What to expect

Contacting me

You’re welcome to text, call or email me to schedule a session. If you call me, you’ll probably get my voicemail. If you let me know what times are most convenient for a call back, I’ll call you back at a time that’s convenient for you, normally within a few days unless I’m away or on holiday. Similarly, if you text or email me, I’ll normally respond within a few days unless I’m away or on holiday. The first thing I’ll do is arrange a free phone consultation, to make sure I’m the right therapist for you and can help you with what it is you’re looking for. If I’m fully booked or I’m not taking on new clients at the moment, I will let you know.

The initial phone call

I’ll ask you to give me some details about what it is you’re hoping for out of therapy and what’s going on for you. I will be honest with you about my experience and whether it is something I might be able to help you with - if it’s outside the scope of my practice, I will tell you. I’ll explain more about how I work and my fees. If you want to go ahead, we can schedule our first session. The call probably won’t be more than fifteen minutes.

The first session

I’ll send you some documents well in advance of our first session, which contain some more information about confidentiality and how we might work together. I will also run through these during our first session, so don’t worry if there’s anything you’re not clear about. I’ll ask some more questions and will recommend what types of therapy I think might work best for you and how I’d propose we proceed in working together, or I might give a range of options, for you to decide whether that is something you’d be interested in. Payment is made in advance of each session.

Ongoing sessions

Generally people want therapy at the same time each week, but you might want to meet fortnightly or agree only the next session each time we meet, if that works better for your diary. If you’re having hypnotherapy, I might send you away with a hypnotherapy recording to listen to between sessions, or with other therapies there may be some practice to do at home between sessions. You don’t have to commit to anything in particular upfront, or agree to a set number of sessions - we can change things as we go, depending on how it is going. I do ask that you give me at least 72 hours notice if you need to cancel a session that’s been booked, otherwise the fee for the session will still be payable. The easiest way to pay is by bank transfer.

Our relationship

One of the most important factors which has been found to determine success achieving your goals in therapy is the relationship between the therapist and client. I will always treat you with kindness, care and respect, I will never judge you, and I will always have your best interests at heart. I always will be honest with you and maintain the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Please see My Approach, Services and FAQs for more information.