Counselling
Personalised support for mental health and emotional challenges through professional counselling
What Can I Expect From Counselling?
Effective counselling can and should be challenging. Often we'll explore difficult feelings and emotions and how these might be affecting your life overall. That's why it's important to work with a qualified professional counsellor.
Therapy is a process and there is no blueprint for how long it can take or what the end result will look like. For this reason I work on an open-ended, usually long-term basis. Doing so allows us to develop an understanding of how you came to be who and where you are today, hopefully allow you to see things from a different perspective and perhaps get you to a place of understanding and acceptance.
I aim to create a judgement free safe space, held with empathy, compassion and understanding where you can bring your most authentic and vulnerable self. Together we collaborate to create the potential for positive change and set you on a healing path of hope and happiness.
My Approach
My approach to therapy is pluralistic, which means that I don't believe there's one single 'best way' to do therapy. I understand that different clients need different things at different times and that the best way for me to find out how to help you is to talk to you about what you need.
My practice is rooted in the Humanistic (Person Centred) tradition, which means I believe that the person who knows you and what you need the best, is you. I combine this, where appropriate, with aspects of both Psychodynamic (which explores your past experiences and how these might be affecting your current thoughts, feelings and behaviours) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques.
I work collaboratively with each individual client to first understand their unique situation and then work out how best to approach their treatment.
How We Work Together
It's vital to the success of your therapy that you feel like we can work together. The therapeutic relationship is considered essential to the success of counselling and is believed by many to be a significant part of the healing process. I offer a free, no obligation 15 minute phone or video call, where you can talk about what brings you to counselling and ask any questions you might have.
If we decide to work together, my role is not to advise you, tell you what to do or show you how to 'fix' your issues, rather it's to hold space for you to explore your experiences and arrive at your own conclusions. My goal is to help you find a sense of self-worth and clarity by really listening to you.
I work online and in person. Sessions last 50 minutes (known as a therapeutic hour) and cost £65.
If my approach resonates with you and you would like to find out more, I invite you to use the form on the contact page, or to email me at letstalk@honesttherapycentre.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in a first session?
There's no obligation and no pressure to have it all figured out before we start. We begin with a free, no-obligation 15-minute call, either by phone or video, where you can tell me a little about what's brought you to counselling and ask anything you're unsure about. If we decide to work together, your first full session is simply a chance for us to start getting to know each other — there's nothing you need to prepare.
Do you only work with LGBTQIA+ clients?
No — I welcome anyone looking for a safe, non judgemental space to explore what's going on for them. That said, I have particular experience and understanding of the issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community - identity, coming out, minority stress, and the specific impact these experiences can have on mental health - and many of my clients come to me specifically for that.
Do you offer online sessions, or only in person?
I offer both. My preference is to work in person, as this allows me to be fully present with the whole person and pick up on the small, often unspoken things that get lost over a screen. I do however understand that in person doesn't work for everyone and for many good reasons - distance, mobility, timing, comfort or simply what feels safest for you. Wherever we meet, my aim is the same: to offer you an honest, judgement free space to be heard.
How long does counselling take?
There's no fixed timeline, and I'd be wary of anyone who promised you one. I work on an open ended basis because meaningful change takes the time it takes; some people find a handful of sessions gives them what they need, others prefer ongoing, longer term work. We'll talk about what feels right as we go.
How much does it cost, and how do I pay?
Sessions are £65 for 50 minutes (a "therapeutic hour"). Payment is accepted by bank transfer.
What's your approach?
I work pluralistically, which means I don't believe in a single "correct" way to do therapy. My grounding is in the person centred tradition - I believe you're the expert on your own life - combined, where it's useful, with psychodynamic and CBT approaches. In practice, this means the approach adapts to you, not the other way around.
Do you do couples or relationship counselling?
Not yet, but it's an area I'm actively training in - get in touch if this is what you're looking for, as I may be able to point you toward the right person, or let you know when I'm ready to take couples clients.
