What to expect

Therapy should be a space where you feel valued and understood, whoever you are and whatever has brought you here. Inclusivity and equality sit at the heart of how I work. I am LGBT+ affirmative, committed to trans and non-binary inclusion, and supportive of people with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent.

Together, we can explore how culture, race, gender, sexuality, disability, class and other aspects of identity shape your life and your experience of therapy — including how power, privilege and marginalisation may have played a role.

Openness and curiosity are key, and I’ll always make space for you to bring every part of who you are into the work. That might mean having honest conversations about cultural differences, gender identity, or any other part of who we are — always with the understanding that, at heart, we’re all people deserving of respect and care.

Before starting regular sessions, I offer a short telephone introduction. This is a chance for us to get to know each other and see whether therapy with me feels like the right fit for you. We’ll talk a little about where you’re at and what you want to achieve, and I’ll explain how I work. You’re welcome to ask any questions.

Many people find this first step helps ease some of the nerves that naturally come with starting therapy. It’s also your opportunity to get a feel for me as a counsellor — to decide whether I’m someone you’d like to work with. In a very real sense, you’re interviewing me, and I welcome that.

If it feels right, we can then agree a regular time to meet — either online or in person — and begin working together. If at any point I believe I’m not the right person to support you, I will be open about this and, where possible, signpost you to other services or practitioners.

I offer counselling both online and in person, so you can choose what works best for you.

Online sessions are held using Google Meet, allowing me to work with people anywhere in the UK. If we meet online, you will need a good internet connection and a private space where you can feel free to talk and you’re unlikely to be interrupted.

In-person sessions are available in Reading (Berkshire) and Feltham (west London).

Sessions are held weekly and last 50 minutes. It’s important that we start and end on time, so you get the full benefit of your session. Wherever possible, we’ll meet on the same day and time each week so there’s a steady rhythm to our work together.

The number of sessions varies from person to person, depending on your needs and goals. Many people find that a short-term focus of around 12–16 sessions can bring meaningful change, while others choose to continue for longer to explore things in greater depth.

To make sure the work is still helpful and moving in the right direction, we’ll pause every three months to review our progress together. Endings are always planned and discussed so you feel supported in bringing the work to a close.

I also know that life isn’t always neat and tidy. If shift work or unexpected changes make it hard to keep a fixed slot, I’ll do my best to be flexible so we can keep the work moving forward.

You don’t need to prepare anything. Some people arrive with a clear idea of what they want to talk about, others just know they’re struggling and aren’t sure where to start. Both are absolutely fine. Our work can begin wherever you are.

There’s no set homework in the therapy I offer. Sometimes I may suggest things to reflect on, notice, or try between sessions if that feels useful, but there’s no obligation.

Therapy is your space, and we’ll shape it together in a way that feels manageable and supportive for you.

When we work together, I assume some responsibility for your safety and wellbeing. Therapy can sometimes bring up difficult or painful feelings. Part of my role is to help us work through these safely, at a pace that feels manageable for you. If I ever have concerns about your immediate safety or wellbeing, we will talk about this openly and look at what support might be helpful.

I am trained to recognise and respond to risk, and I follow professional and ethical guidance to make sure the work stays safe. I also engage in regular clinical supervision to ensure I practise safely and effectively, while keeping your identity confidential. Where needed, I may encourage you to connect with other sources of support (such as your GP or crisis services), and we would discuss this together so that you stay fully involved in any decisions.

What you share in therapy is private. As a registered member of the BACP, I adhere to the ethical and legal requirements of my profession, which means I keep our conversations confidential. The only times I may need to share something are very limited and always for safety or legal reasons — for example, if there is a risk of harm, safeguarding concerns involving children or vulnerable adults, or where required by law (such as terrorism or money laundering).

Like all counsellors, I also take my work to a supervisor who helps make sure I’m offering you the best support — but I do this without revealing your identity. At the start of therapy I’ll ask for some basic details (such as your name, address, GP and an emergency contact). These are held securely and would only ever be used if I had serious concerns for your safety.

All personal information I hold about you will be handled with care. Any notes or records I keep are minimal, stored securely, and only kept where necessary for therapeutic purposes. They are never shared without your consent, except where required by law. You also have the right to access your records.

Client records are normally retained for up to seven years after our work ends, in line with professional guidance, after which they are securely destroyed. Enquiry contact details are kept on file for 18 months.

My fee is £65 per session, payable by bank transfer (within 24 hours of each session), card-payment or cash (at the end of each session).

If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice. Sessions cancelled with less notice are charged in full. This helps me keep your time reserved and offer fair availability to others. If I ever need to cancel a session, there will of course be no charge.

A limited number of reduced-fee places may be available — please ask if this would make therapy more accessible for you. If these are not immediately available, I can place you on a waiting list. Reduced-fee places are usually held online, and limited to 12 sessions.

Therapy works best when sessions are regular. If cancellations become frequent, or if more than 3 sessions are missed in a row, we will review together whether it’s the right time for therapy and how best to move forward.