Starting Therapy
Starting therapy is not easy, but it could be the first step to seeking help with a problem that has been getting you down.
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What to expect when working with me:
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Sessions are 50 minutes long, face-to-face or online scheduled weekly on a short-term or long-term/open ended basis.
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Prior to the first session, I offer a free 20 minutes chat that will allow us to talk about your goals of therapy and to let me know how best I can support you. This will also give you the opportunity to ask me any questions you may have before starting therapy.
Fees:
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My session fees are £70 for a 50 minutes session.
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Concessionary fees:
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I hold a limited number of low-cost therapy slots which will be offered where available and will depend on personal circumstance. These are costed at £50 and will be online.
I aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours but please allow up to 48 hours during busy periods.
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Here are some helpful tips to starting therapy.
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Finding a therapist.
It is important to decide on a therapist that works best for you. This might mean seeking out different therapists and finding the right fit.
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Consider costs.
Therapy is an investment in your mental health. Consider how much you can afford. many therapists, such as myself, have some limited slots of low-cost therapy for those who cannot afford to pay for full price. Some specialist therapists would have had extensive training in their field, this is also to be considered when realising that therapy can have high cost points.
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Availability.
Therapy is a commitment between you and your therapist. Therefore, consider you availability when starting therapy. Therapy is scheduled at the same time and day each week.
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Set your therapeutic goals.
Setting goals collaboratively is a good way to make the most of therapy and have a set agenda. This agenda might change once therapy starts, however, it is a good start.
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Be honest.
Being honest is important so therapy can work. Holding and hiding might feel natural for you to do if this is something you have been taught for example, "boys don't cry," or made to feel ashamed for showing emotion. Your therapist is not there to judge you, but to sit with you in what can feel uncomfortable.
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Be patient.
Be prepared for therapy to take time. Patients is important as issues, some deep rooted ones will take time unpack, work through and overcome.
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Be openminded.
Therapy can have all sorts of misconceptions attached to it, such as how therapy looks and what type of person seeks therapy. Culturally, it might be considered that only weak and vulnerable people see a therapist, however, that is not further from the truth. Therapy can also bring up unexpected subjects that you did not initially intend to talk about. Be openminded to follow the process of what therapy is bringing up for you.
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