I offer psychological therapy (also called psychotherapy) to adults who want to change something about their mood, their emotions, their behaviour or their relationships with others. Common reasons people come are low mood, mood swings, anxiety, impulsivity and adjusting to life changes. Uncommon reasons are very welcome too. For some issues I may suggest someone more specialised in that area.
What to expect
Maybe you have had therapy before and already have a sense of what to expect. If it's your first time however, you may be quite unsure. In any case, every therapist is different.
The first couple of sessions involve me finding out about you and what you want out of therapy. I tend to ask more questions in these sessions, to help me decide what kind of approach is likely to be most helpful for you, and there's also space for what you come most wanting to talk about. Questions will be about things like what you're wanting from therapy, what you've tried already, what your day-to-day life is like, and who the important people in your life are.
After that, the sessions are as unique as you are! For some people, a space to talk while I mainly listen, gently intervening occasionally, is what's most helpful. For others, a more focused approach looking in detail at your goals in a structured way fits better. And for others, guided meditations form an important part of sessions. I'll be interested in your emotional experience and will usually bring your awareness to your body from time to time to help you integrate your experiences. I don't tell you what to do, and I don't give "homework". We will typically check-in about how the sessions are going every 6 to 8 sessions, and I often use one or two questionnaires as another way for us to track how things are going.
Sessions - how long and how many
Each session lasts about 50 minutes. The first session can be up to an hour.
How many sessions people need or want varies enormously and is not easy to predict at the beginning, although typically the longer a difficulty has been around, the more sessions are needed. I have seen some people walk away very satisfied after 5 sessions, having made big shifts in their wellbeing. I have seen others walk away very satisfied after 30 sessions of working with lifelong patterns of how they relate to others.
Session frequency
I work approximately three weeks out of four (details are discussed when you make an enquiry). This rhythm gives the opportunity for a regular "breathing space" in the therapy. If it works better for you to meet less frequently, that is also an option.
Confidentiality & Data protection
Your privacy is very important to me and I commit to treating all personal information about you with respect, sensitivity and confidentiality. This means that I will not tell anyone anything that I learn about you in my role as therapist, including that you have made an enquiry.
There are two exceptions to this:
1. I may discuss my work with you (including enquiries) with my supervisor, who will keep this information confidential. This is done anonymously.
2. If I believe that, unless I take action, significant harm is likely to come to someone, I may break confidentiality. If this applies, I will do my best to discuss it with you first.
All written information is stored securely. You can find more information in my privacy notices.
What if I know you?
It is possible to go much deeper in therapy (and therefore be more effective) when you don’t have to sit opposite your therapist at lunch the next day. Sometimes it takes people by surprise what comes up in therapy, how much they disclose and what they discover about themselves. For these reasons, it is best if we don’t have any other connection. Then the sessions can be a space that feels really safe to explore in. If you are unsure, feel free to call and we can discuss whether any connection is likely to be an issue or not.
Location
In-person appointments are in Findhorn: West Whins, The Park, Findhorn Ecovillage
Appointments via telephone or videoconferencing are also available.
Findhorn is 5 miles north of Forres in Moray, halfway between Elgin and Nairn and half an hour's drive from each.
Pricing
My standard fee is £100 per session.
Discounts and bursaries are often available for those on a budget and for locals - please ask.
Different fees may be applicable for those outside Scotland or funded by health insurance.
Payment can be by cash, cheque or bank transfer.
Insurers accepted (amongst others):
What to expect
Maybe you have had therapy before and already have a sense of what to expect. If it's your first time however, you may be quite unsure. In any case, every therapist is different.
The first couple of sessions involve me finding out about you and what you want out of therapy. I tend to ask more questions in these sessions, to help me decide what kind of approach is likely to be most helpful for you, and there's also space for what you come most wanting to talk about. Questions will be about things like what you're wanting from therapy, what you've tried already, what your day-to-day life is like, and who the important people in your life are.
After that, the sessions are as unique as you are! For some people, a space to talk while I mainly listen, gently intervening occasionally, is what's most helpful. For others, a more focused approach looking in detail at your goals in a structured way fits better. And for others, guided meditations form an important part of sessions. I'll be interested in your emotional experience and will usually bring your awareness to your body from time to time to help you integrate your experiences. I don't tell you what to do, and I don't give "homework". We will typically check-in about how the sessions are going every 6 to 8 sessions, and I often use one or two questionnaires as another way for us to track how things are going.
Sessions - how long and how many
Each session lasts about 50 minutes. The first session can be up to an hour.
How many sessions people need or want varies enormously and is not easy to predict at the beginning, although typically the longer a difficulty has been around, the more sessions are needed. I have seen some people walk away very satisfied after 5 sessions, having made big shifts in their wellbeing. I have seen others walk away very satisfied after 30 sessions of working with lifelong patterns of how they relate to others.
Session frequency
I work approximately three weeks out of four (details are discussed when you make an enquiry). This rhythm gives the opportunity for a regular "breathing space" in the therapy. If it works better for you to meet less frequently, that is also an option.
Confidentiality & Data protection
Your privacy is very important to me and I commit to treating all personal information about you with respect, sensitivity and confidentiality. This means that I will not tell anyone anything that I learn about you in my role as therapist, including that you have made an enquiry.
There are two exceptions to this:
1. I may discuss my work with you (including enquiries) with my supervisor, who will keep this information confidential. This is done anonymously.
2. If I believe that, unless I take action, significant harm is likely to come to someone, I may break confidentiality. If this applies, I will do my best to discuss it with you first.
All written information is stored securely. You can find more information in my privacy notices.
What if I know you?
It is possible to go much deeper in therapy (and therefore be more effective) when you don’t have to sit opposite your therapist at lunch the next day. Sometimes it takes people by surprise what comes up in therapy, how much they disclose and what they discover about themselves. For these reasons, it is best if we don’t have any other connection. Then the sessions can be a space that feels really safe to explore in. If you are unsure, feel free to call and we can discuss whether any connection is likely to be an issue or not.
Location
In-person appointments are in Findhorn: West Whins, The Park, Findhorn Ecovillage
Appointments via telephone or videoconferencing are also available.
Findhorn is 5 miles north of Forres in Moray, halfway between Elgin and Nairn and half an hour's drive from each.
Pricing
My standard fee is £100 per session.
Discounts and bursaries are often available for those on a budget and for locals - please ask.
Different fees may be applicable for those outside Scotland or funded by health insurance.
Payment can be by cash, cheque or bank transfer.
Insurers accepted (amongst others):
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