Frequently Asked Questions - Working With Me

  • If you think you might like to work with me, contact me for a free introductory 15-minute call and I will reply with some options. We can explore what has bought you to therapy at this point, how I work, and you can ask any questions. There is no pressure to decide on the spot - finding the right therapist is key. I can also refer you to other therapists who might be a good fit. If we think we’re the right fit, we will agree a weekly time and I will send you a counselling contract and personal information form on my secure system.

  • My current fees are:

    • 15 minute introductory consultation telephone only: free.

    • 50 minute weekly therapy appointment, online or in person: £120.

    • Intensive individual session to focus on a specific issue: £180 for a 75 minute session. (Useful for returning clients who want to touch base on an issue, or existing clients who want to do a deep dive).

  • I offer one concessional space for counselling trainees. This slot is taken and I do not waitlist it.

  • Sessions are weekly: my modality of therapy works best with regular sessions. As I am often fully booked, if you need a therapist who can move your slot around regularly, I may not be the best fit for you.

  • Because my therapy approach works best on a weekly basis, clients usually reserve the same appointment time on a recurring weekly basis, and I hold this space for you. In order for me to reserve this space for you, I allow each client two cancelled sessions every four months - that is, two sessions you don't attend for any reason - which means I will not charge for those two sessions as long as I have 48 hours' notice. Outside of this two session allowance, I will seek to find an alternative time for you in the same week if you need to reschedule, but if I cannot find a time in that week, I ask for the full fee to be paid for any sessions missed. This includes missed sessions for planned holidays, illness or childcare. The full fee will be charged for any session cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice. If I am on leave or unwell, there is no charge.

    You might like to know about why therapists often charge a cancellation fee. For some of us, this is about covering costs, including turning away other clients to reserve session times. Some doctors, tutors and hairdressers may charge cancellation fees to cover these costs too. The frequency is also part of the therapy itself: in therapy, we're trying to do something different to what may have happened before, and the consistency and stability of a regular weekly slot can be an important part of repairing past patterns. The cancellation fee is not a punishment; it is an indication of the commitment and continuity of therapy. Even when you are not here, your space is being held, I take the time to reflect on our work, read and do research, and our work continues.

  • I no longer work evenings, as I don't feel I can offer clients my best 'me' then. I offer daytime slots on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If evenings are a deal-breaker for you, you can search on most directories by time slot.

  • Often people are curious about fortnightly sessions: I don’t generally offer these. The main reason for this is that I have found that the therapy tends to be less effective, and clients can feel frustrated that they have been coming for a long time without progress. In short, fortnightly sessions are often a false economy: if finances are a concern, you’ll usually benefit more from 6 weekly sessions than 6 fortnightly sessions with me.

  • I currently offer sessions online, using a secure link.

  • I can often accept clients based outside the UK, although will need to check local licensing and insurance restrictions before I can confirm. For licensing and insurance reasons I am unable to work with clients based in the US or Canada.

  • I accept WPA and Aviva; I will need an approval code to proceed with sessions.

  • I ask for payment by bank transfer 48 hours before your session, but I will accept payment if cash if an online payment puts you at risk.

    If you are paying via insurance, I will need your approval code, membership details and any excess details before we start our sessions.

  • If you can't afford therapy, you can:

    • Contact your GP and they may be able to refer you to counselling. Some NHS trusts allow you to self-refer online, so do check this out (for example, mind matters in Surrey.

    • Contact a local mental health charity who may be able to provide lower-cost therapy. These therapists are often trainees, but they have regular clinical supervision and will be midway through training before they start work with clients.

    • You may also be able to find a therapist who offers a sliding scale or who can offer low-fee sessions - most directories allow you to search for this.