How it works
What working with me actually looks like
From the first email to ongoing sessions, this is the path most people take. Nothing here is fixed. Anything can be adjusted to fit your situation.
The path
The path from first contact to ongoing therapy
Most people who decide to work with me follow roughly the same route, even though the work itself ends up being different in every case. Here’s the shape of it.
A free 15-minute consultation
You book a short video call through the booking system. We talk through what’s been going on, what you’re hoping might shift, and what you’ve already tried. You can ask me anything you want about how I work. There’s no obligation to share more than feels comfortable, and no pressure to book ongoing sessions afterwards. By the end of the call, we’ll both have a sense of whether this is the right next step.
The first full session
If we decide to go ahead, we book a first 50- to 60-minute session. This is where the work begins. I usually start by mapping out what matters to you and what’s been getting in the way of moving towards it, using whichever framework fits best. The aim of the session is to come away with a clearer shared picture of what’s been happening and a starting plan for what we’ll work on. You don’t need to come prepared. I’ll guide the conversation, and we’ll go at the pace that fits. Some people do find it settles the nerves to gather their thoughts first, though. If that’s you, there’s a private tool to help you prepare for your first session: somewhere to jot down what’s on your mind, what you’d like to ask, and anything that’s hard to say out loud.
Ongoing sessions
From there we meet regularly, usually weekly to begin with. The exact rhythm depends on what we’re working on and what fits your life. Some people come for a focused piece of work over a small number of sessions. Others meet across a longer period, working on different aspects as they come up. We review how things are going as we go, so the work stays useful.
In sessions
What sessions look like
Sessions are 50 to 60 minutes long, on a secure video call via Google Meet. You can join from anywhere private and quiet. Most people are at home; some join from a calm spot at work or another space they’ve found that works. Sessions feel like conversations. I’ll ask honest questions, and you decide how much you want to share.
Between sessions, there’s sometimes something to try in your daily life: a small experiment, a piece of practice, a way of paying attention to something. It isn’t homework in the school sense, and there’s no failing it. The work between sessions is where a lot of the change happens, and it’s tailored to what you can manage in any given week.
Practical
What you’ll need
- A device that can run Google Meet: laptop, tablet, or phone.
- A reasonably stable internet connection. If yours wobbles, we’ll work around it.
- A private space where you can speak without being overheard. Most people use a spare room, a study, or sometimes a parked car.
- Headphones if you can. They make the call easier and improve the privacy of the conversation.
You don’t need to fill in any forms before the consultation. After we start working together, there are a couple of practical things to read and sign (consent, confidentiality, terms), but that’s it.
You might be wondering
Common questions about how this works
Do I need a referral?
No. You don’t need a GP referral, a formal diagnosis, or any medical paperwork to book a consultation. Many people come while still working out what’s going on with their health, or with concerns that don’t fit a tidy label.
How often do sessions usually run?
Weekly to begin with is the most common rhythm. Once the work is more established, some people move to fortnightly. Others stay weekly throughout. We talk about what works for your life and adjust as we go.
What happens if I have a bad week and need to cancel?
48 hours’ notice is required to cancel a session without charge. With less notice than that, the policy is a half-fee charge to cover the slot. Online sessions usually make rescheduling easier than in-person therapy, so most cancellations can be moved rather than lost. The full terms are set out in the therapy agreement I send across when we start working together.
How long does therapy usually take?
It depends on what we’re working on. Some pieces of work are focused and relatively short; others run across a longer period, especially when we’re working with chronic illness or layered presentations. We review every four sessions or so to check the work is still useful for you, and you’re never tied into ongoing sessions. You can end at any time.
Can I see notes from sessions, and what happens to them?
Yes. I keep brief, secure clinical notes as part of professional practice, and you can request a copy at any time. Notes are held in line with UK data protection law (GDPR) and the BABCP code of ethics, kept for seven years after therapy ends to meet professional and insurance requirements, then deleted. They aren’t shared with anyone without your consent, apart from a small number of legal exceptions I’ll explain at the start. My work is also reviewed by a BABCP-accredited supervisor as part of routine professional practice, and in those reviews details are discussed without identifying information.
Ready to start
Book a free 15-minute consultation
A short conversation, no commitment. We’ll talk through what’s been going on and whether I’m the right person to support that.