FAQ

Are you still working during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Yes, I’m still working, though I am only seeing clients online (Skype, Zoom, or whatever client is convenient for them) and by telephone. The same structure of therapy works online, just as it does face-to-face: sessions are fifty-minutes long, and typically occur at the same time and day of the week unless the client needs to rearrange for shift work, etc.

Is it confidential – and what does that mean?

What you chose to talk about in therapy is confidential – that means everything we talk about stays within the therapy setting, so that you can feel able to speak about anything that you want to. I have regular supervision, which means that I may talk about some of the material we discuss with my supervisor – but your identity and that of anyone you talk about is obscured and you are protected.

There are some ethical and legal limits to confidentiality in therapy, which include things like terrorism and drugs trafficking. If you have any queries about this at all, you are always welcome to talk to me.

Are you qualified?

Yes. I have a Postgraduate PGDip in Humanistic Psychotheraputic Counselling from the University of Brighton, which is validated by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). I am a Registered member of the BACP, which means that you can be certain that the course I studied on was thorough and of a high standard, and that I adhere to a set of ethical guidelines that have been written to provide regulation and guidance for counsellors across Britain.

How much does it cost?

£50 per 50 minute session. You can find out information about costs on my fees page.

Do you offer discounts?

I offer a limited number of discount places to counselling students, and those from disadvantaged groups e.g queer, trans or other LGTBQIA, people with ongoing physical disabilities, and BiPOC people. Please contact me if you would like to discuss a discounted rate.

What kind of therapist are you?

I am a humanistic therapist, and I work in an existentially and developmentally-influenced person-centred way. You can find out more about me and how I work here. If you know or feel something about what you want from a therapist, but aren’t sure whether that matches the kind of therapist I am, then you are welcome to get in touch and we can talk about working together. I can make recommendations to therapists who work in different ways, or specialise in specific approaches, and I’m happy to help you if I can.

Do you do art therapy?

I am not a qualified art therapist, but I do like to use creative media in therapy. Sometimes it can be easier to draw or scrawl a feeling or sense, rather than try to find words for it. There’s no need to worry if it looks ‘right’ or if we’re making a ‘good’ piece of art – anything creative that we do in this way is about expression, not about perfection. And if you don’t like the idea of doing anything like this, you don’t have to – I’ll only ever invite you to try something, I don’t tell people what they should do.

How do I book a session?

Drop me an email or give me a phone call – you can find my details on my contacts page. If I’m not able to take your call then leave me a message or send me an email and I’ll arrange a time that’s convenient for you to call back.

How long does therapy last?

Typically we meet once a week, at the same time and place every week. It’s up to you how long we work together, and it’ll depend on many things including what you want to get out of therapy. Just as you decide to start therapy, you can decide to stop when you wish. We can talk over all these things in our first session together.

Where will we meet?

I work online, by telephone, and when it is safe to do so, I also work face-to-face in a custom therapy room at Northern Renaissance Studios, in the centre of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.

Is your location accessible?

I currently do not have a therapy practice room which is accessible if you have limited mobility, as there is a substantial staircase to access the therapy room. However the majority of my work in online and by telephone, and if you have special requirements to enable you to access therapy please contact me and I will do my best to make my service suitable for you.

Do you work with people with disabilities?

Yes. I aspire to provide a non-discriminating service, though there are limitations at the moment to what I can provide. I’m happy to talk about working with specific needs, so please get in touch if you have any questions.

Do you work with neurodiverse and autistic people?

Yes. I’ve worked with people of all ages, some of whom have a diagnosis and some who don’t. Whether you’re coming to therapy to talk about your experience of autism, or if you’re seeking help with a different matter but want to know that your therapist is respectful, I am here to support you as an individual. I don’t judge, medicalise, or diagnose people, and I will help you find the best way to interact with therapy and get the most out of it.

Do you see children/under 18s?

No. At the current time I only see 18 year olds and older in my private practice.

What’s your PhD in?

Archaeological Science. Before I was a therapist I had a career in academic archaeology. You can find some of my old work, and old blog posts from my archaeology days here.

That might seem like an odd match, but one of the famous originators of talking therapy, Sigmund Freud found the metaphor of archaeology to be powerful in his therapeutic work.

Whilst I don’t work in a Freudian way, human developmental theory shows us that our childhood experience of our guardians and people who cared for us influences the way we behave in relationships today. Sometimes my work does focus on helping people understand their pasts, particularly the way their parents treated them, but my focus is always on how this can help us in the present day to do things differently.