Frequently Asked Questions
What is counselling and psychotherapy,
and what’s the difference between them?
and what’s the difference between them?
You may come across counselling described as short-term work (6 sessions for example) with common mental health difficulties like depression, anxiety, and workplace stress that are happening in the moment. Whereas psychotherapy is described as more in-depth long term work, sometimes for many years, which focuses on past, present and future; relationships, trauma, childhood experiences etc.
However, I see no difference between the terms nor the work of counselling and psychotherapy and I have completed both goal orientated and in-depth work in short and long term work with my clients.
I’m a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist. I offer both long and short term work.
How do I know if I need or want therapy?
You don’t have to be feeling really rubbish to want or feel like you need therapy. People come to therapy at all sorts of stages in their life. You may indeed feel really rubbish, lost, hopeless. You may not feel quite yourself or just feel something isn’t quite right, or things aren’t going the way that you were hoping – these are experiences we can all have throughout life and it’s absolutely OK to want some support.
You may be experiencing a transitioning period in your life; relationships may feel different or difficult; you may feel stuck or trapped; you may feel more or even feel nothing; you may also feel content and satisfied but want to explore more about how it is to be you. However you’re feeling right now, there’s a reason you’re looking up therapy related pages and that alone is a good enough reason even if you’re not quite sure yet.
What does client mean?
I use the word client to refer to you. This feels a more respectful and appropriate term compared to words such as “service user” and “patient”. You, the client, is centred in our work together; we will value and explore your identity, experiences, knowledge, and skills.
What is Online and
Telephone Psychotherapy (OTP)?
Telephone Psychotherapy (OTP)?
I’m currently working via online video/audio call and telephone only.
I don’t have any availability for face-to-face sessions but please check back in the future for any changes to this.
Online and Telephone Therapy provides you with high quality therapeutic services from the comfort of your own home or private space. I currently use an online video platform called Doxy.me and would send you a link prior to our agreed booked appointment. This can be a video call where we both use our webcams and audio, or we can use audio only. Many clients find OTP beneficial to reduce travel time/costs; comfort to stay at home; accessibility needs; suits their own preferences; fitting in with work/life balance.
What happens in the first session?
Once we’ve had our free consultation chat and decided that we’re a good fit to work together, I’ll email you a therapy agreement (often called a contract) which outlines how we’ll work together going forward. We’ll go over this together during our first session so that we can both feel happy and comfortable with our expectations of each other. This is to ensure that we’re both clear about what the work will look like, information about confidentiality, cancellations, payments, and other such important details. This is also another chance for us to both ask any questions and get to know each other. We’ll usually spend time looking at any specific issues you’d like to focus on; what our work might look and feel like; and exploring what things are like for you right now.
Do I have to put my camera on?
No, you can still use the video call link for our appointments, it is not a mandatory requirement for you to have your camera on. Sometimes clients prefer to have their camera on all the time and others pick and choose when they have it on. This may suit you if you’re neurodivergent. It can be something we can discuss together.
What if I don’t feel like talking?
Although counselling and psychotherapy is sometimes referred to as “talking therapy”, this doesn’t mean we/you have to spend the whole time talking. Our appointments might involve music, memes, drawing, having quiet or silent moments, movement, imagery work, and breathing exercises.
What do I say or do during therapy?
You may have a clear idea of something you’d like to focus on, you may even have a clear plan or list. You may not be sure what to say or do but just feel something isn’t right at the moment. It’s completely OK to feel nervous or unsure of what to say during your first or first few appointments. I can ask questions to help you explore your experiences and you can also ask me questions. As things move forward, we’ll find out what works for you and at your pace.
Can I swear?
Yes. This may seem strange to have on the FAQs but many clients ask me about swearing. You may find it hard to talk about emotions so it can be beneficial to express how you’re feeling. There’s no judgement from me if you choose or choose not to swear. I will follow your lead.
You've mentioned being inclusive, non-pathologising, and anti-oppressive, yet you’ve referred to diagnostic labels such as BPD and EUPD which could be considered problematic, stigmatising, and highly oppressive. Explain?
You Are Not Alone
Your story matters. Your feelings are valid. And you deserve a space where you can be fully yourself.
If you’re ready to take that first step or simply have questions, I’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch using the details provided on the contact page.