1. How much does it cost?
£45 per session for individuals and £60 for couples.

2. Do you offer reduced cost sessions?
Yes, I reserve a limited number of sessions as reduced cost sessions, mainly for students aged 18 and over . If you are able to come to counselling between 10am and 4pm on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and would like further information about reduced cost sessions, please contact me.

3. How long does a session last?
50 minutes for individual and couples.

4. What days and times do you have available?
I currently have session start times between 8am and 6pm available Monday to Thursday. I do not have weekend sessions available. This information is updated frequently.

5. Would I come to you?
Yes. I only work face to face, not by phone or online.

6. Where are you?
My practice is located equidistant between Wimbledon Town, Wimbledon Village and Raynes Park with free car parking outside.

7. Which places do you cover?
I prefer to work with clients who live or work  close to my practice in Wimbledon.  The reason for this is that my experience is that  long, stressful and unpredicable journeys to and from weekly sessions can adversely effect the work. The areas my clients usually come from are Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Putney, Fulham, Parsons Green, Wandsworth, Battersea, Earlsfield, Southfields, Clapham, Tooting, Balham, Streatham, Kingston, Coombe, New Malden, Sutton, Surbiton, Roehampton, Richmond and Epsom. A few clients travel  from farther afield but, if you are considering doing so,  please factor in the time you would have to spend travelling to and from Wimbledon in addition to the weekly session time of 50 minutes.

8. How often would I come to see you?
Once a week at the same time on the same day each week.

9. How long would I to come to see you for?
I work with some clients for a few sessions only and with others for years.  I see prospective clients initially for one trial/ taster/ mutual assessment session lasting 50 minutes on a 'no obligation on either party to continue thereafter' basis. I charge my usual fee (see FAQ's 1 and 2 above) for a trial session. If, after a mutual assessment session, we both agree to work together, we would discuss and agree the basis on which that would be.

10. How long would I have to wait before you could see me?
Usually, I try to respond to your enquiry within a couple of days and if we arrange to meet for a trial session and you are flexible on days and times, I am usually able to offer an appointment for a trial session within a week.

11. What sort of counselling do you do?
I am an integrative counsellor which means that I integrate theory from various models. The theoretical models I use are  TA (Transactional Analysis), Psychodynamic (dealing with unconscious processes) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). 

12. What are your qualifications?
I have a Degree (BA Hons) in Counselling, a Diploma in Counselling and have completed trainings in Couples Counselling and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

13. What's the difference between counselling, therapy and psychotherapy?
This a question often discussed within my profession. My opinion is that there is no difference and that the terms counsellor, therapist and psychotherapist are interchangeable.

14. What experience do you have?
I have helped people with many different issues in various counselling services in South-West and West London and since 2004 have had my own private practice in Wimbledon.
 
15. Is what I tell you confidential?
Generally yes, however there are certain ethical and legal exceptions which I would be pleased to discuss with you.

16. Are you the right counsellor for me/us?
I hope so but let's see when we meet.

17. Can I have a trial session?
Yes...absolutely! All my first sessions are trial/ taster/ mutual assessment sessions for which I charge my usual fee (see FAQ's 1 and 2 above).  I want us to experience what it feels like to be together and work together. Do we click? Do we think we can make progress together? Do you feel comfortable talking to me? Do I feel comfortable taliking to you? Do we speak the same language? Does my style of working suit you?  Our initial commitment is for one trial session lasting 50 minutes. At the end of a trial session we can end there, take time to think it over or agree to meet for more sessions. 

18. What sort of people come to see you?
All sorts of people with all sorts of problems! Women, men, young people, older people, married people, single people, divorced people, separated people, people of all ages, backgrounds, races, cultures, religions and sexual orientations.

19. How does counselling work?
With my training, qualifications and experience I would be alongside you while we discuss and reflect on the difficulties in your life. As I am not personally involved, I am able to be objective, not critical or judgemental. I hope you will gain insight, awareness and understanding into your problems and maybe see perspectives and options that you had not considered or even been aware of before. I might offer you some 'tools' to deal with particular issues, we might discuss what changes you could make. Usually I do not give advice. Investing in yourself by making the commitment and time and space available to discuss and reflect on your problems is the beginning of the process.

20. What happens in a counselling session?
You talk about anything that's on your mind! Usually I don't set the agenda - you do but I would raise something I think important or an issue I think you're avoiding. Absolutely anything is a suitable subject for discussion in the counselling room.

21. Can I arrange counselling for someone else?
There are times when we all feel we want to help a friend, partner or family member to sort out their problems and arranging counselling for them can seem like the answer. However, my opinion is that for counselling to be successful it's best if the motivation comes from the individual, with our support and encouragement. In the words of the saying 'You can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.'

22. Anything else I need to know?
Yes! Counselling needs Commitment... with a capital C...a Commitment to yourself and, in the case of couples, to your relationship. Are you ready, willing and able to invest in yourself and/or your relationship? Before you start you need to consider whether you have the time, money and energy available to commit to counselling once a week.

23. Does it work?
See what some previous clients say by clicking on testimonials

24. How do I get started?
Get in touch with me through my Contact Me page. I will respond to your email and if I think I could be the right person to help you, I will give you access to the Client Area of my website so you can read my Client Information Page which sets out more practical information about how I work. If you're happy to work with me on the basis of the information in these FAQ's and the Client Information Page you would agree and complete and submit an online Start Form which would take about 20 minutes and which would give me some more detailed information about you and your issues. I would read your Start Form and if I am happy that I could be the right person to help you, I would offer you an an appointment for a 'no obligation on either party to continue thereafter' trial/ taster/ mutual assessment session lasting 50 minutes for which I charge my usual fee (see FAQ's 1 and 2 above).