The therapeutic relationship provides the foundation to do ‘the work’. That relationship may be unlike any other that you have experienced, and finding the right fit is essential.
Doing ‘the work’ means spending time with someone who will hold the space for you to share and to be vulnerable in; who works in a way that suits you; and who has the expertise and capacity to meet your therapeutic needs.
It can take time to find the right therapist for you and you should consider what’s important to you before you start your search. Here are some questions to ask yourself to get you started:
- Do I need someone with a certain level of qualification?
- Would I prefer a therapist with years of experience?
- Am I looking for someone with lived experience of my religious or cultural beliefs?
- Would I feel most comfortable with someone experienced in working with similar presenting issues to mine?
- Am I looking for specific days or times to go to therapy?
- Is there a specific modality (theoretical approach) that I am looking for?
- Is there a specific style of therapy that I’m looking for? eg, face-to-face, walk and talk, online, telephone
Consultation session
A consultation is your opportunity to meet with a therapist, ask questions, and figure out whether you’re a good fit for each other.
At Battle Therapy, I provide two options for a consultation session:
- A 50-minute session in my private therapy room which is designed to give you a real sense of how it feels to work with me.
- A 20-minute telephone call which might suit you if you’re new to me but not to therapy.
For current pricing of consultation sessions, please get in touch or read my FAQs.
Please note – there are certain presenting issues that I am unable to work with in order to align with my ethical framework, supervision and insurance. I will always be transparent about this. This is my commitment to ethical practice.
Professional membership
There are a number of professional bodies that many therapists belong to. I am a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (MBACP).
Membership bodies are distinct from qualification awarding bodies but what they do is provide an ethical framwork for therapists to work within. If you’re looking for a therapist you might find it reassuring to use one of the counselling directories below: