1. How much does it cost?
£45 per session for individuals and £60 per session for couples.

2. How long does a session last?
50 minutes for individual and couples.

3. What days and times do you have available?
I work Monday to Thursday and my sessions start on the hour (8am, 9am etc). I currently have session start times between 9am and 5pm available. I do not work on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

4. Would I have to come to you?
Yes. I only work face to face, not by phone or online.

5. Where are you?
My practice is conveniently located equidistant between Wimbledon Town, Wimbledon Village and Raynes Park with free car parking outside.

6. Which areas do you cover?
I prefer to see clients who live or work fairly close to my practice in Wimbledon. The areas my clients tend to come from are Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Putney, Fulham, Parsons Green, Wandsworth, Battersea, Earlsfield, Southfields, Clapham, Tooting, Balham, Streatham, Croydon, Kingston, Coombe, New Malden, Sutton, Surbiton, Roehampton, Richmond and Epsom. Some clients do travel from farther afield but please remember to consider the time you would be spending in travelling to see me in addition to the 50 minute session time.

7. How often would I come to see you?
Once a week, usually at the same time on the same day of each week.

8. How long would I need to come to see you for? How long does it take?

INDIVIDUALS. I see clients initially for a trial session, sometimes called an assessment.  If after the trial session we agree to work together, it is for a further 10 sessions making 11 sessions in all. Session number 10 is a review session at which we decide either to end in the next session (number 11) or to continue working together for a further 10 sessions. Session number 20 is another review at which we decide either to end in the next session (number 21) or to continue to work together on an open -ended basis. Open-ended means that although we are aware that at some point our work will end, we do not yet see when that will be.

COUPLES. After an initial trial session, I work with couples for between 10 and 20 sessions.

9. How long would I have to wait before you could see me?
I try to respond to your initial enquiry within a couple of days and if we arrange to meet for a trial session and you are flexible on days and times, I am usually able to offer you an appointment within a week.

10. What sort of counselling do you do?
I am an integrative counsellor which means that I integrate theory from various different theoretical models into my work. The theories that I use are TA (Transactional Analysis), Psychodynamic (which deals with unconscious processes) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

11. What are your qualifications?
I have a Degree (BA Hons) in Counselling, a Diploma in Counselling and I am an Accredited Member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

12. What are your professional standards?
I am an Accredited Member of BACP.

13. What's the difference between counselling, therapy and psychotherapy?
This a question that is often discussed within my profession. My opinion is that there is no difference and that the terms counsellor, therapist and psychotherapist are interchangeable. I refer to myself as a counsellor and my Accreditation with BACP is for Counsellor/Psychotherapist.

14. What experience do you have?
I have worked with people on many issues in various counselling services in South-West and West London and have had my own private practice in Wimbledon since 2004.

15. Is what I tell you confidential?
Generally yes, however there are certain ethical and legal exceptions which i would be happy to discuss with you.

16. Are you the right person for me?
I hope so but let's see! If we agree to meet for a trial session that will give us both a chance to  get a better idea. 

17. Can I have a trial session?
Absolutely - all my first sessions are trial sessions! Trial sessions are sometimes referred to as assessments, a chance for you to assess me and me to assess you. I want us to see what it feels like to work together. Do we think we can make progress together? Do you feel comfortable talking to me? Do we speak the same language? Your initial commitment is for just one session and at the end of that session we will decide either to leave it there or to think about it for a few days or to commit to work together for a further 10 sessions. I charge my normal fee for the first session.

18. What sort of people come to see you?
All sorts of people with all sorts of problems! Women, men, young people, older people, married people, single people, people of all races, cultures, religions and sexual orientations.

19. How does counselling work?
With my training, qualifications and experience I will be alongside you while you discuss and reflect on the difficulties in your life. As I am not personally involved, I am able to be objective and not judgemental or critical. I hope that you will gain insight, awareness and understanding into your problems and see perspectives and options that maybe you had not considered or even been aware of before. I might offer you some 'tools' to deal with particular issues and we might discuss what changes you can make. Investing in yourself by making the time and space available to discuss and reflect on your problems with me is the first part of the process.

20. What happens in a counselling session?
You talk about anything that's on your mind! I don't set the agenda - you do but I may raise something I think you're avoiding. Anything is a suitable subject for discussion in the counselling room and you may be surprised when you realise that most stuff gets covered.

21. Can I arrange counselling for someone else?
There are times when we all feel we want to help a friend, partner or family member to sort out their problems and arranging for them to have counselling might seem like the answer. However, for counselling to work the motivation has to come from the individual...with our support and encouragement. In the words of the saying 'You can take a horse to water...'

22. Anything else I need to know?
Yes! Counselling = Commitment... a commitment to yourself and in the case of couples also to your relationship. Are you ready and able to invest in yourself and/or your relationship? You need to be sure that you have the time, money and energy to commit to counselling once a week.

23. Does it work?
See what previous clients say by clicking on testimonials

24. How do I get started?
Firstly get in touch with me through my Contact Me page. I will respond to your email and if I think I could be the right person to help you, I will give you access to the Client Area of my website so that you read my detailed Client Info page which sets out the nuts and bolts of how we would work together. This is sometimes referred to as the 'business contract'. If you're happy to work with me on this basis, you would agree to it and complete and return an online Start Form which will give me some more detailed information about you and your issues. I will read your Start Form and if I am still happy that I could be the right person to help you, I will offer you an an appointment for a 'no obligation to continue thereafter' trial session.