INITIAL CONTACT
Please feel free to contact me by email, telephone or through the form on the Contact page of this site.
We will then arrange to have a preliminary conversation on the telephone and, if you decide to, will organise an initial meeting.
INITIAL MEETING
The quality and strength of the alliance between client and therapist is a hugely important aspect of therapy, and it is vital that we feel comfortable with each other. In the first session, we will start to get to know each other: you will be able to talk about your concerns and ask any questions you may have, and I will be able to begin to understand your circumstances.
We will also be able to discuss the logistics of any future work together, and try to work out how therapy might work best for you.
You will be under no obligation to return after the first session if it doesn't feel 'right.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELLING?
Counselling tends to be more focussed on a particular issue, or small number of issues, which may be causing you some difficulties in your day-to-day life. I am happy to see clients on a short-term basis for such work and the parameters of this can be discussed in the initial meeting.
Psychotherapeutic work happens at a deeper level, and tends to function on a longer-term basis. There is no set timescale, the work itself will govern how long it lasts. Psychotherapy focusses more on unconscious material and patterns, and less on the more outward aspects which may be covered in counselling. Undertaking this work can be very creative and we may work with dreams, drawing, or other creative techniques.
Some clients come for a course of short-term counselling and decide to continue sessions beyond the agreed contract. This can, of course, be discussed as our relationship develops.
Please feel free to contact me by email, telephone or through the form on the Contact page of this site.
We will then arrange to have a preliminary conversation on the telephone and, if you decide to, will organise an initial meeting.
INITIAL MEETING
The quality and strength of the alliance between client and therapist is a hugely important aspect of therapy, and it is vital that we feel comfortable with each other. In the first session, we will start to get to know each other: you will be able to talk about your concerns and ask any questions you may have, and I will be able to begin to understand your circumstances.
We will also be able to discuss the logistics of any future work together, and try to work out how therapy might work best for you.
You will be under no obligation to return after the first session if it doesn't feel 'right.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELLING?
Counselling tends to be more focussed on a particular issue, or small number of issues, which may be causing you some difficulties in your day-to-day life. I am happy to see clients on a short-term basis for such work and the parameters of this can be discussed in the initial meeting.
Psychotherapeutic work happens at a deeper level, and tends to function on a longer-term basis. There is no set timescale, the work itself will govern how long it lasts. Psychotherapy focusses more on unconscious material and patterns, and less on the more outward aspects which may be covered in counselling. Undertaking this work can be very creative and we may work with dreams, drawing, or other creative techniques.
Some clients come for a course of short-term counselling and decide to continue sessions beyond the agreed contract. This can, of course, be discussed as our relationship develops.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FURTHER INFORMATION
Making the decision to have therapy can sometimes be quite daunting. These articles might be of interest, and may address any initial questions you might have:
mind.org.uk: About talking therapies
psychotherapy.org.uk: What is psychotherapy
nationalcounsellingsociety.org: How might counselling help me
If you are a couple, and are considering coming for therapy, this article may be of some interest and might answer some initial questions:
bacp.co.uk: How therapy might help couples