Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer online therapy or in-person sessions?

I offer individual therapy and couples therapy online via Zoom.

Two-day couples therapy intensives are held in person in Bristol or at select locations within the UK.

How often are therapy sessions?

Therapy sessions typically take place once a week at a consistent, reserved time that works for both of us. Weekly sessions support continuity, depth, and emotional safety, and are the format in which therapy is generally most effective.

In some cases, clients may choose twice-weekly sessions, particularly when working at greater depth or during more intensive periods of therapy. This can provide additional momentum and support.

Ad hoc (flexible) sessions are not held on a fixed weekly schedule and can be booked one to two weeks in advance, subject to availability. I maintain separate availability for weekly and ad hoc sessions. If you move from a weekly to a flexible arrangement, your session time may change.

How many sessions will I need?

The time you invest often reflects the depth of change you’re seeking. I most frequently work with clients on a long-term, open-ended basis.

Short-term therapy (6 to 20 sessions) may be the right approach if you are looking for support during a period of difficulty or would like to focus on a specific issue.

Medium- or long-term therapy (21 to 50+ sessions) is more exploratory and can help you create lasting change across multiple dimensions of your life.

How much will it cost?

My fees can be viewed here.

What can I expect from the consultation?

The consultation is a brief initial conversation to explore whether we’re a good fit. You can share what you’re seeking help with, ask questions about my approach, and get a sense of how I work. I’ll also ask about your needs to ensure I’m the right therapist for you. It’s a no-obligation opportunity for us both to assess whether working together feels right. Learn more about what to expect from your consultation and book your consultation here.

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

Therapy may be right for you if you want to understand yourself and your patterns more deeply. If you’re wondering whether your concerns are ‘serious enough’, they probably are. Therapy isn’t only for moments of crisis.

Many people also seek therapy because they notice recurring patterns in relationships or want to develop greater relational awareness and understanding of attachment dynamics.

An initial consultation provides an opportunity to explore what’s going on for you and whether therapy is the right fit at this time. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting.

What happens in the first individual therapy session?

The first individual therapy session focuses on understanding your current challenges and the reason you’re seeking therapy. We’ll begin to explore what’s happening in your life, what you’re hoping to get from therapy, and a bit about your background and relationships.

You won’t need to share everything at once. Some clients come with a clear issue they want to work on, whilst others have a more general sense that something needs to shift. Either is a good place to begin.

By the end of the session, we’ll have a sense of what’s going on, and how therapy might be most helpful for you, and how we might work together going forward. You might leave with new insight about a pattern you hadn’t noticed, a different perspective on a relationship dynamic, or simply a sense of relief from being heard and understood.

What happens in the first couples therapy session?

The first couples therapy session is a supportive 80-minute session structured to help me understand what is happening in your relationship. We begin with practical and ethical details, such as confidentiality and boundaries, so you both know what to expect and feel safe in the process.

I will then spend time with each of you individually within the session, while the other listens. I’ll guide the conversation so that each partner can speak from their own perspective, without interruption or blame. This helps slow patterns down and gives me a clearer sense of the relationship dynamics, your hopes for therapy, and your readiness to engage in the work.

Towards the end of the session, we’ll check in with how you’re both feeling and discuss next steps. If you’d like a fuller explanation of what to expect from the first session, you can read more about the first couples therapy session here.

What is a couples therapy intensive, and how does it work?

Couples therapy intensives are an extended, immersive form of couples therapy designed to help partners make meaningful progress in a short period. They involve longer sessions, typically around 12 hours in total or spread across two full days, and are held in person.

During the intensive, we create a focused container for deep relational work, using experiential exercises and emotionally focused therapy to help couples slow patterns down, understand what is happening beneath conflict or disconnection, and begin to shift dynamics. This format can be particularly helpful for couples in crisis, recovering from betrayal, experiencing scheduling difficulties with ongoing therapy, or needing focused space to stabilise their relationship.

Two-day couples therapy intensives are held at my practice in Bristol or at select locations across the UK, including London. Practical arrangements, including location, duration, and fees, are discussed during an initial consultation.

Can individual therapy help me with relationships when I’m single?

Yes, absolutely. Some of the most valuable relationship work happens in individual therapy. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, therapy helps you understand your patterns. You’ll have space to explore how you attach to others, what you need to feel secure, where you might struggle with intimacy or trust, and how past experiences shape your expectations.

Many people find that exploring these patterns whilst single gives them clarity about what they want in relationships and helps them approach future connections with greater self-awareness and confidence.

Can individual therapy help improve my relationships, even if my partner or family members won’t participate?

Yes, very much so. Whilst it can feel frustrating when others won’t participate in therapy, the reality is that you have more power to influence your relationships than you might think. Individual therapy helps you understand your role in relationship patterns and develop new ways of relating, regardless of what others choose to do.

Many clients are surprised by how much their relationships change when they focus on their own growth. And sometimes, seeing the positive changes you make inspires others to consider their own therapeutic work.

Can therapy help with anxious, avoidant, or disorganised attachment styles?

Yes, therapy can be very effective in helping you understand and shift insecure attachment patterns. Attachment styles aren’t fixed. They’re adaptable patterns that can change through new relational experiences.

In therapy, we explore how your attachment style shows up in relationships. If you have an anxious attachment style, you might notice patterns of seeking reassurance or fearing abandonment. With an avoidant style, you might pull away from intimacy or feel uncomfortable with closeness. With a disorganised style, you might feel confused about what you want in relationships, swinging between pursuing connection and sudden withdrawal without understanding why.

The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a space to experience something different and to develop what’s called ‘earned secure attachment’, a more flexible, secure way of relating that emerges from understanding and new experiences.

What makes therapy effective?

Research consistently shows that a key factor in successful therapy is the quality and depth of the client-therapist relationship. A meta-analysis has demonstrated a ‘dose-effect’ relationship in therapy, whereby more sessions typically provide a better outcome. Studies have also shown that it’s important for the therapist to adapt to the client’s preferences, characteristics, and culture.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Yes, research shows that online therapy is generally as effective as in-person therapy. What matters most is the quality of the therapeutic relationship, not whether we’re in the same room. Many clients find that being in their own space allows for deeper vulnerability.

What do I need for online sessions?

A reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and a private space where you can speak freely. I use Zoom, a secure, professional video platform that’s straightforward to access.

Do you record sessions or use AI notetakers?

To safeguard your confidentiality, I do not record sessions or use AI notetakers.

Do you offer therapy for children and young people?

I provide therapy for adults, 18 years of age and older. I do not offer therapy for children or young people.

Can I bring my child to my session?

Children may not attend or be present at individual or couples sessions. This includes infants and toddlers. If you have children or you are a caregiver, alternative caregiving must be in place for the duration of each online or in-person session. If you are seeking sessions with your child present, you may wish to consult a family therapist or a therapist who also works with children and young people.

What is integrative therapy?

Integrative therapy is an approach that incorporates and combines elements from different theoretical orientations and therapeutic techniques. It recognises that no single therapy approach is sufficient for addressing the complexity of human experience and psychological issues. Instead, integrative therapy draws on various theories and practices to create a tailored, comprehensive treatment approach for each individual.

What is psychotherapeutic counselling?

Psychotherapeutic counselling is a form of talk therapy that aims to help individuals resolve psychological and emotional difficulties. It involves exploring thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and relationships through a structured therapeutic process to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your patterns. It helps you discover new ways to address emotional issues and overcome life’s challenges.

What is couples therapy, and how does it work?

Couples therapy is a collaborative process where partners work with a therapist to understand and improve their relationship in a supportive environment. It is a space to explore relationship patterns, improve communication, and work through difficulties together. I help you understand the dynamics between you and find ways to relate that feel more secure and fulfilling.

My role is to help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface by exploring the patterns in your relationship. The goal is often to help you feel more secure with each other, communicate effectively, and navigate conflict in ways that bring you closer rather than pushing you apart. Couples therapy can help at any stage of a relationship, whether you’re navigating a crisis, addressing ongoing tensions, or seeking to strengthen an already good connection.

What is psychodynamic therapy, and how does it work?

Psychodynamic therapy explores the deeper emotional patterns and unconscious processes that shape how you think, feel, and relate to others. Rather than just managing symptoms or trying coping strategies, it helps you understand why patterns exist and offers a secure foundation from which to change them.

The approach recognises that much of our emotional life operates outside conscious awareness. Psychodynamic therapy creates space to explore these patterns, often discovering connections between early experiences and present-day struggles. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes central. How you relate to me often mirrors patterns from other relationships, making therapy a living space for understanding and change. Sessions are conversational, with insight developing gradually through our ongoing relationship and exploration.

What is person-centred therapy?

Person-centred therapy, also called Rogerian Therapy, is a humanistic approach to counselling. It’s based on the belief that people have an inherent tendency toward growth and self-actualisation when provided with the right therapeutic conditions. The therapist accepts and values the client without judgment, deeply understands the client's feelings and perspective, and is authentic and transparent in the relationship.

What is Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)?

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a humanistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy that draws primarily on attachment theory to facilitate the creation of secure, vibrant connections with self and others. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) helps couples identify and transform negative processing and interaction patterns that create distress. The couple relationship becomes a secure base from which both partners can develop a safe emotional connection.

What is psychedelic integration therapy?

Psychedelic integration therapy is an approach designed to help you process and integrate your experiences with non-ordinary states. It can help you make sense of your experiences and gain deeper self-understanding. This approach can also help you integrate the insights you gained during the psychedelic experience into your everyday life, leading to improved relationships, greater creativity, and a more fulfilling sense of purpose.

What is systemic therapy?

Systemic therapy examines how individuals influence one another within a relationship system and how patterns from families of origin, culture, and broader contexts continue to play out between them.

What is therapeutic coaching?

Therapeutic coaching is a dynamic blend of coaching and therapy. Unlike traditional coaching, which primarily focuses on goal-setting and performance, therapeutic coaching goes beyond the surface to delve into your emotional and psychological well-being.

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that uses a combination of hypnosis and conversation-based therapy to explore and resolve challenges and issues. The process of hypnosis uncovers experiences at the level of the unconscious mind. It brings unconscious thoughts, memories, and feelings into the conscious mind so they can be explored, deconstructed, and healed with the support of a therapist.

How does hypnotherapy work?

During a hypnotherapy session, hypnosis creates a period of focused attention and relaxation. While in this relaxed state, an individual can become more self-aware of their thoughts and emotions. With this increased awareness, the root causes of challenges can be identified and addressed appropriately with the support of a qualified therapist. Unhelpful patterns are consciously and unconsciously replaced by more positive and worthwhile ways of being and living.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a widely recognised mind-body intervention that dates back to ancient times. It is a natural and safe state of focused attention and relaxation. The American Psychological Association (APA) describes hypnosis as ‘a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion’. Hypnosis is a self-improvement process that helps individuals access their internal resources to solve problems, increase motivation, change perspectives, and alter behaviour patterns, creating positive change.

What will hypnosis feel like?

If you have ever listened deeply to a guided meditation or rested with your eyes closed after a yoga class, you have entered a state of relaxation similar to hypnosis. You will likely feel deeply relaxed and calm during and after the session. Some states of hypnosis are gentle, and others feel like a deeper state of relaxation.

What if I can’t be hypnotised?

If you are open to the process, it will be possible for you to be hypnotised. It is common to be sceptical, and this can be discussed in our session.

Is hypnosis safe?

Yes, hypnosis is a natural and safe state. During a hypnotherapy session, hypnosis creates a period of focused attention and relaxation.

Is hypnosis mind control?

No, hypnosis is not mind control. While in the hypnotic state, clients remain in control of their feelings and behaviours. At any point in the session, you can open your eyes.

Can you recommend any podcasts about hypnosis and hypnotherapy?

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy have been featured in several popular podcasts. They’ve helped dispel the myths and share the science behind hypnosis. You can get the highlights and watch or listen to my favourites here:

Does online hypnotherapy work?

Yes, online hypnotherapy sessions are effective. During the session, it is important to be in a quiet location where you can recline with your head supported. Many clients prefer wearing headphones to focus on the experience.

Is hypnotherapy suitable for everyone?

Hypnotherapy is not suitable for anyone who has ever had a medical practitioner or mental health professional diagnose them with any of the following, as these are contraindicated for hypnotherapy: Epilepsy, Narcolepsy, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorder, Psychotic Episodes, Schizophrenia, or any other psychiatric condition, nor those who have previously taken steps to serious self-harm or suicide.

What issues do you help with?

I have experience helping my clients with:

I specialise in helping couples struggling with:

Ready to begin therapy?

Book a consultation or contact me.

References

Ardito, R.B. and Rabellino, D. (2011). Therapeutic Alliance and Outcome of Psychotherapy: Historical Excursus, Measurements, and Prospects for Research. Frontiers in Psychology, [online] 2(270). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00270.

Elkins, G.R., Barabasz, A.F., Council, J.R. and Spiegel, D. (2015). Advancing Research and Practice: The Revised APA Division 30 Definition of Hypnosis. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 57(4), pp.378–385. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2015.1011465

Erekson, D.M., Lambert, M.J. and Eggett, D.L. (2015) The relationship between session frequency and psychotherapy outcome in a naturalistic setting, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(6), pp. 1097-1107. doi: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039774

Geagea, D., Ogez, D., Kimble, R. and Tyack, Z. (2023). Redefining hypnosis: A narrative review of theories to move towards an integrative model. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, pp.101826–101826. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101826

Howard, K.I., Kopta, S.M., Krause, M.S. and Orlinsky, D.E. (1986). The dose–effect relationship in psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 41(2), pp.159–164. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.41.2.159

Li, E., Kealy, D., Katie Aafjes-van Doorn, McCollum, J., Curtis, J.T., Luo, X. and Silberschatz, G. (2024). ‘It Felt Like I Was Being Tailored to the Treatment Rather Than the Treatment Being Tailored to Me’: Patient Experiences of Helpful and Unhelpful Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy research, pp.1–15. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2024.2360448.

Norcross, J.C. and Wampold, B.E. (2019). Psychotherapy relationships that work. Volume 2, Evidence-based therapist responsiveness. New York: Oxford University Press.

Tiemens, B., Kloos, M., Spijker, J. and de Jonge, P. (2019) Lower versus higher frequency of sessions in starting outpatient mental health care and the risk of a chronic course; a naturalistic cohort study, BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), p. 228. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2214-4

Wilcox, H. and Almasifard, S. (2022). Facilitating the client’s experience of relational depth in counselling and psychotherapy: A thematic review. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12595.

Williamson, A. (2019). What is hypnosis and how might it work? Palliative Care: Research and Treatment, [online] 12(1), p.117822421982658. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1178224219826581

Wolf, T.G., Faerber, K.A., Rummel, C., Halsband, U. and Campus, G. (2022). Functional Changes in Brain Activity Using Hypnosis: A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences, 12(1), p.108. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12010108