There is no ‘correct’ amount of time to be in therapy. This will be discussed in the initial consultation and agreed together based on your needs and what feels right for you. I offer both open ended and time-limited therapy and will continue to check in with you about how you feel things are going. You can choose to stop therapy whenever you want, but planned endings are always preferable to stopping abruptly.

Taking breaks from therapy can be a useful way to give yourself time to take in the things you’ve been working through. While I won’t be able to hold your slot if you choose to take a break, clients are welcome to get back in touch if they would like to continue in the future.

Fortnightly sessions are another form of low cost sessions and are charged at £80 per session, the equivalent of my weekly lower cost rate. I will sometimes be able to accommodate fortnightly sessions and other times I won't be.

Aside from the financial benefit of fortnightly sessions, some people find them useful because they allow more time in between sessions to reflect on and process what's coming up for you and from a practical, scheduling perspective, might be easier to fit in.

A difficulty of fortnightly sessions is that it can be difficult to build momentum at the start of working together and if you miss one week, it would mean our next session is 4 weeks later. This can disrupt the flow of sessions and result in them being more of a 'catch up' than therapeutic work together. If finances and scheduling allow, I sometimes starting weekly for first 4 - 6 sessions before moving to fortnightly.

Seven days (1 week) notice is required if you are unable to attend your appointment. Where there is less or no notice given, the session fee will apply. I will always try to find an alternate time to offer you during that week.

The Information shared in therapy is strictly confidential.

I keep brief session notes written without the use of identifying names or information, and your sessions will only ever be discussed (anonymously) in supervision*.

There are some instances where I will need to break confidentiality, namely, if I feel you or someone else may be at risk of serious harm. I will always endeavour to share my concerns with you prior to taking any action. I will also need to break confidentiality if I’m required to do so by law (e.g. if subpoenaed by a court).

*Supervision is a place where I can discuss my clients with another qualified counsellor. It is recommended by the BACP for all counsellors and therapists to ensure we are practicing ethically and supporting clients in the best way possible.

I understand that the idea of me letting you know I don’t think we’re a good fit could feel like rejection or that you’re ‘beyond help’ – not at all! Choosing to start therapy is a big step and it’s important that you are supported by the person best able to do this. There are various reasons I might feel I’m not best-placed to work with you, including, if I feel too close to an issue you are bringing; discovering we have mutual friends, overlapping social circles or you know another of my clients very well; or if your particular concern could benefit from a more specialist approach. If it seems we might not be a good fit, I will always signpost you to another practitioner or service that may be better able to support you.

We live in an unfair system where money is often a struggle. I have to balance my belief that therapy should not be a luxury that only some can afford, with the need to make a living. I understand that even my lower cost rate, is still not affordable to many people. While there are some services that are able to offer genuinely low cost therapy (e.g. under £10), as an independent practitioner this just isn't feasible to do and cover my costs.

In an attempt to make my sliding scale more equitable, it isn't just based on employment status but tries to consider your circumstances more broadly. For example, someone might not have a job but be supported by family or a partner and not paying rent; someone else might be in full time employment but in debt and still struggle to meet their basic needs. Practically speaking, offering higher rate sessions for those who can afford it, means that I can offer lower rate sessions to those who wouldn't be able to cover the standard session cost.