HOW WE WORK TOGETHER

Our first meeting. During this first session, I always encourage clients to ask questions and address worries they have about therapy. I will also discuss in more detail how I work, share information about the security of your personal information and my confidentiality pledge. If after this first meeting you decide to commence therapy with me, I will then ask you for a brief history to help me gain some understanding of your difficulties. Establishing this will help me consider how my approach to psychotherapy may facilitate changes in your life. It is at this point we might start thinking about specific goals for our therapeutic work together. We may conclude that psychotherapy may not be the best fit. In which case I will signpost you to other forms of therapy or support.

Frequency of sessions. Sessions normally occur weekly and last 50 minutes. However other patterns are possible. For example, multiple sessions or less frequent sessions.

Ending. Deciding on when to end therapy varies hugely. Sometimes an end date is discussed right at the start particularly if a client wishes to work on a specific topic. More commonly, endings are more fluid and are determined by when clients feel their goals have been achieved or they have developed strategies to take control of their difficulties and no longer need therapeutic support. I always endeavour to support clients to determine when they feel ending therapy feels appropriate and helpful.