FEE
The fee is £65. Sessions last fifty to sixty minutes.
Payment is normally by bank transfer at the end of the month.
TIME
10:30 - 18:30 Monday to Thursday
The earliest appointment starts at 10:30 and the latest starts at 17:30, Monday to Thursday.
BEGINNING
The first stage is to get in touch, you can call or email me - whichever you prefer. We will have a brief telephone discussion about your problem and what you hope to achieve in therapy. It is an opportunity for you to ask questions. I will let you know, if I will be able to help you; what times and days appointments are available. I might be able to suggest an alternative therapeutic option if we decide not to proceed. This preliminary call is free and will take around fifteen minutes.
FIRST SESSION
The first session is a chance to discuss your problem and see if it feels right to work together. We will discuss your problem, practicalities (session times, etc.) and any concerns you may have about therapy. I will ask you questions about yourself so I can assess whether or not I can help you. If I don't think I am the right therapist for you I will tell you and I am likely to recommend alternatives.
The session will last fifty to sixty minutes. Normal fees apply.
WHAT TO TALK ABOUT
It takes a while for trust to build so it is normal to start therapy talking about the problem that brought you to therapy and biographical details about your life to date. In time it becomes possible to talk about painful or avoided ideas and experiences that might be keeping you stuck. To get the most out of therapy it is important to be as honest as you can. Unlike other professional relationships, it is appropriate to talk to a therapist about all of your self. In a therapy session you are free to explore your fears, overwhelming experiences, compulsions, hopes, confusion, internal conflict, aggression and sexual life with a skilled and thoughtful listener.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Your work with me will be kept confidential, unless someone is in danger of considerable harm. In which case I will, after discussion with you, do the most responsible thing in the circumstances.
FREQUENCY
The norm is to attend one session per week. Twice weekly therapy is available for those who want to work intensively or are in crisis. Meeting fortnighly, or less frequently, is not offered as it is far less effective in creating change or stability. The more often you attend the quicker the work will progress. If you can afford the investment in time and money it is worth considering twice weekly therapy.
DURATION
For a rough guide please look at the About Therapy section. It is only possible to make an estimation after a few sessions, once the range and depth of what is troubling you is clear. A minimum of six sessions is standard for counselling.
ENDING
Therapy ends when you feel ready to leave because you have gained what you wanted. It is your decision, you are under no obligation to stay. You may feel better quicker than expected or you might find you want to spend more time exploring issues that feel important. Therapy occasionally ends because the patient leaves the area or cannot do the work, this is a difficult situation as it is painful to stop the work prematurely.
CANCELLATION
Therapy occurs every week on a set day and at a set time - it is a commitment on both sides. It is your slot and will not be given to anyone else. In effect that space is yours, if you chose to attend or not the slot is yours and will need to be paid for. If you are unable to attend on a weekly basis this type of commitment is unlikely to be right for you.
Occasional cancellations with one week's notice are acceptable and the fee will be waived. Short term cancellations, i.e. less than two days notice, will be charged for.
HOLIDAYS
I do not work on public holidays or charge for sessions missed on those days. When I am on holiday I do not charge. I take breaks at the following times and provide plenty of notice.
CHOOSING A THERAPIST
Therapy is challenging at times, that's normal but it means it is important to work with a therapist you are comfortable with and who seems trustworthy and professional to you. It is worth visiting, or telephoning, a few therapists before deciding which one to work with.
TRAVEL
My practice in the quiet village of Stanton St. John is on Middle Road, it is near to the village shop.
Car - there is free street parking along Middle Road.
Bus - there are various buses (280, H5, Otmoor Flyer, etc.) that stop in the village or in nearby villages.
Cycle - from Oxford there is a quiet route starting in Headington which goes via Forest Hill and takes 30 minutes. Bikes can be locked nearby.
FACILITIES
Stanton St. John has an exceptionally good village shop; The Talkhouse pub, and Rectory Farm PYO Cafe (seasonal) all serve food and drinks. They offer a pleasant place to wait if you arrive early. Inside the house, there is a loo available but no waiting area.
REMOTE THERAPY
Online and to the telephone sessions are available. The encrypted audio and video therapy mediums are WhatsApp and Zoom.
For some people being on camera is helpful and for others it is a distraction. I am guided by clients on which type of therapy is the best for them. Telephone sessions are straightforward and they tend to create a quiet, focused atmosphere for thinking together. Face-to-face is a fuller and more reassuring mode - particularly if you feel emotionally volatile, or fragile. However, for those with social anxiety or troubling self-consciousness remote sessions might feel like the safest way to start therapy. Remote sessions tend to be favoured by people with busy schedules or who prefer not to travel to sessions.
ACCESS
There are a few steep steps and a staircase which could be difficult to negotiate with impaired mobility.
SOMETHING ELSE?
I welcome inquiries, drop me a line. I will do my best to write back to you by the next working day.