HCPC Registered Psychologist | Psychotherapist

The demands of everyday life can be difficult to deal with for all of us at times, often leaving us feeling a bit stuck, anxious and unable to cope as well as we would like. Talking about your mental well-being with someone who is comfortable and familiar with such issues, who can listen without judgement and who is trained to help you overcome the difficulties you face, may be a helpful first step.

As a chartered psychologist (registered with the Health & Care Professions Council), working with adults with various concerns, belief systems and lifestyles; I can offer you a safe, confidential and professional space to explore what may be causing or maintaining your distress, with a view to working closely with you to make helpful changes to overcome these.

While the psychological approach and techniques used in treatment are often determined by commonly accepted research based 'treatment guidelines' for specific difficulties, a person's unique experiences and personal preferences may influence this. Although a cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) approach to treatment is often favoured given it's effectiveness with a wide range of conditions, other approaches or techniques are also used if required.

Our first appointment: The first time we meet will be a good opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have and to gauge how you feel about working with me.

The first meeting is 90-120 minutes and focuses mainly on assessment, giving you the opportunity to explain why you decided to seek help at this time, when you think your difficulties started, how they impact your life and how you are trying to cope with things. In addition to noting any past traumas, losses or events in your life, I will ask you to complete a few questionnaires to help me get a better sense of how things are for you at the moment. By the end of the first appointment we have usually establish some initial treatment goals, discussed briefly how these may be achieved and agreed on a few simple things to do at home in preparation for our next appointment.

An important goal of the first consultation is to decide whether the services I offer are well suited to assisting you with your unique concerns and the changes that you would like to make. On those rare occasions where it is agreed that the services I offer are not a good match, I will make suggestions regarding what service/s may be better suited to your needs and, where possible, provide contact details to facilitate referral.

Further appointments: If we decide that my services (and experience) are well suited to your needs, and that you feel comfortable working with me, then we will schedule additional appointments. All future appointments (sessions) will typically be 50-60 minutes long, although 80-90 minute consultations are available on request and are sometimes required for certain treatment procedures (e.g., techniques used to work with phobias, obsessions/ compulsons, etc.).

Although assessment is an ongoing process, appointments after the first one usually begin to focus increasingly more on treatment. Weekly sessions are usually required for psychotherapy to have the best chance of success. When you have made sufficient progress in therapy and feel that you are managing to cope better, sessions may be spaced further apart to fortnightly or monthly.

Both face-to-face and online appointments are available. Online is offered using a variety of software programs (e.g., Skype or Zoom). To make an appointment please email email or call.