FAQ

I charge £70 per session, payable in advance via bank transfer or Paypal.

The duration of each session is 50 minutes, usually at the same time on the same day each week, unless we arrange otherwise in advance.

• I offer in person sessions at my private practice - 10 minutes' from North Greenwich Tube/Greenwich Town Centre.  

• Or you can choose to work online...

• Or a hybrid of both depending on what feels right  for you -          (So some sessions online, some in person - usually at the same time, on the same day, unless we arrange otherwise in advance).

• I also offer walking therapy in Greenwich Park/on the Thames Path if that would suit you and at your request.  This offers a different look and feel to what can be an 'alien' and restrictive experience of being in the counselling room.

• I require 48 hours’ notice for cancelled sessions or the full fee but I will always try an re-arrange sessions if you need to change time or day with notice - it would normally need to be within the same week (Monday to Friday). 

• If for any reason I have to cancel a session within 48 hours, I will not charge you for your next session. 

• I will give you at least 4 weeks’ notice of my extended times off. 

• This is an opportunity to begin the process of counselling step by step now you've had a chance to think about our initial consultation.  

• We can share a deeper understanding of what brought you to therapy and how it might work for us to continue.

• I will check I am understanding correctly what you are sharing so we are moving our process of working together at the same pace...and which you feel is best suited to your needs.

• You can share as much or as little as you like - there may (or may not) be lots of different aspects which all seem to link up - making it almost impossible to mention one topic at first without linking it to another - that's just how it might be in figuring out where to start together.

• We can see how this works and towards the end of this first full session if you feel you'd like to take a moment, we can see how this went in comparison to any expectations you had.

• Everything we share is between us is confidential.  

• I will always work towards building the strongest bond of trust I can offer, allowing you to accept with as much fullness as possible my invitation to explore anything and everything you are willing to discuss.

• Confidentiality will only be broken if I carefully consider that you are in danger of harming yourself or others or if there are legal limits to confidentiality such as acts of law concerning money laundering, terrorism or drug trafficking or in connection with court hearings about which therapists may hold information.  I will always try to speak to you about this first unless there are safeguarding issues preventing this.  

• To check I am working ethically and as part of my adherence to the BACP Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions, I consult in confidence with my Supervisor who is a Senior Accredited Practitioner and Supervisor.   

• I am a registered Data Controller with the Information Commissioner's Office (Registration No. ZC062668).

• The value of counselling and psychotherapy can only be measured by you.  
  
• I do not think it ethical practice for me to guarantee any outcomes but I can invite you to consider the things people have said during counselling with me - which might give you an idea of what it was like for others - that of course, is not a promised outcome for you...but it's food for thought.

• I can reassure you that I will freely discuss with you if you think things are not working out as you had planned, or if you think this just isn't for you - although that path of most resistance might actually prove to be a way forward.  We can see what that looks like as and when...without any judgement at all.

• I am not here for a friendly chat or to be someone who smilingly repeats every word you say and agrees with you.  You might have friends or relatives who can do that...I am a counselling psychotherapist and while I can absolutely guarantee kindness, I take what I do seriously - I respect and appreciate the position of trust clients put me in.

• So...our work may have many layers which is very different to being a shoulder to cry on.  This is a therapeutic relationship...unique to you and I - and always a safe place of trust.

• This is a perfectly valid question and the short answer is no.  It is something I am very mindful of in working with clients.  

• I would not feel it ethically viable to continue having sessions together if it seems that the work of therapy has for now at least, come to a natural end.  If I feel our sessions are moving towards a place of 'having a chat' I will likely share with you how I am noticing this.  There may be a reason for you and I not going deeper in to discussion than perhaps we had previously.

• If it does seem like you are coming to a natural end for counselling and at the same time, have feelings of wanting to continue for fear of 'stepping backwards' we can explore this together.

• All this said, you can decide if you would be best suited to continue to come to counselling and however it is working out for you.

• In short and in my view, very little.  The relationship you have with your counsellor or psychotherapist is what may be the deciding factor in what is best for you - and that really is your preference over time as we work together. 

• UKCP consider that Psychotherapists are considered to have deeper rooted, considerably longer training and practice hours requirement to qualify.  BACP interchange between using the term counsellor and psychotherapist
  

• I am a BACP Registered Psychotherapist and as a member of UKCP, I have a very active involvement with two of our Special Interest Groups (SIGs).

• BACP Registered Psychotherapist

• NCPS Accredited Registrant

• Post Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Psychotherapeutic Counselling
  (Metanoia Institute)

• Certificate in Understanding Children and
  Young People’s Mental Health
  (NCFE)

• Certificate of Therapeutic Studies
  (Metanoia Institute)

• Extensive experience in a range of clinical settings, private practice and Higher Education resident psychotherapist positions.

• Founder and Facilitator of 'Men's Talk',
  a voluntarily-led men's community counselling group.

• Active member of the UKCP Conference Working Group &
  UKCP Diverse Minds Special Interest Group.