Starting therapy can sometimes feel like a confusing process to navigate, and it's completely normal to feel a bit uncertain. I cover the most frequently asked questions I get from new clients in the FAQ section on this page, as well as what to expect from the first steps of starting therapy with me. I have also included a few words to hopefully reassure anyone feeling nervous about starting therapy. Should you still have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Remember, there are no silly questions and it's part of my job to answer them.

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If you're feeling nervous

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Although therapy and talking to a therapist should be a safe experience, it’s completely normal to feel some nerves before your first session. It can feel vulnerable to share something difficult, personal, or perhaps shameful with someone you’ve never met before. As a therapist, I want you to know that whatever brings you to therapy, my goal is for you to feel safe, seen, and understood. I have extensive experience supporting clients as they explore and work through difficulties at their own pace, and I would never pressure you to talk about something you’re not ready to share.​ I always begin our first meeting by asking: “How can I help you?” and I respond to whatever your answer might be with empathy, respect, and curiosity. 

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Also, please note that I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation allowing us to have a brief chat before our first session. Clients have told me over the years that this helps take the pressure off for the first session, as we've already met before and they have a better idea of what to expect from me. 

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Starting therapy: step by step

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The first step to starting therapy with me is to book an initial 15 minute consultation. You can do this by using the booking form on this page, by selecting "Book Session" from the main menu. You can also use the contact form on this page to message me and ask to book an initial consultation that way. Once you're booked in for the initial consultation, you'll receive a confirmation via email including a video link for your appointment. You won't need to download Zoom or Teams as the link will open in a web browser. The initial consultation is a brief 15 minute chat about why you're looking to start therapy. You can also ask me any questions you might have about therapy or how I work. Please don't worry too much about what to say, as the initial consultation is just for me to get an idea of what's going on for you and for you to get a first impression of me and what I'm like to talk to. If you would like to proceed after the initial consultation, we'll book you in for an assessment session. You'll receive a confirmation email and secure video link, just like for the initial consultation.

The assessment session is our first full length session (50 minutes), but is a bit different from a regular therapy session. It will be more structured, as I'll have a few questions for you about what brings you to therapy, what you hope to gain from it and discuss your preferences for how we might work together. I'll also ask you about any previous therapy you might have had, and always ask if you've had any thoughts of harming yourself or anyone else in any way, both recently as well as in the past. After the assessment session, should we agree to continue working together, we'll meet for sessions on a regular basis. Therapy sessions usually take place at the same time every week, but I can accommodate more flexible ways of working together if needed. This would be agreed in the assessment session. How long we work together completely depends on your individual preferences and goals for therapy, as well as presenting issues. My default way of working is open-ended, but short-term therapy (6-12 sessions) is also available. Again, this would be agreed in the assessment session. 

All our regular sessions will be booked in by me, and you will receive session confirmation and video links via email. After sessions, including the assessment session, you'll receive a payment link via SMS where you can choose to pay via card, Google Pay or Apple Pay. Invoices can be sent out to you via email upon request. 
 

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