FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Some of the things you may be wondering about when deciding to work with me.

I am considering therapy, but I am not certain about what approach may be best.

If you are considering therapy but you are uncertain of the methods and results, please do contact me about your presenting issues and any questions you may have concerning therapy.

When we start working together, our first session will be an initial consultation. I will deeply explore your current issues with you, enquire about your background and work to establish which type of therapy I think would be most suited to you. I will assess your specific needs and we can set goals for treatment. I will also explain more extensively how I work and you will have the chance to ask questions to decide whether you would like to start therapy with me.

We will also discuss the options available to you, from long-term therapy to short-term counselling. From our conversation I will help you to understand which type of treatment would suit you the most. The aim is for you to leave the room with a clear idea of what you can expect from our work together.

What will a therapy session be like?

Going to therapy for the first time can feel daunting. You might feel afraid or worried that you will be pushed to say more than you want to. Perhaps you are wondering how a ‘stranger’ might help or maybe you feel disloyal that you are not sharing information with those closest to you. It is not unusual for clients to at first feel undecided whether therapy is really for them or not.

Before you start therapy, we will be clear on what you hope to get out of it. The success of therapy very much depends on the honesty and safety of the therapeutic relationship. This will support you in gradually extending and stretching outside your current understandings, as well as to probe and focus within yourself.

I will help you do this by reflecting what I notice, asking you more about your experience and offering a non-judgemental space where you can really come to know yourself more deeply. This knowledge will help you see the obstacles (which you yourself or others may be putting up) so that you can work through problems more easily.

How you see the world and your difficulties will be the starting point. As you become more honest, and more attuned with yourself, a broader array of possibilities becomes more visible. This means that we first need to deeply understand where you are at now. This clarity brings wisdom to know how to live more fully and with a deeper purpose and sense of who you are.

How often will I need to attend?

I usually see my individual clients once a week for 50 minutes. I am flexible and can accommodate my clients’ needs; depending on your schedule we may want to meet more or less frequently than this (if clinically appropriate), or you may sometimes want to come for longer sessions.

The type, frequency and duration of your treatment will be discussed at the initial consultation and will be revisited in due course. I also offer sessions via Skype and Zoom. This is something that we would also discuss during our initial consultation.

I strive to meet my clients at the same day and time every week. It is very important to attend therapy with regularity in order to get results; protecting some space in your diary makes this easier to achieve.

While it is important to attend regular weekly sessions, I understand that may be times when this is not possible and I am happy to be flexible and find alternate times with you.

What kind of clients do you have?

I work with adults; individually, as a couple or in a group. My clients come from a range of different backgrounds and are also diverse in culture, ethnicity and sexuality.

They bring an array of life’s difficulties in love, at work and at home as well as internal struggles such as anxiety, depression and lack of self-esteem.

Some clients want to concentrate on current problems they are struggling to resolve on their own; and others have realised that the same old problems repeat and cycle in very familiar and destructive patterns.

Some clients require therapy for just a few sessions to help them through a difficult time; while others want to work longer term to tackle more deep rooted difficulties and unconscious processes.

Can I arrange sessions with you via my health insurance provider?

I am an approved provider with Aviva, Axa, Vitality Health and WPA private health insurance companies. Please contact me for more details. (can we have contact me as a hyperlink to either an email to me or the contact form)

Are sessions confidential?

As an accredited UKCP Psychotherapist and a Member of BACP, I work with and to a high standard of confidentiality. Confidentiality is a fundamental element within the therapy work and provides you with a safe and private space to talk.

I will not disclose information to your doctor or anyone else without your permission. The only time at which I might need to break confidentiality is if there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, and where required by law.

Who are the BACP and UKCP?

The UKCP is the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy and BACP refers to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

They are professional bodies established to ensure that its members adhere to Ethical Codes of Practice and continuously refine and update their professional development. Feel free to visit their websites to understand a little more about the codes of practice to which I adhere.

What should I do if I feel ready to end therapy or do not think this is working for me?

I’d invite you to bring this to the session so that we can discuss. From there, we will arrange an ‘ending’ session. You can choose to stop at any time.

However, for the most effective and updating therapeutic process, it is preferable to give notice and to work towards an ending rather than end abruptly.

Next Steps

Initial Contact

When you make an enquiry about therapy, we will discuss your reasons for seeking therapy, details of your current situation or your goals. I can provide further information to help you reach a decision, including information on how I practice, my availability fees and insurance options.

The Consultation

The next step is for us to meet in person for a consultation. Meeting face to face for a consultation gives you the chance to form an impression of whether you would feel comfortable talking to me and whether I am likely to be able to help. Like sessions, a consultation lasts 50 minutes.

The Agreement

The next step is around agreeing what our work will focus on and how long it might take. We may agree to a fixed number of sessions, which will vary depending on your goals for therapy but a typical agreement would be for between 8 and 12 weekly sessions.

Alternatively, you may be interested in open-ended exploratory psychotherapy. In this case, we would agree to review our work at regular intervals. Sessions are held weekly, at the same time, although in certain instances this can be varied.

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Client Testimonials

My time working with Emma has been exhilarating, challenging, surprising and liberating. It was not easy to look at past relationships and unpick the complicated layers, examining the ways in which we are impacted by those closest to us. Delving deeper, discovering how we repeat so much of what we have absorbed and pass on both the positive and negative aspects of ourselves. I guess, for me, working with Emma, provided a safe environment, where I could disentangle myself, start to see who I was without the constrictions my relationships, particularly with my mum who died five years ago. In going through this hard process with Emma, I was able to land in a place where I could accept my mother’s flaws, love her for what she gave me as a mother and admire her, without resentment, as a woman in the world. This indeed was a gift. Emma helped me shut some windows and open doors to other, more peaceful and constructive adventures.

When I first approached Emma I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I knew I needed help but didn’t know where to start.

It hasn’t all been easy, being truly honest with yourself never is, but being challenged in unexpected ways and allowed to open up to feelings I’d repressed for far too long has helped me grow in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

Week by week I opened up a little more and with Emma’s insights and guidance helped me to spot destructive patterns of behaviour and the reasons that drove me to act that way in the first place.

I can’t thank you enough for the work we’ve done, I know it’s a bit cliché, but you don’t realise how far you’ve come until you look back… but only because it’s true.

Sam

I’m definitely one of those people that thought I’d never get therapy, but I’m now so glad I’ve given my mental health an MOT with Emma.

I was always able to speak freely and authentically whilst Emma seamlessly broke everything down, dug deeper into each topic with sensitivity and purpose, and helped me get to the roots of all the issues we covered.

Since seeing Emma I have achieved all the goals I set out to accomplish, one of which was to finally set up my own business. I don’t think I would have done this without Emma’s help. Thank you!

Michael

It is no exaggeration to say that Emma has had a real and noticeable impact on me and my life. She has helped me begin to understand how my mind works, how my past has affected me in so many ways and how I can try to approach my future. Emma has helped me connect dots I didn’t even know may be connected.

I had never seen a therapist before and was worried at first about what it would be like. Emma challenged me and my expectations from the outset, which threw me off initially and made me a bit uncertain, but really paid off in the long run. I would hand on heart recommend Emma to others looking for an excellent therapist.

Emma has been very helpful bringing some internal issues to the forefront. It has not been an easy process but her perseverance has kept me engaged and stimulated me to push through it.

I now have a better understanding of myself and feel something has changed in me that I want to continue developing.

I would recommend Emma to all my friends and acquaintances if they were looking for a therapist.

Jack

I was nervous at my first meeting with Emma. However by the end of that first session, I realised that Emma was someone that I could work with. She put me at ease and was easy to talk to.

Emma has helped me so much. I’ve been able to move forward with things in my life that I never would have been able to achieve without her help and dedication to me as a client. I will always be indebted to her!

Lisa

Staying true to her desire to help others, Emma combines her years of experience working in Human Resources Management, together with her professional training as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, and Relational Psychotherapist to facilitate wholeness and transformation of the self.

Emma tailors her therapy to meet individual needs and provides a safe, secure, confidential and supportive environment to successfully facilitate transformation, helping her clients to experience that sense of awareness and freedom to make life choices.

I found Emma’s’ skill and professionalism exceptional. She ensures you have the space to work through things, whilst at the same time giving you a feeling of safety and security. I highly recommend Emma as a therapist.

Marcia

I came to Emma with a history of a husband who had died 5 years previously in tragic circumstances. I still had unresolved feelings of guilt surrounding his death.

I was also having difficulties moving on with a new partner and difficulties with my grown children who had become very unhappy that I was moving on with life and felt they were being ‘ousted’.

I found I could confide totally in Emma and she was very supportive. She helped me see that certain issues were the responsibility of others not mine. I had lost ‘me’ in all the tragedy and had lost my ‘voice’. With Emma’s support and direction I learnt to see issues from others

prospective. I also learnt how I might best manage people close to me. I ‘learnt’ it was acceptable to draw boundaries and that I was entitled to a happy life.

My relationship with my grown children is now far better in fact we’re happy again. My relationship with my partner is progressing and I am now much more vocal about how I feel and what I want. I no longer feel ‘downtrodden’ and I feel stronger to deal with any issues that arise.

I’m very pleased with the secure and trusting relationship I built up with Emma and the great support I received from her.

Patsy

During a very difficult moment in my adult life, I found Emma online at the counselling directory and read up on her qualifications and reviews.

Emma made it very comfortable to access and discuss my emotions, insecurities and areas of my personality I wasn’t comfortable or happy with during a breakdown in a relationship.

Emma was firm, fair, great at listening and professional at all times. I found the entire process a huge release from day to day stress as well a period of a breakdown in a relationship.

I would recommend Emma to anyone going through any kind of difficulty to engage in her therapy.

James