Starting Therapy

  • The first step is to get in touch. You can do this in one of two ways:

    Book a free 15-minute consultation using the online booking system. This allows you to reserve a convenient time immediately, without the back-and-forth of arranging a call by email.

    Book a Free Consultation

    Alternatively, you can contact me directly via email or telephone if you would prefer to discuss your circumstances first.

    Contact Me

    If we decide that working together feels like a good fit, I will guide you through the next steps, including registration, paperwork, and arranging your first therapy session.

  • The free 15-minute consultation is an opportunity for us to briefly discuss what has brought you to therapy, explore whether I may be the right therapist for you, and answer any questions you may have about the process.

    The consultation is informal and there is no obligation to proceed with therapy afterwards. Its purpose is simply to help you decide whether working together feels like a good fit.

  • The first session is an opportunity for us to begin understanding what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to gain from it.

    I'll invite you to talk about what's been happening for you, at a pace that feels manageable, and we'll start building a shared understanding of the difficulties you're experiencing. I may ask questions about your current situation, relevant background, and what has led you to seek support now.

    There is no expectation to cover everything in one session. The aim is not to have all the answers immediately, but to begin identifying a clear direction for our work and to get a sense of how it feels to work together.

    If you have a preference for short-term, focused therapy, we can discuss this from the outset and agree on priorities together.

    We'll also cover any practicalities and next steps, so you can decide whether you would like to continue.

  • No. Most people come to therapy knowing that something isn't working, but without a clear understanding of why, what needs to change, or what type of therapy might help. That's completely normal.

    Part of my role is to help you make sense of what is going on and to work with you to identify an approach that fits your needs. Different people benefit from different ways of working, depending on their goals, personality, and the difficulties they are facing.

    If you do have a preference, such as a more structured, goal-focused approach or a more exploratory style of therapy, we can take that into account. Equally, it is perfectly fine if you don't. As our understanding develops, we can shape the therapy in a way that feels most helpful to you.

    If you would like to learn more about my approach, please visit the How I Work section of this website.

Finding the Right Therapist

  • I work with adults aged 18 and over and have experience helping people with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties.

    Some of the concerns people bring to therapy include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, trauma, addiction, and questions around identity, purpose, and life direction.

    I also work with people experiencing difficulties such as panic, health anxiety, phobias, obsessive thoughts, stress, emotional overwhelm, and patterns of avoidance, self-criticism, or feeling stuck.

    Many people do not arrive with a clear diagnosis, and some find that diagnostic labels do not fully capture their experience. Rather than focusing solely on categories or diagnoses, my aim is to understand how your difficulties developed, what may be keeping them going, and what is likely to help you move forward.

    If you are unsure whether I may be the right therapist for your situation, you are welcome to arrange a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your circumstances.

  • Yes. Part of working ethically is being clear about the kind of support I am best placed to offer.

    I work with adults aged 18 and over and do not currently work with children or adolescents.

    There are also some difficulties and situations that fall outside the scope of my private practice. These include active psychosis, and situations that require crisis, inpatient, or more intensive multidisciplinary support. In these circumstances, a different service is often better placed to provide the level of care required.

    I do not provide detoxification or medical support for substance withdrawal. Where drug or alcohol use is part of the picture, my role is to help with the psychological, emotional, relational, and behavioural aspects involved, while medical support for withdrawal is provided elsewhere.

    If it becomes clear that another form of support would be more appropriate, I will discuss this with you openly and, wherever possible, help you find a service that better meets your needs.

  • Both online and in-person therapy can be effective and meaningful. What matters most is finding a format that allows you to engage openly, attend consistently, and feel comfortable enough to do the work.

    Many people find that online therapy works very well. It can be easier to fit around work and other commitments, and some people feel more at ease speaking from their own environment. For this reason, much of my work currently takes place online.

    I also offer in-person sessions in Richmond, Surrey. As these appointments require room hire and additional travel, availability is more limited and sessions are arranged on an individual basis. An additional fee applies to cover these costs.

    If you are interested in meeting in person, please get in touch and we can discuss current availability and whether this would be the right option for you.

    Whatever format you choose, the focus of the work remains the same. The quality of the therapeutic relationship and your willingness to engage with the process are usually far more important than whether sessions take place online or in person.

  • If it becomes clear that I’m not the right person to support you, I would talk this through with you openly and respectfully. This might happen early on, or it may emerge later as the work develops.

    Therapy works best when there is a good fit between what someone is looking for and what a therapist is able to offer. If another form of support would be more appropriate, we can think together about alternative options, including signposting or referral where possible.

    Where helpful and with your consent, I can also liaise with another professional to support a transfer of care. This might include sharing relevant information with a GP, psychiatrist, or another therapist, to help ensure continuity and reduce the need for you to repeat your story unnecessarily.

    Raising questions about fit is not a failure of therapy. It’s part of working thoughtfully and ethically, and my aim would be to support you in finding the help that best meets your needs, even if that is not with me.

  • A Counselling Psychologist is trained to work with a wide range of emotional, relational, and behavioural difficulties, while taking into account the broader context of a person's life and experiences.

    My training involved doctoral-level study alongside extensive supervised clinical practice. This included assessment, psychological formulation, and therapeutic work across a range of evidence-based approaches. As a result, I am trained to think carefully about how difficulties may have developed, what may be maintaining them, and what is likely to help.

    Counselling Psychology places particular value on understanding the person, not just the problem. The aim is to develop a shared understanding of what is happening, and to use that understanding to guide meaningful and lasting change.

  • In practice, the differences between therapists are often less clear-cut than job titles suggest. Many professions overlap in the work they do, and research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship matters more than the specific model or label.

    That said, people often come across a range of titles. Very broadly speaking:

    • Counsellor – usually trained to work therapeutically with emotional and relational difficulties; training routes and depth can vary.

    • Psychotherapist – often trained in a specific therapeutic model (such as psychodynamic or CBT), with a focus on in-depth psychological work.

    • Clinical Psychologist – trained at doctoral level, often working with more severe or complex mental health presentations, frequently within NHS or multidisciplinary settings.

    • Counselling Psychologist – doctoral-level training with an emphasis on psychological formulation, integration across approaches, and working with the whole person in context.

    There is significant overlap between these roles, and the title alone doesn’t tell you how someone works in practice.

    What tends to matter most is how a therapist works, rather than the label they hold. My approach is integrative and evidence-guided, meaning I aim to understand what is happening for you and to draw on different ways of working where they are likely to be helpful. At times this may involve structured, focused work; at other times it may be more exploratory and reflective.

    Alongside this, I place particular importance on working ethically and transparently, being clear about boundaries and limits, and engaging with the work in a way that is both compassionate and honest. For many people, these qualities matter more than professional distinctions.

    If you’d like to know more about my background, values, and how I approach therapy in practice, you can find further detail on the About Me page of this website.

How Therapy Works

  • Sessions are scheduled as 50-minute appointments. This provides a clear structure for the work, while allowing enough time to explore what feels important and to bring the session to a thoughtful close.

    Appointments are spaced with time between them, rather than running back-to-back. This gap allows me to prepare for each session and reflect on the work, helping ensure that each person is met with care and attention rather than being rushed.

    In practice, sessions may occasionally run slightly over or under, depending on what we are working with. The intention of the 50-minute frame is not rigidity, but to provide a reliable and boundaried structure that supports the work over time

  • Most people attend therapy once a week, particularly at the beginning. Meeting regularly helps maintain continuity and allows the work to build momentum, rather than starting afresh each time.

    I tend to hold more space for ongoing or time-limited blocks of work, where sessions take place consistently over a period of time. Working in this way usually allows us to go deeper, notice patterns as they unfold, and build on what has been explored from one session to the next.

    Some people also use therapy more flexibly, for example by returning for a small number of sessions during a difficult period or when old patterns resurface. I do keep a limited number of appointments available for this kind of work, though these spaces are more constrained than regular weekly slots.

    The frequency and structure of sessions can be discussed and reviewed together, so that the way we work supports both the depth of the therapy and what is realistic for you

  • Therapy can be short-term or longer-term, depending on what you’re coming with and what you’re hoping to work towards.

    Some people come for a defined period of time, such as a set number of sessions focused on a particular difficulty or transition. Others stay longer when working with more established patterns, relational themes, or longer-standing difficulties.

    Rather than fixing an end point at the outset, I see the length of therapy as something that is shaped by the work itself. We can check in about progress and direction, and bring the work to a close when it feels that its purpose has been met.

    The aim is not to stay in therapy longer than necessary, but to work for as long as it feels helpful and appropriate for your goals.

  • Therapeutic change is not always immediate or linear, but over time many people notice shifts in how they relate to themselves, to others, and to the difficulties that brought them to therapy.

    For some people, change is gradual and may show up as increased clarity, greater emotional resilience, improved relationships, or a growing ability to respond differently to familiar challenges. For others, change can feel more noticeable and happen over a shorter period of time.

    We'll pay attention to changes both inside sessions and in your day-to-day life, including whether situations feel more manageable, old patterns begin to loosen, or you find yourself responding in ways that better reflect your values and goals.

    Part of my role is to regularly check in on how the work is progressing. We can review what feels helpful, what feels less helpful, and whether our focus needs to change. Your own sense of whether therapy is making a meaningful difference is an important part of that conversation.

  • At times, yes. Therapy often involves looking honestly at patterns, emotions, and experiences that may have been avoided, suppressed, or managed in the same way for many years.

    While insight can be important, lasting change usually comes from responding differently in moments that matter. This might mean expressing a need, setting a boundary, facing a fear, tolerating uncertainty, or remaining present with difficult emotions rather than moving away from them. These moments can feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, or challenging.

    My role is not to push you beyond what is manageable, but neither is it to help you avoid what needs to be faced. We will work together to find a pace that is both safe enough and challenging enough for meaningful change to occur.

    If something feels overwhelming or unhelpful, we can talk about it openly and adjust our approach. Therapy works best when challenge and support develop alongside one another.

Practicalities & Costs

  • Online sessions take place via a secure video link.

    Prior to each appointment, you will receive a link that allows you to join your session at the scheduled time. Simply click the link and you will be connected to the online meeting.

    Before your first session, it can be helpful to check that your camera, microphone, and internet connection are working properly to help ensure everything runs smoothly.

    If you experience any difficulties joining a session, please get in touch and I will do my best to help.

  • The cost of a standard online session is £120 for a 50-minute appointment.

    The cost of a standard in-person session is £130 for a 50-minute appointment.

    Session fees are transparent, with no additional charges beyond the appointment itself.

    If you have any questions about fees, payment, or arranging an appointment, please feel free to get in touch via my Contact Page.

  • I expect to begin accepting clients through major private health insurance providers in the near future.

    If you would like to use private health insurance to fund therapy, please get in touch and I will be happy to discuss the current position and the options available.

    For the latest information, please contact me directly before arranging your first appointment.

  • Sessions are paid for by invoice. Invoices are usually issued 7 days before each appointment, although sessions booked at shorter notice will be invoiced at the time of booking.

    Payment is made securely via Stripe using the payment link provided on the invoice.

    To secure your appointment, payment must be received by the deadline stated on the invoice. In most cases, this means payment is required at least 48 hours before the scheduled session time.

    A session is only confirmed once payment has been received. Until then, the appointment is provisionally held. If payment has not been received by the required deadline, the session will be released and may no longer be available.

    For clients attending on a regular basis, failure to secure a session through payment may affect the continuation of an agreed recurring appointment time.

    For full details, please refer to the Payment & Cancellation Policy.

  • Missed sessions, including non-attendance, are charged at the full session fee. This is because the appointment time has been reserved specifically for you and cannot usually be offered to someone else at short notice.

    If you realise that you cannot attend, please let me know as soon as possible. Cancellations made with at least 48 hours' notice are not charged.

    Most missed appointments happen because people are busy, distracted, or lose track of time, which is entirely human. To help reduce the likelihood of this, appointment reminders are sent before scheduled sessions.

    If something unexpected happens, or if you are unsure how the policy applies to your circumstances, we can discuss it openly. Genuine emergencies and exceptional situations are considered on a case-by-case basis.

    Further information can be found in the Payment & Cancellation Policy.

  • If a session is missed or forgotten without 48 hours notice, it is usually charged as if attended. This is because the time has been set aside specifically for you and cannot be reallocated at short notice.

    Most missed sessions happen simply because of forgetting or losing track of time, which is very human. To help with this, the booking system sends automatic appointment reminders ahead of each session. You can opt out of these reminders at any point if you prefer not to receive them.

    If something unexpected happens, or if you’re unsure how the policy applies in a particular situation, we can talk about it openly. While the policy provides a clear frame, I aim to approach situations with fairness and care.

    Further information about how missed or forgotten sessions are handled is available in the Payment & Cancellation Policy linked in the website footer.

  • Yes. What you share in therapy is treated as confidential, and privacy is a fundamental part of the work. Sessions are intended to be a space where you can speak openly, knowing that what you say is handled with care and respect.

    Confidentiality applies both to the content of sessions and to your personal information. I keep brief clinical notes, which are stored securely and only used to support the therapeutic work.

    Your information is not shared with anyone else without your knowledge or consent, except in the limited circumstances outlined below.

    Full details are set out in the Privacy Notice linked in the website footer.

  • Confidentiality is a central part of therapy, but there are some important limits that it’s helpful to be aware of from the outset.

    I may need to break confidentiality if there is a serious risk of harm to you or to someone else, or if I’m legally required to share information. Wherever possible, I would aim to discuss this with you first, unless doing so would increase risk.

    As part of safe and ethical practice, I also discuss my work in professional supervision. This helps ensure I am working safely, effectively, and in your best interests. Any material shared in supervision is anonymised, and your identity is not disclosed.

    Full details about confidentiality and its limits are set out in the Privacy Notice, which is available via the website footer and as part of the initial consent information.

  • I take the protection of your personal data seriously.

    Where therapy proceeds, personal and clinical information is stored using a secure, GDPR-compliant practice management system. Access to this information is restricted and protected using appropriate security measures.

    The information I hold may include contact details, appointment records, relevant background information, correspondence, and brief clinical notes created during therapy.

    Payment information is processed securely through Stripe. Card details are not stored by the practice and are handled directly by Stripe in accordance with their own privacy and security standards.

    Your information is only shared where necessary, appropriate, and lawful. This may include limited sharing with service providers involved in delivering the practice, professional supervision, private health insurers where relevant, or where there is a legal or safeguarding obligation to do so.

    You also have important rights under UK GDPR, including the right to access your personal data and request correction of inaccurate information.

    Full details can be found in my Privacy Notice.

Privacy & Confidentiality

  • Yes. You are welcome to contact me between sessions by email if you have a practical question, need to discuss arrangements, or wish to share something brief that feels important.

    I do not typically provide therapeutic support outside of sessions, as therapy is usually most effective when the work takes place within the protected space of our appointments. Keeping clear boundaries around contact helps ensure that the work remains focused, effective, and sustainable.

    If something arises between sessions that feels important to discuss, it can often be helpful to make a note of it and bring it to your next appointment, where we can explore it properly together.

  • I am not able to provide urgent or crisis support outside of scheduled sessions. If you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or if you need immediate assistance, it is important to seek support straight away.

    In the UK, this may include contacting your GP, calling NHS 111, attending your local A&E department, or contacting the emergency services.

    You can also contact Samaritans, who provide confidential emotional support 24 hours a day. Call 116 123 or visit their website for additional support options.

    If you are not in immediate danger but are finding things difficult between sessions, it can be helpful to make a note of what is coming up and bring it to your next appointment, where we can explore it together.

    Information about crisis support services is also provided as part of the Therapy Agreement and onboarding information.

  • Yes, where it’s helpful, I can work alongside other professionals involved in your care, such as a GP or psychiatrist.

    In some situations, this may also include limited contact with another therapist, for example during a handover or transfer of care. This would usually be focused on supporting continuity and would not involve ongoing joint work.

    Any contact with another professional would only take place with your knowledge and consent, and we would discuss together what information feels appropriate to share. The aim is to support you, not to complicate the work or blur roles.

    If collaboration feels relevant at any point, we can talk this through openly and decide together what would be most helpful.

    Further information about confidentiality and information sharing is available in the Privacy Notice linked in the website footer.

  • Therapy usually comes to an end through conversation rather than sudden decisions. Endings may be planned in advance, particularly in time-limited work, or may emerge more gradually as the work develops.

    Where possible, I encourage us to talk about endings openly, including giving some space to reflect on what has been helpful, what has changed, and what you may want to carry forward. This can help bring the work to a thoughtful and contained close, rather than stopping abruptly.

    If you decide to end therapy, you’re not required to justify that decision. At the same time, if you’re unsure or ambivalent, we can explore that together, as questions about ending can sometimes be meaningful in their own right.

    Therapy can also be paused or returned to at a later point. Some people come back for further work after a period of time, while others feel complete and move on. Both are valid ways of using therapy.

Boundaries & Support