Fees & how it works

The first step is you reaching out to me by submitting a call back request - I usually make contact within 2 days. We will have an initial 10-15 min consultation telephone call to discuss your needs and to see if we will be a good fit for each other. If I think another service / clinician may be more suited to your needs, I will suggest this. You can also ask me any questions you may have.

If we agree that we can work together, I will send over my Registration Form for you to complete prior to our initial appointment. I do not always have immediate availability, it may be that you have to wait 2-3 weeks for an appointment to become available.

Once we have completed your Registration Form, a booking link will be sent to you where you can book your own appointments (using secure practice management software Cliniko - see below section on how it works).

In the initial assessment phase, I will ask you about what has brought you to therapy. Together, we will spend time exploring what you are struggling with and the impact this may be having on areas of your life. I will also ask about any previous significant life events you may have experienced, as this can help me understand you more. I will ask you other questions about your existing coping skills, support network, and what day to day life is like for you. The way I often phrase the assessment phase is a bit like ‘putting the jigsaw puzzle pieces together’.

An important part of the assessment phase is discussing what your goals are for therapy – this may be something you are already clear on or we can pin these down together.

This assessment phase can take approximately 2-3 sessions (although sometimes shorter and longer than this).

People can feel nervous or daunted about starting therapy – particularly the first appointment. This is common! Often, people can feel worried that they won't know what to say or perhaps may question whether their difficulties are 'severe' enough to warrant seeing a psychologist. This is common! My view is that if it is having an impact on your day-to-day life, then it can be worth seeing a psychologist.

In the therapy phase, we will work towards your goals. My style is to work collaboratively with clients – I bring my specialist training and experience in psychology and you bring your knowledge on you.

As I am trained in several evidenced-based psychological therapies, I can draw on these to make sure therapy fits specifically for you. The therapy space is often used to ‘process’ (talk through) what you are struggling with; this can to help provide more insight and awareness into your difficulties. I will also often suggest some practical strategies that I think may help. I hope that clients may think about areas we have discussed outside of sessions – this is all part of the ‘processing’. 

The length of this therapy phase depends on many factors including your availability, financial circumstances and what your goals are for therapy. I am familiar with working on a short term basis, if this is most appropriate for you. 

I tend to initially agree to have 5 sessions (inclusive of the assessment phase) and then we can have a review on the fifth session. At this review, we can make sure we are on track in working towards your goals. Most clients like to have weekly sessions.

I like to plan endings ahead of time so that you can feel prepared and equipped. We may spend time discussing what it feels like to come to the end of therapy, and we can discuss what you have learnt about yourself and what you will be taking with you. I am also able to offer adhoc follow up ‘check in’ sessions if this would be helpful.