FAQ
We all have questions; here are some answers to the ones I get asked frequently
What is the difference between a psychotherapist, counsellor, CBT & psychiatrist?
Psychotherapist - Usually qualified to Masters level, a Psychotherapist can be trained in a variety of theoretical approaches to help you have a deeper understanding of yourself and support you to process your emotions. Psychotherapy tends to be a longer term form of therapy due to the depth of exploration.
Counsellor - Usually qualified to Postgraduate Diploma level and above. A Counsellor can help you explore similar areas to a Psychotherapist; however, the depth of exploration and length of therapy may be different. A Psychotherapist may also describe themselves as a Counsellor.
CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapist also helps you understand your thoughts, feelings and behaviours regarding your mental health. They will then support you to identify the changes you could make to help improve your mental health. CBT is a structured/evidence based approach which focuses on managing and maintaining change.
Psychiatrist - A medical doctor who is specialised in mental health and licenced to diagnose, prescribe and treat mental health conditions. Psychiatrists are qualified to Doctorate level.
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The fact you have made it here is a good enough reason. You may have got to the point where you've recognised you need more support processing some areas of your life. But there is also a common misconception that we need to be really struggling with our mental health to have therapy.
We do not always need a big life event and/or trauma to access therapy. Just wanting to understand and explore yourself in more depth is also a completely valid reason to want to start therapy.
How do I know therapy is for me?
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
Finding the right therapist can be difficult and an overwhelming process. This is why I believe it is important to meet your potential therapist before your first session. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you need, discuss what you want to bring to therapy, as well as seeing if you have a connection with them.
Please also visit the "About me" section if you want to know a little bit about me before this.
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Book in a free, non-obligation consultation here
It is really normal to feel a bit anxious when attending your first session, and I will always make sure we go at your pace.
We will spend the time going over what has brought you to therapy and how you feel this is currently impacting you. We will also explore your hopes and goals for therapy, so we are constantly working towards these throughout your sessions.
You may also have a few further questions from our consultation that you would like to ask, which I’ll always do my best to answer.
What will my first session be like?
How long will I need to be in therapy?
This answer is completely individual to the person and what they are wanting to work on. The benefit of having private therapy is that it can be open ended and have no limits on time. However, I also appreciate this does come at a financial cost and this isn’t going to be accessible for everyone.
I would recommend having a minimum of 6 sessions, which is the usual amount offered by most mental health services. We review therapy throughout our time together and when you feel ready we will start working towards our ending. I recommend having at least two sessions to be able to do this.
Confidentiality is crucial to therapy and the work that we do. Anything you discuss with me is not shared outside of therapy, except with my supervisor. All therapists are required to have supervision as it is an ethical requirement by our professional body. This is somewhere therapists can go to discuss their client work, to make sure we are practicing ethically and safely, but it is also somewhere therapists can go to be supported and challenged where needed.
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We also have a duty of care to extend confidentiality if we believe there is a risk of harm towards yourself or others. However, this will be discussed with you first and you will be part of the decision-making process.
Is what I say in therapy confidential?
What do you do with my information?
Your privacy is very important to me and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to me.
I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
Click here to see my full privacy notice which tells you what I will do with your personal information from initial point of contact through to after your therapy has ended.