What is individual therapy?

Individual therapy is another way to describe counselling sessions.  It involves attending regular sessions which are normally weekly, in a private and confidential setting.

Who is it for?

Therapy is for you if you want to time and space to talk through your difficulties.  

What style of therapy is it?

The style of therapy I offer is Gestalt.  This is an approach that is holistic, focusing on how you think, feel, and act in the here and now. I am also influenced by Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic approaches. There is no set structure about what is discussed. I am flexible to your needs.

How does it work? 

At the beginning of therapy, I may ask you questions about your past and family relationships, to help get an idea of some of the beliefs that you have and difficulties you may have experienced. I aim to promote a relationship of trust and reliability and will go at a pace that feels right for you.

What is the goal of Individual therapy?  

The aim is for you to get a better understanding of how to manage your emotional needs.

Is it confidential?  

I have an ethical duty to maintain confidentiality. Issues you bring are personal to you, and may feel difficult to talk about.  There is no judgement about what you say. I would only break confidentiality if you raise issues where there is risk to yourself or others. 

How many sessions would I need?

There are no set amount of sessions.  Individual therapy can be short-term or long-term.  You may come for therapy with a specific issue in mind,  but start to explore other issues which feel important to you.   

What is couples therapy?

Couples therapy is counselling that is offered for two people who define themselves as being in a relationship. Whether they are gay, straight, bi-sexual, married, living together, in a committed partnership, separated, or just at the beginning of getting to know one another.  It involves attending regular sessions, which are normally weekly, in a setting that is private and confidential.  

In couples therapy I see the couple as the client.  It is not about favouring one persons opinion over the other.  The idea is to offer time to talk through difficult issues with the presence of a therapist in the room.

Who is it for?

Couples therapy is for you, if you are in a relationship where you have not been able to resolve differences of opinion, or if you find it difficult to have an open discussion without getting into arguments.  It is also for couples where feelings have been difficult to communicate or they don’t feel that their voice has been heard or understood.

Issues that bring couples to therapy could include lack of trust, infidelity/affairs, lack of emotional connection, or lack of physical/sexual intimacy, cultural or religious differences, or the impact of the relationship on children, family members etc.

What style of therapy is it?

The style of therapy I offer is Gestalt.  This is an approach that is holistic, focusing on how you think, feel, and act in the here and now. I am also influenced by Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic approaches. There is no set structure about what is discussed. I am flexible to your needs. 

How does it work? 

At the beginning of therapy, I may ask you questions about your past and family relationships, to help get an idea of some of the beliefs that you have about relationships, and difficulties you may have experienced in them. I aim to promote a relationship of trust and reliability and will go at a pace that feels right for you.

What is the goal of couples therapy?  

I do not have an agenda of whether you should or should not stay together. You, as a couple, will decide what is best for you. The aim is to allow space to improve the way that you communicate with one another, and bring clarity where the relationship has become stuck or issues cannot be resolved.  

Is it confidential?  

I have an ethical duty to maintain confidentiality. Issues you bring are personal to you, and may feel difficult to talk about.  There is no judgement about what you say. I would only break confidentiality if you raise issues where there is risk to others; to each other; or to yourself. Those risks could include violence and abuse which require other agencies to become involved.  

How many sessions would I need?

There are no set amount of sessions.  Couples therapy can be short-term or long-term.  You may come for therapy with a specific issue in mind,  but start to explore other issues which feel important to you.   

Can I come to sessions on my own sometimes?

It is suggested that you come together for sessions.  This helps to maintain clear understanding of what has been spoken about in sessions, so that communication is kept open.  To facilitate this, I offer face to face and online sessions. 

Can I have individual therapy somewhere else at the same time?

One or both members of the couple can also be in individual therapy with another therapist to address their own personal concerns. 

What is disordered eating?

You would be considered to have a disordered pattern of eating if you  compulsively eat on a regular basis; severely restrict your food intake; or use unsafe methods to control your weight such as vomiting or laxatives.   You may have a diagnosed condition of Anorexia or Bulimia. Or you may be pre-occupied with food which drives you to yo-yo dieting without maintaining a healthy stable weight.

What style of therapy do you use?

I use a range of methods to support you towards cultivating a natural relationship with food and positive body image.  My approach uses proven skills and techniques developed by The National Centre for Eating Disorders where I received specialist training.

How does it work? 

At the beginning of therapy, I will ask you questions about your past and family relationships, to help get an idea of some of the beliefs that you have and difficulties you may have experienced, particularly around food.      Sessions are tailored towards your particular needs, so it may challenge your ways of thinking, but in a non-judgemental way.  I may also set homework tasks for you to complete to support your recovery and self-development 

What is the goal of the support that you offer?  

I will help you to get a better understanding of how to manage your emotional needs,  and adopt more help ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Is it confidential?  

I have an ethical duty to maintain confidentiality. Issues you bring are personal to you, and may feel difficult to talk about.  There is no judgement about what you say. I would only break confidentiality if you raise issues where there is risk to others; to each other; or to yourself. Those risks could include violence and abuse which require other agencies to become involved.  

How many sessions would I need?

There are no set amount of sessions.  Eating Disorders specialist therapy can be short-term or long-term.  I regularly review progress, so that we can both decide when it feels best to end.