The initial consultation provides an opportunity for us to meet and explore the issues that have lead you to seek help, how these issues impact on your life, your expectations and whether the services I offer can help you.

My aim in this first session is to gain not only an understanding of the issue or issues that you wish to address but a sense of what part these play in your life as a whole. We will assess how you have coped with these issues in the past, your physical, psychological and emotional resources, your responsibilities, the support available to you and your hopes for the future.

This initial meeting offers us both an opportunity to see how we work together. This is a two way process. It is essential that you have confidence in your psychotherapist if you are to get the most out of your sessions. If I think that the services I offer cannot provide the help you need, time will be given to explaining the reasons and alternatives will be suggested wherever possible. If we decide to proceed together, arrangements for future
appointments will be agreed during the initial consultation.

If you decide the services I offer will meet your needs, I will give you a statement of understanding. This is a written agreement which includes practical arrangements such as timing and frequency of sessions, fees, payment arrangements, confidentiality etc. I will also at this point ask you to give consent for me to keep written confidential records of our sessions. These notes help me to reflect between sessions on the work that we are doing together and provide a record of the work that we do together. I comply with the Data Protection Act; all records are kept in a locked filing cabinet and confidentially shredded by me after 7 years.

I am fully qualified psychotherapist, accredited by both the UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy  and BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy ). Both these professional associations, are regulated by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care.

About 1 in 5 people have consulted a counsellor or psychotherapist and almost half of us know someone who has, soit may come as a surprise that literally anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist.

In 2016, in an attempt to bring clarity to the psychotherapy and counselling professions, to the public and to commissioning services, the six most recognised professional associations which regulate the training and standards of psychotherapists and counsellors, came together to create a framework to differentiate the scope of practice for counselling and psychotherapy.

The framework they used (known as SCoPEd) used an evidence-based process of mapping existing competence frameworks, professional standards and practice standards to:

• Identify areas of overlap and areas of difference between counselling and psychotherapy
•  Align their membership categories to reflect the SCoPEd framework
• To develop a shared agreement on training and accreditation pathways

From 2026 when the SCoPEd framework will be fully implemented, only psychotherapists registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC), will be legible to use the title Psychotherapist. As a UKCP registered psychotherapist, I already meet all the ScoPEd requirements and can continue to use that title .

The SCoPEd partner organisations are:

• Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC)
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
• British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
• Human Givens Institute (HGI)
• National Counselling Society (NCS)
• United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

Collectively, the SCoPEd partners represent approximately 75,000 counsellors and psychotherapists from a diverse range of backgrounds, approaches, philosophies, and professional training. Other organisations exist with radically different registration and accreditation requirements, with a number being
founded by practitioners who are unhappy with the SCoPEd framework and the differentiation of counsellors and psychotherapist on the basis of training and competencies.

I am trained and experienced in a range of therapeutic approaches so I am able to think about your difficulties and issues from different perspectives and will discuss with you which therapeutic intervention will best meet your individual needs and your personal preferences.

I only work within my area of training and expertise, if I believe that you would benefit more from a form of therapy that I do not offer, I will tell you and where possible suggest appropriately qualified and registered psychotherapists, specialist services or agencies who may be able to assist you.

Talking therapy (including psychoanalytic psychotherapy, CBT and counselling) can be undertaken at the same time as medication and some other forms of medical treatment and is likely to support the process of recovery from mental illness. If you are currently taking medication or receiving any other form of psychiatric treatment or have a history of significant mental illness, I may suggest that we discuss discuss your treatment with your psychiatrist or GP. In such circumstances, any communication with your medical practitioner, will only be done with your consent and where this communication is in writing, you will receive a copy of any letters written beforehand.

Talking therapy (including psychoanalytic psychotherapy, CBT and counselling) is not a substitute for medication, and you are urged not to stop taking any medication without medical supervision.

I do not offer services for children and young people under the age of 18. I am happy to suggest appropriately qualified and registered psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, counsellors and other specialist health professionals who may be able to assist you.

This is not a specialist addiction agency and I do not have the specialist support services to work with people who are currently misusing drugs or alcohol.

Each appointment will last 50 minutes unless agreed otherwise beforehand.
Fees for the initial 50 minute consultation: £70
Fees for Psychotherapy and Counselling: £70
Fees for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) 50 minute sessions: £70

In line with best practice some CBT sessions may be longer than 50 minutes. The fee for such sessions is calculated as a multiple of the normal fee. Arrangements for longer sessions will always be discussed with you in advance.

Behavioural experiments (experiential activities undertaken in or between CBT sessions) to enable you to test out thevalidity of unhelpful beliefs and assumptions are sometimes helpful. Such experiments can include activities can include for example, driving a car, flying or standing in elevated places. Expenses incurred whilst arranging and conducting such experiments (including the fees of advanced driving and motorcycle instructors) are charged at cost. Arrangements and expenses will always be discussed with you before hand.

Fees for ongoing trauma focused therapy In line with best practice some trauma therapy sessions are longer than 50 minutes. The fee for such sessions is
calculated as a multiple of your normal fee. Arrangements for longer sessions are always made in advance and the rationale for them discussed with you.

You will receive an invoice which can be settled by cheques, cash or bank transfer. I regret that I am unable to accept credit or debit cards.

All fees are reviewed annually and three months notice given of any fee increase.

All missed or cancelled sessions are charged at the agreed rate. This enables me to maintain your regular appointment time for the duration of therapy and keep costs down for everyone. Cancelled sessions are charged for because it is not possible or appropriate to offer ad hoc sessions to other people and thus if cancelled sessions are not charged for, the cost of fees have to rise for everyone. I will however attempt to reschedule appointments where possible.

Where it would be helpful for your GP or other health professional directly involved in your care to know you are having counselling no charge is made for this. In such an event any contact is always discussed with you before hand and your written permission sought. Where there has been contact with your GP or another health professional a discharge notification letter indicating the effects of therapy can be sent at the end of therapy. This service is free of charge.

All missed or cancelled sessions are charged at the agreed rate. This enables me to maintain your regular appointment time for the duration of therapy and keep costs down for everyone.

Cancelled sessions are charged for because it is not possible or appropriate to offer ad hoc sessions to other people and thus if cancelled sessions are not charged for, the cost of fees have to rise for everyone. 

I will however attempt to reschedule appointments where possible.

My main consulting suite is on the first floor, but I also have access to a ground floor suite, so please advise me if you have any mobility difficulties or require additional assistance, so we can make appropriate arrangements.

For those unable to attend sessions in person, I also offer psychotherapy and counselling online via the Zoom platform and telephone sessions, where these alternatives are appropriate. Please contact me so we can explore these and other options.

I offer psychotherapy and counselling online via the Zoom platform. Please contact me so we can explore if online sessions would be appropriate for your needs.

I offer telephone counselling. Please contact me so we can explore if telephone sessions would be appropriate for your needs.

You have the right to end the therapy at any time. I take my professional responsibility very seriously and for this reason, I retain the right to terminate the contract in the event that I feel that I am unable to meet my ethical and professional obligations.

Fees for individual psychotherapy and counselling supervision: £70 per 50 minute session.
Fees for group supervision are agreed following discussion of your requirements.

I am a United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) registered psychotherapist, and as such the UKCP’s code of ethics, prohibited me from including testimonials from clients in any advertising material including on my website.