Frequently asked questions about therapy

This is a difficult question to answer - as everyone is different. The number of sessions needed varies depending on your specific needs, the nature of the difficulties you are seeking help with, and what your goals for therapy are. 

• Some people come for just a few sessions of CBT (for example 6-10) to help them to learn some skills to cope with a particular symptom or difficulty

• Other people come for a structured course of therapy such as CAT therapy which can be either 16 or 24 sessions duration. 

• Trauma-focused therapy such as EMDR can vary significantly in the numbers of sessions needed, depending on the individual, their coping skills and resources and what the focus of the work is going to be. So this could range from just a few sessions, to a longer course of therapy extending over a year or more.

If for some reason you are unable to attend a scheduled appointment for therapy or for supervision, then please give me as much notice as possible, so that we can rearrange this. This also allows me to offer the available space to someone else if needed.

I require at least 24 hours notice for cancelling appointments or supervision sessions. If you do not give sufficient notice, then the full session fee will be charged.

You are always free to leave therapy if you don’t feel it is working well for you. However, I really value and encourage you to give me feedback on how you are finding the sessions, so that we can make adaptations to ensure it is as helpful as possible for you.

Please tell me if you have any difficulties during therapy. Then together we can work out what needs to change. Often, by talking and thinking together about problems that emerge, we can find a way through them and can hopefully use this to improve and enhance your experience of therapy.

In any talking therapy, focusing on your problems may temporarily stir up your feelings before helping you to feel better. Usually, after a couple of sessions this can feel easier and most people report a feeling of relief that they are able to share their feelings.

However, if you are finding it difficult, we can work together to make sense of why this is.

Therapy can be an intense experience and as such feeling comfortable and safe in the therapy relationship is really important. I encourage you to bring and talk about any difficulties or issues regarding therapy so that we can address these together and so that you can get the most out of coming.

Wherever possible, my aim is to help pace the therapy so that you feel within your ‘window of tolerance’, including learning skills to manage your feelings before commencing any therapy approaches which process disturbing memories from the past.

I am not able to provide you with an urgent or emergency response.

If you are in crisis and experiencing urgent psychological or emotional distress, please:

• Call the Samaritans for free on 116-123 or email them on jo@samaritans.org

• Contact your GP or call NHS Choices on 111

• Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258

• If you feel at risk of immediate danger please call 999 or go to your local A&E Services

• Read this NHS article about Where to get urgent help for mental health

The content of what we discuss is confidential, and all information that I store is done so securely in line with the Data Protection Act. Please read my Privacy Policy if you would like to know more about how I use, store and share data.

Some referring organisations and insurance companies require reports on the progress of therapy, and when this is the case, I will discuss this with you and can share copies of draft reports for your information prior to sending.

It is often helpful to share information with your GP or other referring agency, to support you with understanding your needs, and your consent will be sought and obtained before sharing any correspondence or communication with others.

When I have concerns about your or others’ safety, then this may need to be discussed with others outside of the therapy, for example your GP or other health care professionals. I have a professional and legal duty to share information about significant risk or safety with others. However, I would hope and aim to be able to discuss this with you first wherever possible.

I ask for payment by bank transfer and send a monthly invoice with bank details. I will accept payment by cash if an online payment might put you at personal risk in some way.

I am sorry I do not offer discounted rates for therapy.

If you cannot afford therapy you can:

• Contact your GP and they may be able to refer you for therapy or counselling through the NHS - for example to your local Talking Therapies Service.

• Contact a local mental health charity who may be able to provide lower-cost therapy.

• You may be able to find a psychological therapist who offers a sliding scale or who can offer low-fee sessions. Most professional directories allow you to search for this.

Yes I am recognised by most major health insurance companies including AXA, AVIVA, WPA and BUPA. I will need your membership number and authorisation code to proceed with offering sessions.

Please note - not all health insurance companies may cover the full cost of my therapy services. Each provider has a different policy so please contact them for further information and check your policy cover.

Please read my Privacy Policy if you would like fuller information regarding how I use, store and share data about you.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss this further.

Please talk to me if there is any aspect of my service or the way I am working with you that you are not happy about, as I value feedback and would like to be able to resolve any difficulties so that we can continue to work together in a way that is helpful for you.

However, if you feel you would like to raise a serious complaint regarding my practice, then you can do so with my registering professional body the Health and Care Professions Council or with any of my other accrediting organisations.