FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions – if you can’t find what you’re looking for here then please do reach out.
How many sessions will I need?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBTs) are short-term therapies designed to teach you the skills to be your own therapist, so people tend to have anywhere between 3-26 sessions, depending on the complexity of their presenting difficulties.
How long does therapy go on for?
Sessions are 50-60mins long and are usually weekly (at least to begin with).
How do I know whether this kind of therapy is going to be helpful for me?
If you are open to talking about your thoughts and feelings and are willing to make some changes then there’s a good chance that this type of talking therapy will help. CBTs rely on between-session practice to supercharge progress and so ideally you’d want to be able to spend some time each week experimenting with the skills or ideas we’ve worked on together.
If you like the idea of setting values-based goals, learning some skills and techniques, and making some changes in the here-and-now then CBTs could be a good fit.
Click here for more in-depth information on CBT.
What if I need to cancel a session?
We’ll talk about this in our first session together and will agree our terms and conditions. I use a standard therapy contract which outlines each of our expectations and responsibilities and will send this to you before your first session.
Generally speaking, if sessions are cancelled with less than 24 hours notice they will be chargeable. Obviously there are exceptional circumstances and I always assess on a case by case basis. If you think you might find regular attendance difficult then please let me know in the first session so that we can plan for that.
Do you accept private health referrals?
Yes – I’m a registered practitioner with:
Bupa, IPRS, Cigna, Vita, AXA.
Do you offer in-person sessions?
Currently all 1:1 therapy sessions are via videocall. Join my mailing list to be the first to know about in-person clinics as I’m actively exploring options in London and the South East.
Videocall does have many advantages including being in the comfort of your own space, less time getting to and from the sessions, and the ability to take some time before and after sessions to prepare and reflect.
What is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)? Where can I find out more about this approach?
ACT is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy that focuses on changing our relationship with internal experiences (like unhelpful thoughts or beliefs and painful emotions) so that we are better-able to respond to these in a helpful way. It draws on values and mindfulness as well as skills to help handle painful thoughts and feelings, and live our lives more fully and meaningfully. For more information about ACT click here.