Counselling in Putney and Central London
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your professional qualifications?
I hold a Certificate in Marital Counselling (1998) from the University College of Ripon and York St.John, Leeds
I hold a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2001) and a Diploma in Supervsion (2003), each accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), from the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education, London, which is a member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
What experience do you have?
I began working as a couples' counsellor in 1995, as an individual counsellor in 1999.
I qualified as a psychotherapist in 2001 and as a supervisor in 2003.
Since then I have worked in private practice, as a relationship counsellor with Marriage Care, for five years as HIV/Sexual Health Counsellor at PACE and as an affiliate counsellor in Employee Assistance Programmes, provided by BUPA, Ceridian Lifeworks and Right Corecare, among others.
I have worked extensively with glbt clients and I am a Member of the Directory of Pink Therapists
I also conduct supervision with individuals and groups.
I currently have an average weekly caseload of 20 clients in 2 London locations.
Are you accredited to a professional organisation?
I have been registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) since 2002. My work was successfully audited by UKCP in May 2010.
Do you subscribe to a code of professional ethics?
My therapeutic work is conducted in accordance with the Codes of Ethics and Practice of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Do you receive ongoing training?
Within the past twelve months, as well as continuing a training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I have taken part in trainings on Teaching Clients Mindfulness Skills , on CBT for Anxiety with Christine Padesky and on Working with Shame and Low Self-Esteem.
Do you receive regular supervision?
Yes.
Are you receiving ongoing personal therapy?
Yes.
What is your availability?
Daytime and evening appointments are available in:
Central London on Tuesday
South West London on Wednesday and Thursday
What are your fees?
Fees are discussed and agreed at the first session and can be expected to reflect your gross income.
My fees are negotiable, between £65 and £120 for a 50 minute session. Couples therapy is negotiable between £100 and £150 per session.
Some lower fee spaces may be available upon enquiry for those in psychotherapy training.
Missed appointments are charged in full, if you have not called to find an alternative space in the same calendar week.
Fees are payable at the end of each session by cash or cheque, or may be paid a month in advance. I am not able to process payment by debit or credit card, but BACS payment can be arranged on a weekly basis or a month in advance.
Fees are revised on an annual basis. A month’s notice will be given of any intended increase.
How long do sessions last?
A session is 50 minutes long and begins at the time booked.
Sessions are normally arranged on a weekly basis, at the same time and at the same place, but I offer some flexibility for those whose patterns of work are subject to change.
How do I arrange an appointment?
Call me on 07939 393567 or complete the form on the 'Contact me' page.
There will be an answerphone for your message if I am unavailable and I will return your call as soon as possible.
Can I refer myself?
Yes you can. Sometimes people are referred by their family doctor, their Employee Assistance Programme or by a friend, or they can refer themselves.
Sometimes a check-up with your GP is a good idea to see if a problem, such as depression or anxiety, has an underlying medical cause.
What happens if I am unsure about whether I want to procede with counselling or therapy?
Our first session together is an assessment, to allow you to describe the issue you would like to explore, to allow me to discover something of your personal history and for both of us to see if we can work together.
You are under no obligation to continue beyond a first appointment, although the usual fee will be charged for it.
If we do agree to work together, I will offer you an informal contract, which explains the timings of sessions and what happens in the event of cancellations or missed sessions.
What actually happens in the course of a session?
The normal format is that of a conversation, in which you are free to speak about whatever you wish, in complete confidence. I respond in a constructive and non-judgmental way. Sometimes the conversation will flow; sometimes it may move into silence. Occasionally I may suggest working in a non-verbal way, with pens and paper, for example, or by focusing attention on what you are feeling in your body.
It is difficult to be more specific than that, because so much depends on the issues you bring, the goals we set for our work together and the ways in which our personalities interact.
What happens if I have to cancel an appointment?
If you are unable to make an appointment for any reason please inform me in good time and I will make every effort to reschedule within the same week.
An appointment missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged in full.
You will not be charged for sessions if I am away or forced to cancel.
How does counselling draw to a close?
If a set number of counselling sessions have been agreed, the contract comes to an end when they are completed, although the number of sessions may be extended beyond the number first proposed, by mutual agreement.
Notice of four weeks should normally be given before ending therapy, so that we can review our work together and make an appropriate ending.
What about confidentiality?
Our work is confidential. In exceptional cases, ( eg. if a client reveals current abuse of children or intention to cause serious physical harm to him/herself or others), counsellors have a professional and ethical duty to inform clients that they may find it necessary to take this information outside of counselling.
For this reason, I normally request the name and address of your General Practitioner.
Any action is discussed with you first.
I receive regular supervision, but client identities are not revealed.
I hold a Certificate in Marital Counselling (1998) from the University College of Ripon and York St.John, Leeds
I hold a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2001) and a Diploma in Supervsion (2003), each accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), from the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education, London, which is a member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
What experience do you have?
I began working as a couples' counsellor in 1995, as an individual counsellor in 1999.
I qualified as a psychotherapist in 2001 and as a supervisor in 2003.
Since then I have worked in private practice, as a relationship counsellor with Marriage Care, for five years as HIV/Sexual Health Counsellor at PACE and as an affiliate counsellor in Employee Assistance Programmes, provided by BUPA, Ceridian Lifeworks and Right Corecare, among others.
I have worked extensively with glbt clients and I am a Member of the Directory of Pink Therapists
I also conduct supervision with individuals and groups.
I currently have an average weekly caseload of 20 clients in 2 London locations.
Are you accredited to a professional organisation?
I have been registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) since 2002. My work was successfully audited by UKCP in May 2010.
Do you subscribe to a code of professional ethics?
My therapeutic work is conducted in accordance with the Codes of Ethics and Practice of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Do you receive ongoing training?
Within the past twelve months, as well as continuing a training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I have taken part in trainings on Teaching Clients Mindfulness Skills , on CBT for Anxiety with Christine Padesky and on Working with Shame and Low Self-Esteem.
Do you receive regular supervision?
Yes.
Are you receiving ongoing personal therapy?
Yes.
What is your availability?
Daytime and evening appointments are available in:
Central London on Tuesday
South West London on Wednesday and Thursday
What are your fees?
Fees are discussed and agreed at the first session and can be expected to reflect your gross income.
My fees are negotiable, between £65 and £120 for a 50 minute session. Couples therapy is negotiable between £100 and £150 per session.
Some lower fee spaces may be available upon enquiry for those in psychotherapy training.
Missed appointments are charged in full, if you have not called to find an alternative space in the same calendar week.
Fees are payable at the end of each session by cash or cheque, or may be paid a month in advance. I am not able to process payment by debit or credit card, but BACS payment can be arranged on a weekly basis or a month in advance.
Fees are revised on an annual basis. A month’s notice will be given of any intended increase.
How long do sessions last?
A session is 50 minutes long and begins at the time booked.
Sessions are normally arranged on a weekly basis, at the same time and at the same place, but I offer some flexibility for those whose patterns of work are subject to change.
How do I arrange an appointment?
Call me on 07939 393567 or complete the form on the 'Contact me' page.
There will be an answerphone for your message if I am unavailable and I will return your call as soon as possible.
Can I refer myself?
Yes you can. Sometimes people are referred by their family doctor, their Employee Assistance Programme or by a friend, or they can refer themselves.
Sometimes a check-up with your GP is a good idea to see if a problem, such as depression or anxiety, has an underlying medical cause.
What happens if I am unsure about whether I want to procede with counselling or therapy?
Our first session together is an assessment, to allow you to describe the issue you would like to explore, to allow me to discover something of your personal history and for both of us to see if we can work together.
You are under no obligation to continue beyond a first appointment, although the usual fee will be charged for it.
If we do agree to work together, I will offer you an informal contract, which explains the timings of sessions and what happens in the event of cancellations or missed sessions.
What actually happens in the course of a session?
The normal format is that of a conversation, in which you are free to speak about whatever you wish, in complete confidence. I respond in a constructive and non-judgmental way. Sometimes the conversation will flow; sometimes it may move into silence. Occasionally I may suggest working in a non-verbal way, with pens and paper, for example, or by focusing attention on what you are feeling in your body.
It is difficult to be more specific than that, because so much depends on the issues you bring, the goals we set for our work together and the ways in which our personalities interact.
What happens if I have to cancel an appointment?
If you are unable to make an appointment for any reason please inform me in good time and I will make every effort to reschedule within the same week.
An appointment missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged in full.
You will not be charged for sessions if I am away or forced to cancel.
How does counselling draw to a close?
If a set number of counselling sessions have been agreed, the contract comes to an end when they are completed, although the number of sessions may be extended beyond the number first proposed, by mutual agreement.
Notice of four weeks should normally be given before ending therapy, so that we can review our work together and make an appropriate ending.
What about confidentiality?
Our work is confidential. In exceptional cases, ( eg. if a client reveals current abuse of children or intention to cause serious physical harm to him/herself or others), counsellors have a professional and ethical duty to inform clients that they may find it necessary to take this information outside of counselling.
For this reason, I normally request the name and address of your General Practitioner.
Any action is discussed with you first.
I receive regular supervision, but client identities are not revealed.
