Once you send me a message, email or call me, I will get back to you within 24 hours (unless it's a Sunday or bank holiday). I try to answer all calls but I may be with a client at the time so do leave me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can. I will arrange a time convenient for both of us to have a free 30 minute consultation and depending on what suits you best, this can be face to face at the Therapy Lodge, by phone or via a video conference call (Google Meet). This consultation session allows us to discuss your needs, what you want from therapy as well as allow you the opportunity to discuss any questions you have for me. There is no obligation to continue seeing me after this. The most important thing is that you feel like I am someone you could work with. If you decide that I'm the right therapist for you (again, there is no pressure!) and I believe I can support you, then we can arrange our first 1 hour session either face to face at the Therapy Lodge or over a video conference call (Google Meet). This first session will delve deeper into your reasons for coming to therapy, what you hope to achieve at the end of it and a discussion about how we could work together. We then agree a plan which works best for you. Sessions can be weekly or fortnightly depending on your needs and if at any point you want to change the direction therapy takes, we can discuss and make changes. You are always in control!

Once you get in touch, I will arrange an initial consultation session with you either over the phone, via Google Meet or in person at the Therapy Lodge. This usually lasts around 30 minutes and is a chance for us to discuss your reasons for seeking therapy, what you are looking for and for you to ask any questions you have before deciding if I'm the right therapist for you. I'll often ask questions around the history of the issue you want to work on, your background, family and, depending on the issue, what you usually do to cope and the resources you have or need to help you. If we both feel that we can work together, we can arrange our first 1 hour session where we agree a plan tailored to your needs. There are no expectations from me, just come with an open and curious mind. If at any point you are uncomfortable with the direction we are taking then let me know. This is your time and we go at the pace that you are happy with.

Hypnosis is a relaxed state and in fact we spend many times throughout the day in a state of 'trance', when we are daydreaming, or driving a well known route or listening to a fantastic piece of music. It is a time when we are so relaxed that our conscious mind, which is constantly analysing our surroundings to make sense of our experiences, steps back and allows our unconscious mind to come forward. In other words, it's a completely natural state of being. Most people find hypnotherapy to be very enjoyable as you are so relaxed you are able to switch off from the day to day clutter of your mind. When we are relaxed, we are able to access the unconscious mind more easily. This is where our emotions, beliefs, memories and thoughts reside. You are completely in control throughout the process. I can't make you do or believe something as your conscious mind will step in and bring you out of hypnosis if it feels there is a threat or something doesn't feel right. You need to feel comfortable and trusting in the therapist conducting the hypnosis to allow your conscious mind to step back. Once you feel safe and supported, also being willing and motivated means that hypnotherapy is more likely to be successful.

I often use a mixture of talking therapy and hypnotherapy for a number of issues. It's particularly good for clients suffering with anxiety, depression, phobias and issues around self-esteem and confidence to name just a few. I do not use a script as each individual is unique and so each session will be tailored to suit your specific needs. Hypnotherapy can help you to make positive changes in your way of thinking, tap into your motivation to achieve your goals as well as change existing behaviours to be more beneficial.

Yes, everything you share with me is confidential and I'm required by UK law to protect your privacy. I also abide by the UKCP code of ethics regarding your privacy and confidentiality. Please see the privacy notice within the footer of this website for more details on the legal and ethical limits to this.

I wish I could give you an answer! You may feel that a handful of sessions is enough for what you're looking for or you may want more. You do not need to commit to a minimum number of sessions as each session is paid for weekly. Hypnotherapy tends to need a shorter number of sessions but again, this really depends on your needs. Therapy does not have to be years of work! It can be brief or last several months. This is something we can discuss in the initial consultation where I can give you a better idea of how we can work together.

It's £70.00 per session and each session lasts 1 hour.

Whether online on in person, each session is 1 hour long. If you are late, I will try to make up the time, however depending on the day or time, I may not be able to do so if I have clients after you.

Both! We can either arrange to meet at the Lodge in person or via an online video conferencing call. I usually use Google Meet and will send you a link ahead of the session. You do not need to have a Google account or an app to be able to attend as it is a web based platform.

Please let me know as soon as possible. If you do not message or email me within 72 hours of your appointment, full payment will be expected as I'm not able to offer this time to anyone else at short notice. However, I will do my best to arrange an alternative time that week if possible.

I'm only qualified to work with adults 18+ on an individual basis. I'm also only able to work with clients based in the UK and under the jurisdiction of the law in the UK. I am not qualified to work with individuals with psychosis, personality disorders, PTSD and anorexia/ bulimia. For hypnotherapy specifically, I will enquire as to your medical history as there are some conditions where hypnotherapy is not advisable, for those suffering with epilepsy and serious heart conditions, for example.

Honestly, not a lot! There is a lot of overlap in the type of training and issues worked with. They both refer to talking therapies which offer a supportive and safe environment to help you to understand yourself better. Both can help with your issues presently but also work with you to get a deeper understanding of your emotions, beliefs and behaviours, particularly from your past, to find the origin of your issues. This deeper exploration of Self can help you to make the positive change you're looking for, more long-term and permanent. Both counselling and psychotherapy can offer all or some of these things, it really depends on the therapist and the client's needs.

That's not a problem. Everyone's needs are different and sometimes a therapist will work well with you for a while but then you feel it isn't working for you anymore. The best thing is to let me know. It is common in therapy to have periods where you feel there is little progression, however if you feel that you need a different therapist or you want a break from therapy then that is perfectly fine. I will continually check in with you as to how you feel the sessions are going, allowing us the opportunity to address any concerns or if you want to take things in a different direction. Equally, if I feel that I'm no longer able to support you or that you no longer need therapy, I will also discuss this with you.

A lot of people avoid therapy because it can be difficult to talk about painful emotions and memories, however there is only so long you can avoid dealing with things before they affect your life. You will likely go through a range of emotions across the time we work together. It's not uncommon to feel a little worse after a particularly difficult session but also feel a lot better once these challenging emotions have been processed. You may feel drained and tired after a session so always make sure to take care of yourself afterwards.