People often ask me questions about psychotherapy. I have answered some of the questions that come up most regularly below. But do contact me with any other questions you may have.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy, and how can I tell which I need?
Counselling deals with immediate issues and current circumstances, and psychotherapy is more likely to be about long-standing issues which may have arisen from earlier events and childhood experiences. Counselling tends to focus on emotional support and problem-solving, whereas psychotherapy goes much deeper. There is often overlap between the two, or one may turn into the other. The important thing is that your therapist is able to deliver whichever kind of help you need, and this may not become clear until after the work has begun.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and CBT?
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) works towards changing unhelpful thought patterns in a very structured way. It aims to work on the surface, changing how you think or behave but not attempting to understand where that's come from. So I would say it's a more functional approach than psychotherapy which aims to help you change at a deep level. My own approach to helping clients change differs from CBT in that my focus is on the underlying feelings and beliefs that cause the unhelpful thoughts or behaviour.
What is Mindfulness and how can it help in psychotherapy?
Mindfulness is a practice of focused breathing and awareness of our bodies and surroundings that helps us to live in the present moment rather than worrying about the future or fretting about the past. So it helps us to be non-judgemental towards ourselves and it encourages self-compassion and reflection.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
ACT is about accepting the things we cannot change in our lives and making a commitment to living more closely to what is important to us. It is about examining how we live and deciding what we wish to do about that.
Is the therapy confidential?
The therapy is entirely confidential. All therapists are required to have professional supervision in order to safeguard the standard of the work; however, this supervision is completely confidential. In very rare circumstances, if your safety or the safety of another person is at risk, then you and I would have to discuss the appropriate person to talk to to make sure no one comes to harm.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
I may not be the right therapist for you. It is important that you feel I am someone you can talk to about whatever comes up in our sessions. Your instincts in the first session will tell you whether you feel comfortable working with me or not, and I am more than happy to explore this with you in the first session.
Is there a danger psychotherapy might make me feel worse?
Therapy should feel like a very safe and therapeutic space. However, sometimes clients will feel much worse for a while. Some clients will feel distressed and anxious when they explore difficult issues that they have not addressed before. This is very normal and we will work through that difficult stage together.
How long does therapy take to work?
It completely depends on the issues arising. It may be that it will be a matter of weeks or it may take months or years. The time-scale is always led by what you want and feel you need.
Will I become dependent on you and feel unable to leave the therapy?
There may be a necessary period of dependency which you are likely to work through. The goal of psychotherapy is to help you become an autonomous and independent individual. My aim is to work with you towards this, and you will know when you are ready to finish.
Do therapy sessions have to be weekly?
Initially this is advisable.
What happens if I am ill or have to miss a session?
If you need to miss a session I require 24 hours notice. Sessions which are cancelled at shorter notice than this will need to be paid for.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy, and how can I tell which I need?
Counselling deals with immediate issues and current circumstances, and psychotherapy is more likely to be about long-standing issues which may have arisen from earlier events and childhood experiences. Counselling tends to focus on emotional support and problem-solving, whereas psychotherapy goes much deeper. There is often overlap between the two, or one may turn into the other. The important thing is that your therapist is able to deliver whichever kind of help you need, and this may not become clear until after the work has begun.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and CBT?
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) works towards changing unhelpful thought patterns in a very structured way. It aims to work on the surface, changing how you think or behave but not attempting to understand where that's come from. So I would say it's a more functional approach than psychotherapy which aims to help you change at a deep level. My own approach to helping clients change differs from CBT in that my focus is on the underlying feelings and beliefs that cause the unhelpful thoughts or behaviour.
What is Mindfulness and how can it help in psychotherapy?
Mindfulness is a practice of focused breathing and awareness of our bodies and surroundings that helps us to live in the present moment rather than worrying about the future or fretting about the past. So it helps us to be non-judgemental towards ourselves and it encourages self-compassion and reflection.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
ACT is about accepting the things we cannot change in our lives and making a commitment to living more closely to what is important to us. It is about examining how we live and deciding what we wish to do about that.
Is the therapy confidential?
The therapy is entirely confidential. All therapists are required to have professional supervision in order to safeguard the standard of the work; however, this supervision is completely confidential. In very rare circumstances, if your safety or the safety of another person is at risk, then you and I would have to discuss the appropriate person to talk to to make sure no one comes to harm.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
I may not be the right therapist for you. It is important that you feel I am someone you can talk to about whatever comes up in our sessions. Your instincts in the first session will tell you whether you feel comfortable working with me or not, and I am more than happy to explore this with you in the first session.
Is there a danger psychotherapy might make me feel worse?
Therapy should feel like a very safe and therapeutic space. However, sometimes clients will feel much worse for a while. Some clients will feel distressed and anxious when they explore difficult issues that they have not addressed before. This is very normal and we will work through that difficult stage together.
How long does therapy take to work?
It completely depends on the issues arising. It may be that it will be a matter of weeks or it may take months or years. The time-scale is always led by what you want and feel you need.
Will I become dependent on you and feel unable to leave the therapy?
There may be a necessary period of dependency which you are likely to work through. The goal of psychotherapy is to help you become an autonomous and independent individual. My aim is to work with you towards this, and you will know when you are ready to finish.
Do therapy sessions have to be weekly?
Initially this is advisable.
What happens if I am ill or have to miss a session?
If you need to miss a session I require 24 hours notice. Sessions which are cancelled at shorter notice than this will need to be paid for.
