We would choose a time and method together, based on availability and preferences. I offer face-to-face therapy, online and telephone therapy. However, due to availability of the location I use for sessions, I can only offer face-to face therapy on Mondays. Tuesday and Thursday evenings are remote only (telephone, Teams or Zoom). Sessions are generally weekly, but I could do by-weekly if that would suit you better.

You can pay either by bank transfer or through the website before the sessions, if you want to pay for sessions in blocks you can. My policy is that all payments must be paid ahead of the planned session, or paid in blocks ahead of the sessions.

I aim to reply within 24 hours and we will arrange a free phone consultation at a time that suits you to discuss the options and whether I am the right fit. I currently have no waiting list, so we could book a first appointment on that call.

I understand that unavoidable things can come up and am happy to change therapy times to suit you. Any changes or cancellations made more that 48 hours before the session can be done free of charge, changes made within 48 hours of the agreed session will be charged half of the session price. If I need to reschedule or cancel sessions, I will always endeavour to give you as much notice as possible.

No, you can email me to book both the phone consultation and the sessions if you would prefer, you can also email me if you have any questions before you book.

Many people find immediate benefit from opening up about what has been going on for them and feeling heard, especially if this is the first time they are doing so. However, generally, CBT is not a ‘quick fix’ therapy as some people say, therapy is a process and it can take a few sessions to build trust and lay the groundwork for new learning. The first stage of therapy is assessment, exploring your issues and discovering patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are impacting your current situation. Once there is a shared understanding of your situation and what is maintaining it, I will introduce you to new ways to challenge these patterns and a new set of skills that will help you to adapt and develop more helpful coping strategies. These new skills require practice between sessions and are a crucial part of the therapy process, possibly more important than the session itself. Most clients notice improvements within 3-6 sessions, this gets built on as sessions continue, for some disorders or for those with enduring mental health challenges this may take longer. Generally speaking 12-18 sessions should be enough to successfully treat and develop coping strategies for most mental health issues.

All preferred pronouns and names will be respected for all clients. I identify as a Lesbian myself and am a dedicated ally to the other identities within the LGBTQ+ community. I am experienced in and comfortable discussing social, legal and physical transitions. I understand that identity can develop and change over time and this is a safe space to explore your identity if you so need to.

If you have any issues with support you have received, you can talk to me personally about this and we can explore this. I understand I can make mistakes and may say something you do not agree with, and I hope to create the environment where you feel comfortable discussing this with me. If you do not feel able to discuss this with me, or want to ensure this complaint is dealt with seriously, you can find the BABCP complaints procedure linked below, this provides clear instructions on how to make a formal complaint about my practice. https://babcp.com/Portals/0/Files/About/BABCP-Complaints-Procedures-Governing-Members.pdf?ver=2020-10-05-084705-467

No, you do not need to have any diagnosis of any mental health issue. On the phone consultation we can discuss what you have been experiencing and how I might be able to help. Therapy is about working with where you are right now and finding ways that work for you to move forward. It is completely fine to not know exactly what is going on for you, that is what I am here for, we can figure it out together.

In the first therapy session, we would go over what you can expect from therapy and we will set goals for what you would like to work on over the course of therapy. I will ask that you fill out a short questionnaire before the first session, this is to gather some important information about what you are currently having difficulty with and to help me measure progress as we continue through therapy.

CBT is shown to be an effective treatment for a broad range of mental health challenges, however if depends on what you are looking for. CBT generally focuses on your present issues, we will explore your past experiences to better understand the present but the past won’t be explored in great depth. If you are looking to explore childhood memories in depth, this may not be the approach for you. We all have built in preferences toward particular approaches, for example some people love and connect with the structure and practical nature of CBT whereas others do not. We would work to find what works best for you, CBT is a very collaborative approach and we can explore and find what does work for you.

Yes, all information disclosed to me is confidential. Your confidentiality will be maintained at all times. However, as part of my own professional development, I will need to discuss the clients I see with my clinical supervisor. My supervisor is bound by the same ethical guidelines regarding confidentiality as I am. I never disclose names or any identifiable information such as place of work when discussing my clients with my supervisor. I will not disclose your details to a third party without your prior consent, except under the following circumstances, if, in my opinion you are at imminent risk of hurting yourself, or if, in my opinion, you present a risk to others. Under these circumstances, I reserve the right to inform appropriate external agencies, this is usually the police. In the event that I need to disclose information to a third party, I will always attempt to discuss this with you beforehand. You will receive information including my privacy policy in session one.

CBT can help with most emotional and psychological problems, though therapists vary in their experience and skill base. I have listed below the three main problem areas that I do not specialise in. If you think you may be suffering from any of these, you may find it more useful to find someone who specialises in these and can support you better than I will be able to. Problems I do not specialise in : Psychosis or Schizophrenia Personality disorders Current Addictions (Alcohol or Drug)