & FAQ

The terms counselling and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably.

Counselling is typically shorter-term and may focus on a specific issue or life challenge. Psychotherapy tends to work more deeply with long-standing emotional patterns, relational dynamics, and the underlying structures that shape how we experience ourselves and others.

In practice, the distinction is not always rigid. The work naturally evolves depending on what emerges in the process and what feels most helpful for you.

Therapy can be helpful for anyone who is feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or wanting to better understand themselves and their relationships.

People seek therapy for many reasons, including:

• relationship difficulties

• anxiety, stress, or depression

• life transitions

• trauma or unresolved past experiences

• challenges around intimacy or sexuality

• recurring emotional or relational patterns

You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people come simply because they want greater clarity, emotional freedom, or more fulfilling relationships.

Finding the right therapist is important. Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in successful therapy.

It is important that you feel comfortable, respected and understood by the person you are working with. Therapy can sometimes involve exploring vulnerable or challenging areas of experience, so feeling safe enough to speak openly is essential.

An initial meeting gives us the opportunity to see whether working together feels like a good fit.

Therapy works through a combination of reflection, dialogue, and the therapeutic relationship itself.

Over time, therapy can help you:

• recognise patterns that may be shaping your life and relationships

• understand the emotional roots of current difficulties

• develop greater awareness and choice in how you respond

• cultivate new ways of relating to yourself and others

Research consistently shows that psychotherapy can create lasting psychological change by working with the deeper processes that underlie emotional and relational difficulties.

The first session is an opportunity for us to meet and begin to get a sense of how we might work together.

You will have space to talk about what has brought you to therapy and what you hope to gain from the process. You are also welcome to ask questions about how I work and what therapy might involve.

If we decide to continue working together, we will agree a regular session time and discuss the practical arrangements for the work. Some people prefer to take time to reflect after the first meeting before deciding whether to continue, which is completely fine.

Therapy is a relational process, and feeling comfortable with your therapist matters.

Sometimes feelings such as frustration, irritation, or misunderstanding can arise within the therapeutic relationship. When this happens, it can often be helpful to talk about it together, as these moments can sometimes reflect patterns that appear in other relationships as well.

However, if you feel that the fit simply isn’t right, that is absolutely okay. I am always happy to help you think about other options or refer you to another therapist who may be better suited to your needs.

If, after the first session, you decide not to continue, there is no obligation to do so.

If therapy has already begun and you decide you would like to end the work, it is often helpful to have a final session to reflect on what has been explored and to bring the work to a thoughtful close. However, I understand that circumstances sometimes require a more immediate ending.