Personal Therapy

How therapy sessions work

These initial steps may seem daunting and having a flutter of anxiety or second-thoughts is perfectly natural.

Introductory therapy call

Our initial meeting point will be via an introductory call, usually conducted on Zoom, and we’ll arrange this once you’ve sent the contact form. This call is an opportunity for us to ‘meet’ and for you to ask any questions you may have whilst I provide you with an outline of how I work, (including housekeeping on fees & schedules). I recommend you to take 10 minutes after our call to reflect on your initial thoughts and feelings about working with me, as this can be a good indicator of whether or not you'd like to work with me. If you’d like to work with me on an ongoing basis then I’d ask you to simply send me an email to confirm and regular weekly sessions will be arranged.

First therapy session

In the first session, whether you choose online therapy or in-person counselling, we’ll spend 5 minutes at the beginning explaining a little about the working agreement - what it is you want from therapy and the boundaries that I work within. I will ask questions to understand a little more about why you want therapy or what hopes you have for therapy. I may also give an overview or outline of the therapeutic process before the end of the session.

Some clients prefer to have a set number of sessions, as this allows time to plan and arrange finances, or if the focus of the work is on making an important decision. Other clients undertake therapy for several months or years. With longer term work, I’d recommend taking regular breaks - as this aids the therapeutic processes by allowing space to reflect. And all relationships become healthier when there’s opportunities for space. I take 13 weeks of the year ‘off’ (for personal and professional development) so there are opportunities throughout the year to rest and digest the therapy work.

Sometimes I work creatively through art, journalling, family systems and metaphor - but not everyone is a fan so this is definitely something we’d discuss when exploring your preferences! Having the consistency of being in a confidential, professional space with a person who is genuinely curious about what life is like for you grants a permission for exploration and understanding.

Sessions tend to be weekly, on the same day and at the same time. A private session is 50 minutes long and is predominately communication based therapy. (Unless it’s EMDR and you can find more information about EMDR in Brighton and online at The EMDR Clinic)

If you’re unable to attend your regular in-person sessions, due to illness or working away for example, then we can move your session to online to ensure you can continue to be supported.

Online Therapy

I offer online sessions via Zoom which last for 50 minutes. Online therapy is a great way to access support regardless of where you’re located, your schedule or current mental health issue - I appreciate how crippling anxiety can be and the difficulty many people face in their day-to-day.

If you choose online therapy then you’ll need a webcam and a decent internet connection. Many individuals use their phone as it has all the tech they need (and 4G as a back up for if the internet goes down!). You also need to ensure you have a private and confidential space, where you’re able to speak freely and that it’s free from distractions (such as TV). I’d also suggest having headphones to maintain privacy. Other things to consider are access to water and tissues for the duration of your session.

Online therapy still allows a visual encounter and means we get to ‘meet’ face-to-face virtually.

Sessions tend to be weekly, on the same day and at the same time.

All web video services I use are encrypted end-to-end in order to ensure your privacy and safety.