Frequently Asked Questions

Therapy sessions with me cost £120 per session. Sessions usually last for 50 minutes.

EMDR sessions also cost £120 per session. Sometimes it can be helpful to have longer sessions for EMDR, in which case the fee is pro-rata. For example, a 90 minute session would cost £180.

It can be difficult to predict how long therapy will last for. It can depend on many factors including the difficulties you are bringing to therapy, the context you are living in, what goals and hopes you have for therapy. This is why the first two to three sessions will constitute an assessment period, which allows me to understand more about what you are currently struggling with along with relevant background information.

We will discuss what kind of support you are looking for, and if I am the right fit for you. When we have completed the assessment sessions, and if I am the right fit for you, we will then make a plan for therapy and consider what approaches may be most helpful to help you meet your goals and needs.

I currently see people both online and in person. Both approaches can be useful, depending on factors such as your work and childcare commitments, availability to travel, and individual preference. Both online and in-person therapy can be very effective. My in-person sessions take place in Cheltenham town centre here at The Regency Practice https://www.theregencypractice.com

A Clinical Psychologist is trained at doctoral level to understand and treat a wide range of mental and physical health difficulties. We are trained broadly which means we learn a range of psychological models and therapies, which we can use integratively and tailor our approach to best suit the person, family, or organisation we are working with. All Clinical Psychologists must be registered with the regulatory body, which is the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This means that we must adhere to professional standards and ethics, along with ensuring that we all have a high level of academic qualification and professional experience. Clinical Psychologists are trained in research as well as therapy. This means that we can understand and interpret the research evidence base and use the very best practice and evidence to help people with their problems. Often, other therapists are not trained in multiple models of therapy and may not hold a doctoral-level academic qualification.

I accept self-funding clients and people who pay through health insurance. 'Self-funding' simply means that you pay for sessions yourself. If you do this, I will give you payment details and you are able to pay via bank transfer.

All sessions must be paid for in advance and you can do this on a weekly or monthly basis. I will send you an invoice to let you know how much to pay and you can then keep this for your records.

I also accept insurance referrals from BUPA, AXA, WPA, and AVIVA. If you have insurance then please let me know.

Not at all. Many people come to therapy feeling anxious, low in mood, or stuck in patterns they don’t fully understand - without necessarily thinking of their experiences as “trauma.”

Sometimes, difficulties can be linked to earlier life experiences, such as feeling unsupported emotionally, experiencing criticism, or not having space to express how you felt. These experiences can still have a meaningful impact, even if things appeared “fine” on the surface.

You don’t need a specific label or diagnosis for therapy to be helpful - if something is affecting you, it’s valid.

This is very common, and you don’t need to have everything figured out before starting therapy.

Part of my role is to help you make sense of what’s going on, at a pace that feels manageable. You’re welcome to come exactly as you are - even if things feel unclear or difficult to put into words.

No - therapy is always guided by you, and we will go at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

If we use approaches such as EMDR, it is not necessary to talk through every detail of your experiences. We would first focus on helping you feel stable and supported before working with any difficult memories.

Your sense of safety and control is always central to the process. If there are things you are not comfortable talking about, that’s fine. If there are things you want to talk about but need to build trust and safety first, then I understand and will support you in this.

The first 1-2 sessions are an opportunity for us to begin to understand what has been going on for you and what you would like help with. We might explore your current difficulties, relevant background experiences, and what you are hoping to gain from therapy. This is also a chance for you to get a sense of how I work and whether it feels like a good fit for you. There is no pressure to commit beyond this stage.

EMDR can be particularly helpful if you feel affected by past experiences, or if certain memories, emotions, or situations feel overwhelming or difficult to shift. We would think about this together during the initial sessions, considering your needs, preferences, and what you are hoping to change. EMDR is not the only approach I use, and therapy will always be tailored to you.

Yes. Many people come to therapy feeling that things are “not that bad” - perhaps life looks okay on the outside - but something doesn’t feel quite right internally. You might feel stuck, disconnected, self-critical, or unsure why certain patterns keep repeating. These experiences are important and worth exploring. Therapy can be a space for understanding yourself more deeply and making meaningful changes.

It’s not uncommon for people to have had previous therapy that didn’t feel helpful, for a range of reasons. Different therapists and approaches can feel very different, and timing can also play a role.

If you’ve had a previous experience of therapy, we can think together about what was or wasn’t helpful, and how to approach things in a way that better meets your needs.

Yes. Therapy is confidential, which means what you share will be kept private.

There are a small number of exceptions to this, for example if there are serious concerns about your safety or the safety of others, but this would always be discussed with you wherever possible. We can go through confidentiality in more detail when we begin working together.

Sessions are usually held weekly, particularly at the beginning of therapy, as this tends to be most helpful for building momentum and continuity. However, this can be discussed and adjusted depending on your needs and circumstances.

No - you do not need a diagnosis or referral to begin therapy. You are welcome to get in touch if you are struggling with something, even if you’re not sure how to describe it.