I am often asked questions about Psychodynamic Therapy and the services I provide. These Frequently Asked Questions may assist you.

Q: How much does counselling cost?

A: My fees begin at £60 per therapeutic hour (50 minutes) and are reviewed from time to time. I am prepared to negotiate fees for those in one of my concession groups or if you are in particular financial hardship. I put aside a set number of sessions for people who are particularly in need of low cost therapy (Online Only). Payment is due at the end of each session, either in cash or by bank card.

You may wish to consider the following things before beginning therapy.

• Affordability.
• Time Commitment
• Is now the right time?

This article from Select Psychology highlights what you are paying for.

Q: What are you? What can you and can’t you do?

A: I am a Psychodynamic Therapist with a Masters Degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am not a Psychiatrist, a Clinical Psychologist or a medical doctor. I do not provide medical services and I do not provide diagnoses or prescribe medication or mental health intervention. What I do provide is psychodynamic counselling in a private capacity. I do not work for the NHS or private medical healthcare providers. I do not work in the healthcare system in the United Kingdom or any other country. I am insured to provide services under English Law and any client starting with me is informed of this. Cross border counselling is possible in countries where I am not required to obtain qualifications in that country. For example, if you are in Portugal and wish to access my services online then this is perfectly ok but I will remain using the ethical practices relevant to my professional body (BACP). At the time of writing there is no regulatory framework for counselling services in many countries and counsellor/psychotherapist is often not a protected title. I cannot work with clients in the USA. If you are in any doubt, just get in touch and I will happily signpost you the right service provider etc. Countries where I regularly work with clients online include, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Croatia, Czech Republic. There are many English speaking people in the world who struggling to find good quality therapy in their own country.

Q: Is Psychodynamic Therapy right for me?

A: It isn’t for everybody. Psychodynamic Therapy is not an alternative to immediate psychiatric care if you are in crisis. To make good use of therapy, it would be helpful to be in a position where you can commit to the time needed to explore your thoughts and feelings. Do not underestimate how powerful an experience this can be. If you begin therapy with me and you feel it isn’t for you, please let me know as soon as you feel able and we will discuss. Whilst I won’t be able to recommend another type of therapy I will happily work with you so that you can identify what you might like to do. Just remember, everything we do is because you want to. I cannot and will not make you do anything else or pressure you.

Q: Is there anyone you can’t work with?

A: Yes, I do not work with people under the age of 18, and I do not currently provide couples therapy.

Q: I saw on TikTok that you will give me a toolkit to control my feelings, thats right?

A: No, I don’t give homework and I don’t provide you with a toolkit to control your emotions. When you start examining your feelings and process your traumas you will start to heal, this is much better than any toolkit.

Q: I self harm, can you work with me?

A: Yes I can. I have worked with numerous clients who cause themselves injury.

Q: I am suicidal, can you work with me?

A: This very much depends on the level of suicidality that you are experiencing. I will carry out an assessment in our first session and we can discuss. If I am unable to work with you then there is absolutely no shame involved. I will signpost you to the correct services. If I can work with you then we will monitor how you are feeling as part of the sessions we have. Please remember that therapy is not a substitute for psychiatric interventions and medication. If you are feeling suicidal right now there is some helpful information here.

Q: Is Psychodynamic Counselling the same as Psychotherapy?

A: That’s an excellent question and the differences are very nuanced. A debate has raged amongst professionals for many years about this and it won’t be over any time soon. The most important thing is the relationship you have with your therapist and the skill that the therapist has. Even though I have a Masters Degree and am studying for a Doctorate, if you weren’t comfortable with me then that is all for nothing. I offer a free 15 minute consultation so that we can find out more about each other. Click here to get in touch.

Q: So what is Psychodynamic Therapy?

A: It is a talking therapy, it is very different to CBT. Built on the original work of Freud, Klein and numerous others. But at the basic level, it is the examination of innermost thoughts and feelings and how they are affecting us daily. For example you may wake up everyday feeling anxious and that may be inhibiting your quality of life. We can work together to discover the hidden reasons for this anxiety and re-process those hidden feelings and experiences to assist in banishing the anxiety. More on Psychodynamic Therapy can be found here.

Q: Do you give any discounts for therapy?

A: I may give concessions to members of the Military, Veterans and Emergency Services in specific circumstances.

Q: How do I know I am getting a good service from you?

A: I take my practice very seriously and abide by the Ethical Framework of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. (BACP). I also have monthly supervision from another highly qualified therapist. We go over my case load in detail to ensure that I am working in the best and most effective way for you.

Q: Are sessions truly confidential?

A: You can talk about anything you wish during a session. There are some occasions where I may have to speak to others. 1) Safeguarding 2) Disclosure of Serious Criminality 3) Money Laundering 4) Terrorism 5) People Trafficking.

I have a privacy policy in place, you can read it here.

Q: Do I have to attend for a set number of sessions?

A: Absolutely not. You decide when therapy begins and ends. I do recommend that when you feel that therapy is naturally coming to an end for you then let me know. We can work towards that ending so that things are not left up in the air on the last session. Some people only need short term work, others prefer to work over a prolonged period. There is no right or wrong. It’s about what works for you.

Q: Can I have therapy over the telephone.

A: As a general rule, no. Therapy simply does not work as well over the phone. If you are already in weekly therapy and you need to take a session to the phone due to a holiday or emergency then we can discuss.

Q: I have seen therapy websites that say I can change my therapist as often as I want. That makes sense right?

A: That model of working can enable a client to avoid talking about some of their hardest material. In my humble opinion it is not a good way to work. When things get tough, and they might, simply walking away and starting again may do you no favours at all.

Q: I am going through a divorce, civil or criminal case, will you give me a reference or be a witness for me?

A: No. If specifically asked by the court I will state the number of sessions we have had, level and manner of engagement if appropriate, when you began and a date of finishing if required. I will not disclose the nature of our sessions or what we discussed.

Q: Will you sign my passport application?

A: No. I would need to be a friend or acquaintance who has known you for at least two years. If that were the case, I would not be able to be your therapist.

I hope these Frequently Asked Questions have been of use to you. If you have further questions or would like a free 15 minute chat then please do get in touch. Call or text me on 07396 737999.