What is Counselling?
Counselling or Therapy is a broad term and has a different meaning depending on who you talk to. I see counselling as a place where you can learn more about yourself, understand where you've come from, how that has affected you and have the support of someone that is purely on your side. They don't have an agenda or vested interest in what you do, they just want you to be able to find out what you need. Through this process, people often change and change their lives.
What does therapy look like?
Therapy can feel like a strange experience if you've never done it before. Normally a weekly appointment, where we meet at the same time and the same place.
We then talk for 50 mins, looking at what brought you to therapy in the first place or that day. You can bring anything that's playing on your mind and we try to make sense of what it is that you're going through.
Once you feel that things have changed and that you don't need therapy anymore, we take a bit of time to reflect on the work that we've done together and how things have changed for you.
There isn't a 'standard' length of therapy as every individual has different needs, different life circumstances and when change happens varies.
What are the fees?
Counselling is typically done once a week and I charge from £80* for a 50-minute session. Concessional rates are available.
I appreciate starting therapy can be daunting and costly, this is why I offer a free 20-minute appointment.
*Subject to location
FAQs
How long will I need to come for?
1
Honestly? I don't know — and anyone who tells you otherwise before they've met you isn't being straight with you. It depends on you, your life, and what you're carrying. What I can tell you is that therapy won't become a dependency. We'll be watching for that together, and as you grow stronger, you'll reach a point where you simply don't need it anymore.
I'd also gently push back on the idea that therapy is only for crisis or mental health conditions. Life is hard and complicated, and at some point it will throw something at all of us. Taking an hour a week to reflect — on where you've been, what you're going through, where you want to go — is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. I didn't do that for the best part of twenty adult years. I just woke up every day and dealt with whatever was in front of me. I wish I'd started sooner.
Does needing therapy mean something is wrong with me?
2
No. It means you're wrestling with life — and life is genuinely complicated. The complexity doesn't go away, it just changes shape depending on what stage you're at.
Society prizes the lone wolf. The person who copes alone, stands on their own two feet, doesn't ask for help. But here's the thing — the lone wolf dies. Wolves are pack animals. We are pack animals. We thrive when we lean on each other, and it takes humility — real strength, actually — to say this is a bit much right now. Because it happens to everyone. Life can just be too much at times. Too much to carry alone, too much to bend your head around by yourself. Of course we can't always cope alone. It's too complicated.
What happens in the free 20-minute appointment?
3
It's simple — and low stakes. You give me a little background about why you're looking for therapy, and then you ask me whatever you want. Anything at all. Because the 20 minutes isn't really about me assessing you — it's about you getting a feel for me.
I'll answer as honestly as I can, and then it's entirely up to you whether you feel I'm the right fit. I've been doing this a long time, and I know I'm not the right therapist for everyone. People look for different things. If you come away from that 20 minutes and it doesn't feel right, that's absolutely fine — that's exactly what the appointment is for. No pressure, no obligation.