Question 1

What is the first session like?

Accepted Answer

What is the first session like?

Taking the first step is often the hardest part — well done for getting here. In the first session we will talk about what brings you to therapy and what you would like to work on. It is a space to get to know each other.

We don't necessarily have to start from scratch. Some people have been through therapy before, and we can build on tools that helped you or on things you already understand well. If you would rather approach it differently, we can do that too, or start from the beginning.

You don't need to arrive with everything figured out or know where to begin: we will work that out together from our conversation. Many people come simply knowing that something isn't right, that they are going through a hard time, or that there are parts of their life they want to change, without yet being able to say exactly what is happening.

It is a space to unload, to make sense of what you are going through, or to have — perhaps for the first time — a safe place to talk and be heard without interruptions or judgement. I would be glad to be part of your process.

How often are the sessions?

How long does therapy take, and how does it work?

How do I book, and how do I pay?

Can I stop therapy? What happens to sessions I have already paid for?

How is my privacy protected?

Question 2

How often are the sessions?

Accepted Answer

Sessions are weekly and last 45 minutes. This frequency gives continuity to the process, lets us go deeper into what we work on between sessions, and helps you move steadily towards your therapeutic goals. As goals are reached and improvements hold more independently, we can start spacing sessions every two weeks. This is usually part of a very advanced stage of treatment, and it shows that you can sustain the changes and use the tools with less therapeutic support.

Question 3

How long does therapy take, and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Every process is different, but unless you are coming to work on a very specific goal, I recommend thinking initially of a minimum of around 5 months of therapy. During the first month, sessions are introductory: to get to know you, understand what brings you to therapy and what you would like to work on. By the third or fourth session I usually have a much broader picture of you. It also matters a lot whether this is your first time in therapy. If you have done it before, there may be things you know about yourself, tools you learned or conclusions you reached that we can build on. If you would rather approach things differently this time, we can also start from scratch. My way of working is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and on interventions supported by scientific evidence. This means we don't work only from interpretations or from how you remember things: we observe patterns, form hypotheses, bring in tools and test them against reality. We rely on my clinical notes and on the records you keep between sessions, so we can see more clearly what is working and what needs adjusting. Therapy is an active, collaborative process. Not everyone arrives ready to make changes straight away. Some people first need to unload, make sense of what happened to them, or have a safe space to talk. Some things need to be processed, accepted or grieved before they can be worked on. The final length depends on what you want to work on, your history, whether you have worked on these difficulties before, your commitment to the process, and how much you can bring the tools into your life outside sessions.

Question 4

How do I book, and how do I pay?

Accepted Answer

You fill in the enquiry form and I get in touch to arrange the day and time of your first session. The session is confirmed once it is paid in advance, by card or bank transfer; if you pay by transfer, you upload the receipt from your account. If we then decide to continue with a fixed weekly slot, the month's sessions are booked and paid in advance. That way, the day and time are reserved exclusively for you throughout the process. If you need to move a session, you can request it from your account at least 24 hours in advance.

Question 5

Can I stop therapy? What happens to sessions I have already paid for?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can end therapy whenever you want. Sessions paid in advance are non-refundable, but they stay in your favour to use within 31 days of purchase; after that, any you haven't used expire. They cannot be transferred to another person.

Question 6

How is my privacy protected?

Accepted Answer

Everything we talk about in sessions is confidential and handled according to the ethical principles of professional practice. Video calls use an encrypted connection, and the information you give in the form is used only to manage and prepare your care. Personal data is processed in accordance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Before you start.

What people usually ask.