“It takes enormous trust and courage to allow yourself to remember.”
― Bessel A. van der Kolk
Therapy
Coaching
Firstly, I wanted to talk to you about therapy being a commitment. It is a mutual commitment.
Turning up every week for your counselling session is very important because it gives you the best chance to change what is troubling you and causing you emotional pain and difficulties.
I do understand this may be hard to do sometimes for lots of reasons and there will always be some other pull, however making the commitment of being there goes a long way and it helps you set boundaries about what is caring for yourself.
Sessions are the same time on the same day, as this becomes your reliable time and can be easier to remember and plan for, rather than the time changing each week. This regularity also helps something that might initially feel unfamiliar to become known and safe.
You get to develop a trusting relationship with another person and reliably expect them to be there for you.
Appointment location
I work from a private, quiet and discreet location in Sandridge. It is easily accessible from St. Albans, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, Redbourn, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Wheathampstead, London Colney, Watford.
There is plenty of off-street parking. There is no waiting room, so please arrive at the exact time of your appointment. I also work online, if in person sessions are not feasible.
Fees
Initial consultation - £70
Weekly sessions - £70
Fortnightly sessions - £80
I like to commit to regular weekly appointments with my clients because of the importance of regularity and continuity of sessions. Your commitment to therapy is an essential element in its success and in monitoring progress. When you agree to start therapy with me the same weekly time slot will be reserved for you.
Missed appointments or cancelled sessions are chargeable in full, apart from in exceptional circumstances.
If you are unable to keep your regular appointment, please contact me asap in advance, so I can offer you an alternative session in that week, if at all possible.
There will be regular breaks in therapy at typical UK holiday times such as Easter, school summer holidays, Christmas, and Bank Holidays for which you will not be charged.
Why seek counselling in the first place?
Counselling and psychotherapy can help you become more resilient – not to be confused with insensitive, cold, emotionless and “always” strong!
Resilience is about being able to acknowledge your feelings, bounce back from difficulties with greater depth and awareness of yourself.
We often feel out of control feeling low, anxious, depressed and overwhelmed. It might feel comforting to know that it is quite ordinary to feel this way. We can’t easily change the way we feel. It is what it is. But when we understand how we feel and why we feel this way, it gives us more control and awareness. It can make the difference between coping and not coping.
It can feel pointless “going down that route” and it can feel so painful stirring up those difficult feelings. Talking really helps as you get to express your feelings, put words and shape to them and articulate your thoughts in the presence of another person and connecting with them.
It makes all the difference to know that you have a space for you to share and be listened to and be the number one focus of another person.
Where will I see the change in my life?
Counselling and psychotherapy are a lot about relationships and not least the relationship between my clients and I.
Developing a trusting relationship with me is very important and will directly affect the successful outcome of our work together.
You will see changes in your personal relationships around you and with yourself, as I work in a way that will help you increase your awareness and insight of emotional, behavioural & relational patterns.
I can help you evaluate the way you navigate those relationships.