Session information

Fees

£90 per session.

Duration

Each session lasts approximately 1 hour.

Location

All therapy appointments are either over the telephone or via video call using zoom, whichever you feel most comfortable with.

Please note that I am only able to see clients who are based in the United Kingdom.

Availability

Appointments are currently offered on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday, between the hours of 8am and 1pm.

Initial appointment

It can be anxiety provoking not knowing what to expect. In preparation for the first session you will be sent a form to complete. This will include your personal details such as name, date of birth, address, GP details, phone number and email address. In the initial session I will be asking you questions about the main reason you have sought therapy. I will ask how you have been feeling physically and emotionally and what has been going through your mind recently. We will discuss any daily activities that you are doing less of, are finding difficult or have stopped doing completely. I will ask you about the impact of these things on your life including work, friendships, home and relationships. We will also explore what you would like to be different and some initial goals for therapy. I may take a brief history of the issue but this is sometimes done in the second session to allow more time. You may also be asked to complete some questionnaires for us to assess what symptoms are present and to help develop a treatment plan.

After this initial session (and at regular points throughout treatment) we will have a discussion about whether you would like to continue with sessions. If for any reason I feel that a different type of therapy or alternative therapist may be better suited to you, I would discuss this with you before continuing with sessions.

You may not be sure yet whether therapy is right for you. Or you may be wondering whether I am the therapist to go on this journey with you. There is no obligation to continue with sessions as they are booked on a week by week basis. I recommend booking an initial session to see if we are a good ‘fit’ and for you to get a feel for how therapy works.

If you have any questions at all or wish to book an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Frequency

You will get the most benefit from having weekly or fortnightly sessions. Usually, you will have a dedicated time slot on the same day each week. If you work shifts then this can be accommodated.

Number of sessions

Every individual is unique. There are no specific guidelines for how many sessions are recommended for people experiencing chronic pain and/or illness. In my experience, people seem to benefit from an average of 20-30 sessions. A shorter or longer piece of work is possible depending on the needs of each person.

Progress will be reviewed regularly in therapy and we will work together as a team to help you feel confident in ending therapy when it is the right time. Follow up appointments or booster sessions can be arranged to help you continue to apply the changes you have made.

How to pay

If you are paying for the sessions yourself, sessions can be paid either by bank transfer or by debit/credit card. Payment will be required in advance upon booking the appointment.

You will receive a full refund if you cancel or rearrange the appointment more than 48 hours in advance. If you cancel or request to rearrange the session 24-48 hours in advance, half of the session fee will be refunded. No refunds are possible if you cancel or rearrange within 24 hours of the appointment. Missed appointments without notice cannot be refunded.

If for any reason I have to cancel the appointment, a full refund will be issued to you.

I currently accept referrals from self funded clients and from the following insurance companies - AXA PPP and PLE Health. If you are with an insurance company and require an appointment, please contact them regarding authorising treatment and arranging payment.

What conditions can be looked at in therapy

From a physical health perspective, any long term health condition can be looked at in treatment. This is because treatment focuses on the impact that it has on your life and the relationship you have to the condition. It may be a pain condition such as unexplained chronic pain, arthritis, ehlers-danlos syndrome, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel syndrome or migraines (amongst others). It could be a health condition such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome or endometriosis (amongst others).

From a mental health perspective, any of the following conditions can be worked with in our therapy sessions: depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, health anxiety, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic, stress, insomnia, perfectionism, procrastination and low self esteem.

What to expect from therapy

The type of therapy that I offer is collaborative - I will be asking you questions and guiding you through techniques and coping strategies. It can be helpful to set an agenda at the beginning of each session to remain focused in sessions and to make sure we cover what you want to. One aspect of this type of therapy that is really important is having a go at tasks between sessions. Each session we will discuss a technique, tool or coping strategy then explore how you can try this at home. At the following session we will explore how you got on and problem solve any difficulties. I would recommend investing in a notebook and/or folder so you can make notes through the sessions and keep all worksheets together. Putting in the time outside of the sessions will help you to make long lasting changes. If you would like to read more about the type of therapy I offer, please click here.

Data protection

During our sessions I may make handwritten notes. These will be typed up within 24 hours of the session onto the cloud-based management system WriteUpp, which is GDPR compliant and secure. Any handwritten notes will be kept in a locked filing cabinet until they are typed up, following which they will be shredded. I am registered with the Information Commissioners Office in line with the Data Protection Act and follow advice to remain GDPR compliant.

Confidentiality

All the information that is discussed in our sessions will remain confidential between you, me and my supervisor. The only exception to this is if you disclose any risk of harm to yourself or others or inform me that another person is at risk of harm. Wherever possible I would discuss this with you before passing on any information.

Risk

Please note that I do not offer a crisis service. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or self harm and do not feel able to stay safe, please read the advice on my urgent help page.

Accreditation

I am accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). For more information on what this means, please click here.

I am listed on the CBT register, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. By being on this register, I am showing that I am committed to meeting high standards of care.

Qualifications

For more information about my qualifications, please click here.

My DBS certificate is up to date and I am fully insured.

I undertake a variety of training on a regular basis to ensure I deliver the best possible care. This includes things such as safeguarding and data protection as well as clinical training to continually improve my skills as a therapist.