Although in practice Counselling and Psychotherapy don’t have many differences and the terms are often used interchangeably, the distinction usually refers to the level of training of the practitioner.

Psychotherapy trainings tend to be longer, at a post-graduate level, and generally more comprehensive and in-depth; counselling trainings are shorter, and can be of varying levels (sometimes, but not always post-graduate).

I offer both Counselling & Psychotherapy; I chose to train and qualify in both after finishing my studies in Psychology. For more information, please have a look at the Qualifications & Experience page.

No; the first session is a full assessment. This is both for me to get a sense of what issues you want to bring to therapy and if we can work together, and for you to get a feel of what it can be like to work together, so that you can decide if you’d like to continue. As such, the length and fee for the first/initial session is the same as for any subsequent appointments.

I only offer online therapy at the moment; this might change in the future. The website is updated regularly, but you are also very welcome to send me an email or a message through the contact page if you have any questions. 

I offer both short-term and long-term counselling and psychotherapy; you are welcome to have as many or as few sessions as you feel you need. You are free to stop or pause and resume at any time, as and when your needs change.

I believe that it can be an important benefit of therapy to become more attuned with your changing needs, to feel empowered to ask for what you’d like, and to feel able to discuss together how to best proceed. 

You are welcome to decide the frequency of our sessions or ask to adjust it later on, according to what you feel you need. Generally, it is useful to start with weekly sessions in order to establish the therapeutic relationship and get a good understanding of what you are experiencing and why. However, fortnightly sessions are also an option (availability permitting).

It is possible to have monthly sessions, but they constitute more of a check-in rather than therapy. My therapeutic approach is relational and as such, it is important to have enough time and opportunity to co-create a strong relationship within which we can work together well. It is often difficult to establish that with long gaps between sessions.

Monthly check-ins can sometimes be an appropriate choice for people who feel they are nearing an ending in therapy, and would prefer the last few sessions to be more spaced out. 

The profession of Counselling & Psychotherapy is not regulated in the UK, and the titles ‘counsellor’ and ‘psychotherapist’ are not protected. As a result, it would not be unlawful for someone without any training or qualifications to call themselves a therapist and start working with clients. 

NCPS (National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society), BACP (British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy) and UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) are three of the largest professional – but voluntary – organisations offering accreditation to trained therapists and training programs. There are several more.

Although it is optional to register and get accredited with professional bodies like these, many therapists choose to, as a way to demonstrate that their training and experience meet certain criteria. 

I am a Senior Accredited Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and part of their Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority. 

When looking for a therapist, other than the affordability of sessions, you might choose to consider several additional factors:

• Do you prefer someone of a certain gender or age group? 
• Would you like them to have lived or professional experience of working with people of your identities?
• Are you happy with either online or in-person sessions, or do you have a strong preference for one mode only?
• If English isn’t your first language, would you prefer to have therapy in your native language?
• Do they have experience working with the main issues you’d like to bring to therapy?
• What are their qualifications and background? Do you have a preference working with someone who is trained to any level or only postgraduate level?
• Do you prefer to work with someone who has a background in a related field, such as Psychology, Social Work, or Psychiatry? In the UK, counselling and psychotherapy training programs don’t typically require any prior experience or education in related fields, so many therapists may come from very different or unrelated backgrounds. 
• Finally, it’s useful to reflect on how you felt and what you think after the first session(s). It is important to feel comfortable and safe with your chosen therapist, so that you can develop together a strong therapeutic relationship.