Frequently Asked Questions
What is Psychotherapy ?
A: Psychotherapy is a process that focuses on growth and change. It is a co-operative relationship where the therapist and client work together to understand and gain insight into the clients distress. The client is given the opportunity to talk about their issues, make things conscious and ultimately become more aware of the source of their problems. Therapy requires a commitment and a willingness on the clients behalf to being honest with themselves and taking responsibility for change. It can genuinely be a life changing investment, offering deeper more fulfilling relationships with family, friends and most importantly with oneself.
What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?
A: Both are talking therapies but generally, Counselling is concerned with a specific, contemporary issue such as bereavement, divorce, redundancy etc. Psychotherapy tends to look at longer standing issues and patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour. It is broader in scope and sometimes longer in duration but there are common characteristics between the two practices.
How do I make an appointment?
A: Taking the first step to seek therapy can be daunting, and one can to feel hesitant or unsure about seeking help. You are welcome to call me for a preliminary discussion or you can send me an e-mail and I will try to answer any queries you may have. If you choose to proceed we can agree on a time for an initial session to discuss the possibility of working together.
What happens at the first session?
This first appointment is called an an “initial assessment” and lasts for an hour. It is an opportunity for you to meet me face-to-face and decide if we both feel happy working together. You will be invited to talk about your reasons for seeking therapy and to ask any questions you may have about the therapeutic process. It will provide a chance for you to talk about the relevant issues and your personal background with regard to family relationships, work and any significant life events. You can also share with me what you hope to achieve through therapy and begin to get a sense of how I work. There will be plenty of opportunity for any questions you may have during this session.
What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?
A number of benefits are available from cattending therapy. Often it is helpful just to have someone listen and really understand. Therapy can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. Many people find therapy to be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, and the hassles of daily life. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.
What if I have to cancel or reschedule a session?
As long as I have 48 hours notice, there is no charge for a cancelled or rescheduled appointment. However, it is my policy to charge for missed appointments or cancellations where this time isn’t given, as this impacts on my availability.
How long will I be in psychotherapy?
Each psychotherapy is unique as needs and goals vary from individual to individual so there is no easy answer to this question. After the first few sessions, some people can feel ‘better’ from having talked about a problem for the first time. Others begin to notice patterns in their life that they wish to change and may wish stay longer to achieve this. It really depends on the level of change you wish to achieve and how deep you wish to go.
Ending Therapy. Sometimes a client may feel that counselling is not helping. In these circumstances it is best to discuss the difficulties rather than abruptly end counselling. This could evoke a sudden-loss experience that would not have the opportunity to be understood and resolved. In such circumstances I asks that the client to give one week’s notice before ending counselling so we have the chance to discuss the decision and to complete the process adequately. The client is always in charge of the decision to continue or stop counselling and will not be under any pressure to continue at any point.