I give a lot of information on this page about what working with me is like. I often find it helpful when doing a new thing outside of my comfort zone to know as much as possible about it in advance.
Basic facts
I work online with clients. The sessions are weekly. They take 50 minutes and cost £40 an hour. In the first session, we always go through the therapy agreement, which you can always find here, that agreement tells you about the expectations you can have of me and I will have of you.
While the work is online, and I’ll be on camera, if this makes you feel uncomfortable you are welcome to turn your camera off.
Free intro call
I offer free 15-minute introductory calls, which are an opportunity for you to get a sense of what it would be like to work with me, ask any questions you might have about what’s involved, or bring up any concerns or worries you might have. There is no pressure to then book into regular therapy. I think it’s sensible to check in with a few therapists and get a sense of how different people work, and who you feel comfortable with.
In this call, I’ll also ask you a few questions about your requirements to ensure that I have the competency to provide the support you need. This is part of working as an ethical therapist.
What’s a session like?
Online therapy works best when people have a quiet, private space to do the work in. I have had a few sessions with clients where they have been in their cars, which is sometimes a fallback for people, but it’s best if you have your own room, which is comfortable physically and psychologically. You may want to bring a drink, potentially some tissues, and anything else that helps you feel comfortable and relaxed.
Generally, I will start by checking in with how you are doing. Sometimes people turn up ready to get right into it, sometimes people want to name some of the stressful things that are going on in their lives. I might summarise some of what we talked about in the last session. I then usually ask what you would like to talk about in that session, or where you would like to begin.
Every six sessions I have a mini-review with clients, which gives a space to check in with how you are feeling about things, whether there is anything you would like to change about the way we work, and whether you feel like you want to work towards a conclusion. It’s also a place for you to offer feedback if you feel comfortable doing so and reflect on how our relationship might be growing.
Person-centred Therapy
This is a form of therapy pioneered by Carl Rogers. The idea is that by providing an empathetic, non-judgmental space the client can begin to explore the values, narratives and expectations that they have been given externally (this is what a man is, this is what a good mother looks like). This then makes space for curiosity about the client’s own feelings, needs and values.
If you are looking for something which focuses more on your behaviours and thoughts, then something like CBT (Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy) might be helpful. If you want to work specifically with the unconscious and dream realms, maybe a psychoanalyst would be more suited. And it may be that what you want is for someone to help you draw up a plan to reintegrate into the world and keep you accountable to it – in which case you might be looking for a coach.
There are lots of different therapeutic approaches and specialties, and within that a lot of different therapists with different personalities. The easiest way to get a sense of whether you want to work with a person is to meet them. It’s always your choice.
