FAQ
Answers to all your questions in one place
We understand it can be daunting taking those first steps towards getting better, but it needn’t be. If you have questions, please check the FAQs below or get in touch to speak to us before scheduling an appointment.
General Questions
Psychotherapy offers a non-judgemental, confidential and safe space for you to reflect on any emotional difficulties with a trained therapist. Talking to a trained professional can help you to explore your concerns, thoughts and feelings and improve your mental health.
Sometimes ‘psychotherapy’ is referred to as ‘talking therapies’. For the most part, this is because they involve talking about an emotional difficulty with a trained therapist. That might be anything from grief to anxiety, relationship difficulties to addiction.
Psychotherapy is the collective term for a number of therapies that help treat emotional and mental health issues. There are many types of psychotherapy, most of which use one-on-one or group spoken conversation as their basis. You don’t need to understand all of them but it might be useful to think about which type of therapy might suit you.
Some therapies are based in other forms of communication such as the written word, art, music and dramatisation.
Anyone can benefit from psychotherapy. During therapy, you might learn about your moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviours, which can give us insights as to how you can better respond to life’s challenges and increase your sense of wellbeing.
To do this, we employ a range of techniques based on relationship-building, communication and changes to behaviour, all of which are designed to support your mental health, or to have better group relationships (such as in a family or a couple).
You don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosed mental illness to have psychotherapy. It can help you with emotional or mental health problems, including everything from anxiety to grief, addiction to sexual problems. It can help you to achieve a specific goal or overcome a challenge. Psychotherapy can help you understand yourself better and fulfil your potential.
Yes. There is a large body of evidence to show that psychotherapy is effective in addressing most mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, substance use problems, and what are often diagnosed as ‘personality disorders’.
We will work with you to identify the most effective types of therapy for you. Sometimes it’s one particular type of therapy but we often use a combination of therapies to ensure you are getting the most out of your sessions. We know that every client is different and they each have their own set of needs and circumstances; we will tailor the sessions to you.
Our psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors work with individuals, couples, families and groups, as well as with children and young people.
Yes, all of our psychotherapists are highly qualified and accredited to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
About Therapy Sessions
In your first session we will spend time getting to know you and allowing you to get a sense of how we work and how the therapy sessions will run. We will discuss different types of therapy with you and assess your goals together. This is your time to ask questions as well. Most importantly we want you to feel comfortable with your treatment.
We tailor the sessions to meet your individual needs. Each session usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour; and we usually recommend a course of around 6 to 12 sessions. For some the treatment can be more long-term; it is very much dependent on your circumstances.
Psychotherapy can be short or long term. The number of sessions you have will depend on you, your therapist, the type of therapy and depth and complexity of the issues you want to work on.
We always tailor the sessions to meet your individual needs. Each session usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour; and we usually recommend a course of around 6 to 12 sessions. For some the treatment can be more long-term; it is very much dependent on your circumstances.
Our private therapy sessions are available online.
Yes. Your psychotherapist will keep everything you say as confidential. We will let you know any of the legal and ethical limits to this.
Yes – occasionally clients like someone to be in the room with them for the first few minutes of the initial session to provide support and to offer input on the current situation. However, you will ultimately gain more from your sessions if you are able to speak openly and without fear of others’ reactions or judgements.
This will vary according to the age and preferences of the child. However, parents often sit in for the first few minutes and the final few minutes of the session to provide support and additional input. It can also often be useful to run through any exercises with parents so that they can encourage the child with activities between sessions.
We are based in London in the UK, our private therapy sessions are available online.
Getting Started With Therapy
We don’t normally provide a formal assessment. However, the first session provides an opportunity to discuss various aspects of the issue and explore ways forward.
Please see our pricing page for up to date therapy session costs.
No. This is entirely your choice unless the sessions are being funded by work or a relative, in which case we may need to advise them when sessions have taken place. However, no specific details of the discussions will be divulged outside of the session without the client’s express permission.
If you want to stop your sessions, talk to your therapist. It’s best not to stop abruptly, if that’s possible. Sometimes therapy can make you feel very unsettled and this can be difficult to cope with. We will help you think about whether it’s the right time to end your sessions and plan accordingly. Remember we are here to help guide you through any periods of uncertainty.
Find the right therapist for you by filling out our onboarding questionnaire. This helps us understand your needs and which approach might be best for you. If you’d rather discuss this with us first, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
