Practice description
Initial conversation - I offer all potential clients a free initial 20 minute phone or video meeting in order for us to discuss what your goals are in coming to therapy.
Typical issues that my clients bring - Many of my clients bring issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, sexuality, suicidal thoughts, anger, grief, loss of some type, attachment, trauma, work related stress, stress due to having retired, chemsex, amongst many others.
Therapeutic contract - Before your first session I will send you a therapeutic contract, which simply asks for your personal details including name, address, phone and email etc.
Also GP details, so that if required we can approach your GP if needs be, though this is rarely the case. In certain circumstances it may be that enlisting their help could it be considered of value.
It also sets out in very simple terms what you can expect in terms of confidentiality, length and cost of sessions, ethical procedures etc.
Our first session - in our first session you can acquire a feel for what it is like for us to work together. If you feel that we're a good fit then we continue to work together. If not then we leave it there, and I may be able to suggest a colleague whom I think may be suitable for you to work with.
The therapy space allows your issues to be explored in a safe and non-judgemental way, secure in the knowledge that everything you say is confidential.
As a result of our initial phone or video meeting, I will already have some idea of what it is that you would like to bring to therapy.
We will also have discussed what your expectations are in coming for therapy, and can use this as a basis on which to begin our work together.
Given all the above, we will briefly discuss how we would best work together in a way that suits you, in order for you to get the best from our session. This will help us to create a 'safe container' for our therapeutic relationship.
As we explore what has brought you to therapy, and what your expectations are from the process, this will ensure that we set expectations that are helpful and realistic.
The first session is always interesting, and, delightfully, very often surprising for people!
In the last 10 minutes of it we will take time to discuss what the session was like for you. Whether you would like to continue our work together or not. If not I may be able to suggest other therapists whom I think may be suitable for you.
If we continue to work together, very often people will come for 6 sessions once a week, after which you can take a view as to whether you would like to finish the work there, or continue.
You are not obliged to come on a weekly basis initially. Doing so simply allows us to build up a head of steam in the work we do together.
It may be that going forward you would choose not to come for weekly sessions. Instead we can agree on the frequency of our meetings going forward. Once a month for instance or whatever fits in with your lifestyle.
All of this we would discuss together, and going forward we can alternate between face-to-face and online sessions to suit you
So what I can help with?
Abuse, AIDS/HIV, Anger management, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Bereavement, Business coaching, Cancer, Career coaching, Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME, Cultural issues, Depression, Development coaching, Disability, Executive coaching, Health related issues, Identity issues, Leadership coaching, LGBTQ+ counselling, Life coaching, Loss, Men's issues, Obsessions, OCD, Personal development, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Service veterans, Sex-related issues, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Spirituality, Stress, Substance Dependency, Trauma, Work related issues.
These are some of the issues that my clients have brought to therapy over the years, and you may well bring issues that are not referred to above....
I understand that deciding to come for therapy can feel very daunting, so please contact me in order to arrange an initial discussion and we can talk through your requirements.