Frequently Asked Questions

There’s no fixed or ideal length of time for the therapy; it varies from person to person and will often depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. I can work on an open-ended basis with clients, albeit it is useful for us to review the therapy after every six sessions. You can decide how long your therapy will last, and in return my goal is to make sure therapy continues for only as long as it is of benefit to you. This is dependent on your specific needs. Some people find that after only a few sessions they have gained clarity and focus and feel ready to end the therapy. Other people value the ongoing support and our relationship and will continue to attend for weeks, months, or even years. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to therapy, which is why I offer a very flexible approach as each individual is unique.

Confidentiality is one of the main ways in which therapy differs from many other forms of helping – for example, talking to friends or family rarely provides the same degree of confidentiality as talking to a psychotherapist. This level of confidentiality provides you with the opportunity to talk about whatever you wish. No psychotherapist can offer 100% confidentiality as there are some situations where the law requires disclosure of risk (e.g., certain child protection issues) or other situations where I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. For example, if someone tells me that they are thinking of harming themselves or others in a way that I believe presents a serious risk, then I may not be able to keep such information confidential. Rest assured that breaking confidentiality is rare, and at all times I would make every effort to discuss the matter with you first (unless prohibited to do so by law).