Frequently Asked Questions

If you are considering therapy, you should always check that the therapist is trained to a professional standard. My diploma in CBT was gained at the University of Cumbria which is a BABCP recognised educational establishment.

I abide by the standards of the BABCP.

Yes, everything we discuss will remain completely confidential. I abide by the BABCP's Ethical Framework, which includes a commitment to confidentiality however, if I feel that you or a member of the public is at risk of serious harm it is my legal and ethical duty to pass information on to the appropriate authorities to keep people safe.

The full fee for all sessions, including the assessment, is £50. Sessions are payable at the end of each hour by cash or card only. Please note, unless it is an emergency, cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice are charged at the full fee.

That depends on the issue you're working on and a range of other factors. Some people find a short-term approach is enough, which typically takes between 8 and 12 sessions. Other people – especially those working on deeper issues – may require a more long-term approach I am happy to work both short and longer-term, depending on your particular situation and the issues you want to tackle. CBT as with any Psychotherapy may require "booster" sessions from time to time if clients find it helpful. The number of booster session may be 3 or 4 as required.

Normally once a week is required however, in the latter stages of treatment that can be reduced to less often but this is negotiated with the client.

You can book a session with me from 6pm, Tuesday to Thursday, and on the weekends (subject to room availability).

Before we meet, I will call you and discuss what problems you are having or discuss your on line referral document if you have sent one in. The first session is an assessment, which helps me understand in greater detail what your problems are and whether I can help. If your problems are very wide-ranging or long-term, Counselling therapy may be more appropriate for you than CBT. EH1 Therapies provides a wide range of Therapeutic interventions.

If we do decide to work together, the assessment also helps clarify what you want from your therapy. We can then focus on the issue that feels most pressing for you right now (becoming less anxious, for example, or tackling low mood).

In each subsequent session, which also lasts for an hour, we will continue working on this issue. It's often helpful to focus on a particular moment when you felt stressed, say, or anxious, and look at everything you experienced in that moment. What were you thinking and feeling? What symptoms were you experiencing in your body? How did you behave? We can then explore which of these were unhelpful, and how to adopt more helpful thoughts and behaviour in the future.

I will then give you things try and do before we next meet so we maximize our time together. If you're stressed, this might be breathing exercises or ways of being more assertive with situations or people around you. Or if you are suffering from low mood, it might be trying some small, manageable ways of becoming more active throughout the week, or solving one of the problems you face.

What makes cognitive behavioural therapy so effective is that you will learn exactly what you need to do to make significant changes – and I will support and encourage you to stick to your plan.

This this can be arranged in some cases, but will need to be discussed on a client to client basis depending upon the individual situation, and with my clinical supervisor first.

Yes, as well as working with adults, I provide CBT for adolescents from the age of 16. CBT is very effective at helping young people who are having problems – most commonly depression or anxiety, but also OCD, phobias, exam stress, school avoidance, low self-esteem, problems with bullying and behavioural difficulties. When working with young people I always include their parents or other key family members, because a team approach is the best way to help them. For example, if a teenager is feeling anxious about school and so avoiding it, they will need lots of encouragement and support to start attending lessons again, even if it's difficult. Parents and other family members are key to helping young people confront and eventually overcome their fears.(Additionally I have good experience of working with adolescents with substance misuse problems and did this in my previous role as a young persons addictions key worker).

I do not prescribe any medication.

I have full professional indemnity insurance and receive clinical supervision on my case load as is normal professional CBT practice.