Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?It's not easy to give a neat definition which separates these two terms. Counselling is often seen as being linked to shorter term work, psychotherapy may go deeper, with the emphasis more on helping people to understand the roots of their problem.
How much does it cost?
For individuals, my fee is £40 per session, which lasts for 50 minutes. I offer reduced fees in some circumstances.
I see couples for an hour and a quarter each session and charge £55.
What is expected of me?
You will be expected to say what is on your mind when you come to sessions and be willing to express and explore your thoughts, feelings, fantasies, hopes and fears. By doing this, we can get a picture of how you are in the world, the differences between the face you show to others and the gap which may exist between this and your inner experience of yourself. Making changes sometimes feels unfamiliar, so I'd hope you'd be willing to try out some new ways of behaving between sessions.
What is Transactional Analysis?
Transactional Analysis, or TA as it is often called, was developed by Eric Berne. Today it is an international form of therapy. When I first came across it, more than 20 years ago, I found it extremely valuable in helping me to think about how I related to other people, to understand my patterns of thoughts and behaviour and, most importantly, how I could decide to change those patterns which were no longer helpful to me.
How do you work with a couple?
I usually work to a short term contract, and at the start want to know from each person how they see the problem, and whether each partner is committed to doing the work. I see my role as that of an objective facilitator, enabling the couple to improve the quality of their lives together.
