Question 1

What happens in the first session?

Accepted Answer

The first session is an assessment lasting 40–50 minutes. It is a conversation rather than a formal procedure: what has brought you, what has been happening, something of your history and circumstances, and what you hope might change. There is space for your questions too, including how I work and what to expect. By the end we will usually have an initial sense of whether therapy is likely to help and what shape it might take. You are not committing to ongoing work by attending an assessment.

Question 2

How do I know which therapy is right for me?

Accepted Answer

You are not expected to know. Choosing an approach is part of the clinical work, not a prerequisite for starting it. Because the practice is integrative, the approach is selected and adapted according to your needs, presentation, developmental stage and goals, and reviewed as the work progresses.

Question 3

Do you work online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Online sessions are available where they are clinically and professionally appropriate. Online sessions may also be available internationally, subject to professional, regulatory, jurisdictional and insurance requirements — international enquiries are always checked before an appointment is confirmed. Some pieces of work, particularly with younger children or where risk is significant, are better suited to in-person sessions.

Question 4

Do you work with children?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I have significant experience with children and adolescents, including young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Work with younger clients is developmentally sensitive and may incorporate creative and evidence-informed approaches alongside talking.

Question 5

Can parents contact you?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and for children and adolescents, the initial enquiry should normally come from a parent, guardian or other appropriate responsible adult. Arrangements for ongoing parental contact, and the young person's own confidentiality, are discussed and agreed at the outset so that everyone understands how information is handled.

Question 6

What is EMDR?

Accepted Answer

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured, trauma-focused therapy. It works with distressing memories that appear to have been stored in an unprocessed form. A memory is held briefly in mind while attention is directed to bilateral stimulation, most commonly guided eye movements. Over time the memory often becomes less vivid and less distressing to recall. You are not required to describe the memory in detail. I am trained in EMDR; suitability is assessed individually and it is not appropriate for everyone.

Question 7

Do I have to discuss everything immediately?

Accepted Answer

No. Pacing matters, and disclosing too much too quickly can be destabilising rather than helpful. You decide what to bring and when. Assessment needs enough information to work safely, but detail can wait until it feels manageable.

Question 8

How long does therapy last?

Accepted Answer

It varies. Some people come for focused, shorter-term work over several months; others for a longer, more exploratory process. Rather than fixing a number at the outset, we agree an initial period and review it together. Therapy can be ended thoughtfully at any point, and a planned ending is itself a valuable part of the work.

Question 9

Do you offer couples therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Couples sessions are 60 minutes and begin with an assessment. The work focuses on the pattern between you rather than allocating blame. Couples therapy is not appropriate in all circumstances, and suitability is considered as part of assessment.

Question 10

Do you offer clinical supervision?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I hold a PG Dip in Clinical Supervision and provide supervision to therapists and other appropriate practitioners, in person in Rochester, Kent, or online. Sessions are 60 minutes and are governed by a written supervision agreement.

Question 11

What happens if I need to cancel?

Accepted Answer

A 48-hour cancellation policy applies. Appointments cancelled or rearranged with less than 48 hours' notice may incur the full session fee, since the time has been reserved for you. Where cancellations become frequent, we would review the arrangement together so that the work remains useful. Please let me know as early as you can.

Question 12

Can I use private medical insurance?

Accepted Answer

Some clients use private medical insurance. If you do, you remain responsible for checking authorisation, the number of sessions covered, any excess, your policy conditions, and whether the particular service is covered. Missed or late-cancelled appointments are often not reimbursed by insurers, and any shortfall remains payable by you.

Question 13

Can faith be included in therapy?

Accepted Answer

It can, if you specifically wish it. I am a licensed Minister as well as a psychotherapist, and faith can be sensitively incorporated where a client asks for it. It is never introduced otherwise. Clients of all faiths and none are equally welcomed and respected.

Questions people often ask.

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