Frequently asked questions

How long does a therapy session last?

Most therapy sessions last for 50-minutes, the so-called ‘therapeutic hour’, allowing the therapist to complete the work in the last 10 minutes (e.g., reflection and taking notes). As outlined in my Accessibility policy, I offer a limited amount of spaces with flexible session timing for those who require it.

How many sessions will I need and how do I get started?

Therapist and writer James I. Kepner likens the therapeutic process to an upward spiral – therapy involves looking at issues many times but always from a different perspective as we gain more awareness of ourselves and the circumstances surrounding what brings us to therapy. As such, therapy can last a few sessions or many months, sometimes years, depending on what a client wishes to achieve. What is important is that you feel supported in continuing AND ending therapy at every stage. As such, I encourage a discussion about the length of therapy in our first session and conduct regular reviews to ensure our work still meets your needs.

I treat the first two to four sessions as assessment sessions in which we explore whether and how we might work together with no commitment to continue. After this, I request two session’s worth of notice to ensure a proper ending of the therapeutic relationship.

Please note I do not currently offer Single Session Therapy. If you are looking for very brief therapeutic work, this guidance on Counselling Directory might support you.

Are sessions confidential?

Yes! Therapy is an almost fully confidential space, ensuring you are free to explore any issues in a way that feels as safe and supported as possible.

However, as any ethical professional, there are certain limits to this confidentiality. We will also discuss these at our first session:

1. I receive regular supervision by an experienced Gestalt practitioner who is bound by the same ethical codes as I am. In my work with them, I recount important elements of my work with clients using their first name only.
2. If I suspect you or someone in your life may be at risk, I may be required to break confidentiality by law. Should this be the case, I endeavour to speak to you first to gain your consent if at all possible.
3. I write very brief factual notes about all my client sessions which can be subpoenaed by a court of law.

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

In short, they are essentially the name for the same thing: talking therapy. This is why I use the term ‘therapy’ in my practice.

The way in which practitioners define these terms varies. According to many, a key difference is that counselling often involves the focus on a specific issue and may be short-term, whilst psychotherapy addresses deeper issues and is often associated with longer-term work. I am trained and equipped to offer both, though note I do not currently offer Single Session Therapy as noted above.