What to Expect…
…Your Journey Starts Here
This guide outlines what you can expect from your very first contact with me through to the close of our work, so you can move forward feeling informed and confident.
First Contact: Making Your Enquiry
I aim to make reaching out as straightforward, welcoming and professional as possible.
Simply complete the contact form below, or call or email me directly. At this stage you might be ready to book your first appointment and or have a few questions.
However, sometimes the thought of starting therapy can feel like a big step. For this reason, before booking your first appointment, you also have the option to arrange a free 20-minute phone consultation so you can get a true sense of whether I am the right fit for you. This consultation is a great opportunity to explore whether I can truly support you and if I am the therapist you’re looking for. We can discuss your specific needs, how I work and clarify any details such as fees, availability, or any other queries you may have.
When you contact me, please share a little about what is bringing you to therapy now and any initial queries you have. I’ll aim to get back to you within 48 hours Monday-Friday.
If you call please just note that it may go straight through to voicemail as I may be with a client, so do leave a message and I’ll respond when I am free.
Rest assured, any message you send or leave will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. I strictly abide by the ethical codes of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the National Society of Talking Therapies (NSTT).
You are under absolutely no contractual obligation when contacting me; this time is simply for you to ask questions, gather the information you need and get a feel for the therapist who will be guiding your journey.
Starting Therapy: Our First Session
There is no "one size fits all" formula for this first session. This is where we talk in more detail about what brings you to therapy now and the kind of healing or change you are looking for.
It's okay if what you're looking for feels unknown, unclear, or out of reach right now. There is no pressure to have all the answers; we simply begin where you are and will navigate your journey in therapy together.
You can expect therapy to be a truly collaborative process. You are the expert on your life, and I am there as your guide, supporting you toward the meaningful changes you want to see. I work actively to maintain a therapeutic space that is deeply warm, nurturing, non-judgemental, and confidential, so that true, lasting healing and growth can gently unfold.
In this session, we'll start to shape an initial plan for our work. Part of this essential first session also involves going over the foundational aspects of our work: confidentiality and our 'working agreement.' This is an important step in setting clear expectations of therapy and ensuring you are empowered in the process.
Throughout Therapy
You can expect our work to be client-led, empowering and deeply relational. I will work alongside you as a dedicated guide, respecting your expertise in your own life.
Sessions will be purposeful and flexible, drawing upon our full integrative Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy ‘toolkit,’ ensuring that therapy is precisely tailored to you so that you can get the most out of it.
Some of these methods may include Humanistic and Person-Centred approaches, Hypnotherapy (including Ericksonian methods), Solution-Focussed therapy, Gestalt, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS)/Parts work, and somatic/mind-body techniques, among others.
It’s okay if you haven’t come across these different theories or terminology before we begin. Your therapeutic path is always designed around your unique needs, with every technique and approach chosen intentionally and guided by your input.
We will collaboratively review your progress and adapt our work together to ensure therapy remains beneficial and relevant to you.
Ending Therapy: Completing the Journey
The ultimate goal of our work is to successfully get you to where you want to be. However, the length of therapy differs from person to person, as it depends on individual circumstances, needs, and goals—some may need fewer sessions and others more. You are not asked to contract a certain number of sessions. I am here to work with you for as long as you need.
Regularly reviewing our work gives us the chance to plan the end of therapy so that it is a shared, intentional process, not an abrupt event.
If you’re ready to take the next step, please get in touch to ask any questions or to set up a free initial phone consultation.