Why should I do therapy?
When someone is struggling with any mental health difficulty, therapy can help them to find a way forward. No-one has to do therapy, but it can help to ease a person's distress around a particular issue or issues. Talking about the problem with someone who is outside of the situation, and being given ideas as to how to cope with or solve a problem, can be very helpful. And if someone feels mentally well, this can positively impact their physical health too.
How long does it take?
This all depends on the person accessing the therapy; some people have only required 6 sessions, whereas others have felt it helpful to continue attending for up to 2 years, often with longer gaps in between sessions. People with complex difficulties may need longer than someone who is struggling with a mild depression, for example. As a client you would not be required to 'sign up' for a particular number of sessions; you are not obliged to do so in any way. As therapy starts and progresses, we will decide together how many more sessions might be helpful. And of course, this can always be changed.
How much does it cost?
My rate is between £100 (for therapy) per session. For Expert Witness services, fees are in line with LSC rates.
What happens if I start to struggle again after our therapy has ended?
After therapy, some people find it helpful to come back for 'top-up' sessions, even if therapy ended a long time ago. You would just need to contact me and we could discuss the options together.
Who has to know about the therapy I'm attending?
This is up to you; you decide who (if anyone) will learn about what we have discussed in therapy. I can write summaries to your GP if required. I will only be obliged to disclose to other parties (e.g. GP, police) if I am concerned that you or someone else is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed.
What if I start therapy and then change my mind?
I would want you to feel comfortable in telling me if you are finding therapy difficult. We can problem-solve together around this. Sometimes people do decide to end therapy before it has been completed; perhaps it's not the right time for them, or other things have happened that mean it is not possible to continue. This is fine, we can talk about this together and decide what to do. That said, therapy can be difficult, because emotive or sometimes painful issues might be discussed. One way to think about it is like a train going through a tunnel; if you keep going through the darkness, you will eventually find the light at the end of the tunnel.
What happens if I need to cancel a session?
If you give me 48 hours notice of cancellation, then that's fine and you will not be charged.