What is therapy like?

The truth is that therapy will be different for everyone. Every therapist is different, as is every client. 

Modern life can take its toll. Emotional challenges come in many forms and can affect us in myriad ways, causing anxiety, impacting our relationships, our self-esteem and our resilience. In therapy we work together to build a relationship where you can bring your whole self, explore your feelings without fear of judgement, and feel held, understood and able to do the emotional work required to meet your therapeutic goals.

Is therapy easy?

Well, again that depends*. For some people ‘the work’ comes easier than others and that work can require some heavy lifting. In therapy, we work with honesty and bravery to co-create an environment where you can work through your emotional challenges. I see therapy as hopeful work – your potential for growth is within your grasp, but life can sometimes cloud the way ahead, making the path unclear. We work on that stuckness in therapy, and for many people that includes delving into areas they’ve never shared before, or being prepared to consider reframing long-held assumptions about themselves, their values and behaviours. 

Is therapy worth it?

Now this is a great question. Always. It’s always worth it. *If I’m being really honest, in answer to the question above I’d say “no, it’s not easy” but if you can sit with the discomfort and you’re prepared to work with it, to trust me to walk with you through that space, you will never regret it. 

I am experienced in working with issues such as those arising from trauma; childhood sexual abuse; domestic abuse; bereavement, grief and loss; neurodivergence; workplace stress; identity issues and those arising from changes in life stages. Your issues might manifest as anxiety and depression, self-harm, lack of confidence and self-esteem, anger, relationship issues, panic attacks and a general feeling of ‘not being okay’. We can work with all of this in therapy.

Is therapy really serious?

Therapy is a professional service, and emotional work is serious business but the therapy room isn’t necessarily a serious place. There’s tears and laughter and everything in between. It’s a place where you can experience the whole spectrum of emotion safely – and point them out on the ‘wheel of emotion’ as you go. It’s the place to bring your true self, to speak in the language that suits you and to ‘be’ without fear of judgement. 

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Everything you tell me will be held in the strictest of confidence unless you request otherwise, and give your explicit permission for information to be shared. 

There are specific circumstances where I have an ethical or legal duty to share information. These are:

    • If you disclose information that leads me to believe that you or someone else may be at immediate risk of serious or significant harm
    • If you disclose information about a child or vulnerable adult who may be at risk of harm
    • If you disclose information regarding serious criminal activity such as money laundering, drug or people trafficking or acts of terrorism