The number of sessions required and desired varies considerably between people. National guidelines for the gold standard treatments such as CBT are generally based on around 6-12 sessions. That said, for some people, a few sessions of guidance followed by a self-directed treatment plan will be beneficial enough. Equally, some people prefer to work together over a longer term. I generally suggest thinking together about what feels best over the first few sessions, and will review this with you periodically.

I generally advise people to seek help if they are experiencing difficulties that have persisted despite their best efforts, over a number of weeks or months. In practice, some of the people I see have been struggling for a longer time. Others choose to take a more proactive approach when things are going relatively well. In either case, at initial consultation we can explore together what I might be able to offer, and if it feels that another service may be more appropriate I will be happy to signpost you to it if you would like.

Clinical Psychologists are uniquely trained to draw on a range of theories and therapeutic models. This is one of the things I value most about my profession, and can be especially helpful when working with more complex difficulties. Crucially, I hold professional registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and adhere to the professional and ethical standards outlined by the British Psychological Society (BPS). In addition, I attend regular CPD and supervision to ensure my practice aligns with the most up-to-date research base.

As a psychologist, I am trained in a range of approaches. I sometimes work purely from one approach, and other times integrate aspects of more than one. My decisions are be based on gold-standards in the research literature, and based on an assessment of your individual needs. I aim to be as transparent about the approaches I am taking in sessions, without giving unnecessary detail. If you would like to know more in your sessions, then please do ask, I love what I do and I will always be more than happy to discuss.

I work under strict professional guidelines and will not share any details of our sessions without your permission, except in rare cases; like if I feel you or someone else is in immediate danger and after a plan for safety has been discussed at length, without resolution. I will discuss this with you more in our initial session, and invite you to ask any questions or scenarios; for example, issues such as drug use will not be reported. Please don’t be afraid to reach out.

Yes. I work with families who are self-funded and those who are funded through private heath insurers. I am registered with Aviva, WPA, Cigna, and AXA. If you would like to claim sessions on your health insurance, you will just need to contact them for a pre-authorisation code prior to commencing sessions. Please let me know if you have any questions, and I will do my best to help.