WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THERAPY

Coming to see a therapist for the first time can sometimes be daunting.

Below you can find information regarding what you can expect, but please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

GETTING IN TOUCH

I would encourage anyone thinking about embarking on some form of therapy to contact me, and other therapists, to have an initial chat. It is so important to choose someone you feel comfortable with, plus it gives you the opportunity to ask any questions.

You're welcome to contact me by email, but I'm also happy to talk on the phone for a free consultation so that you can find out more.

INITIAL SESSION

At, or prior to the first appointment, I'll ask you to complete a form, which gives me some basic details about yourself and I also issue a Client Information Sheet giving you further details about myself and my practice.

We will spend some time talking about what it is you’d like to achieve from the sessions. This is your opportunity to tell me however much or little you'd like to about the issue(s) affecting you. I can then let you know what therapies I believe might be most beneficial for you, why that is and how they work. When you’re ready and feel comfortable with everything we’ve talked about, we proceed with the therapy itself.

For psychotherapeutic counselling sessions, I offer a free preliminary session (up to 30 minutes), where you can talk with me and find out if you'd like to proceed further. Follow-up sessions are then 50 minutes long.

Hypnotherapy and EMDR, sessions last around an hour, with the first appointment tending to be nearer 90 minutes.

SUBSEQUENT SESSIONS

Depending on the issue(s) you wish to resolve, a client can expect to need between three and six sessions for hypnotherapy. However, sometimes just one session is sufficient for effective, permanent change. Similarly, there will be some who require further help and therefore more sessions may be required.

For counselling, generally eight or more sessions are to be expected.

In subsequent sessions we will build on the progress made before, discuss what changes have occurred and how your thoughts, feelings and behaviour have changed in-between appointments. Sometimes new issues may come to light and we can work through those as well to ensure that all issues have been resolved, until no further therapy is required.

CONFIDENTIALITY

I believe that the trust between client and therapist is crucial to the success of the therapeutic process. All information disclosed is treated as confidential, as is any information discussed in reviews. No details are disclosed to any third party without the client’s permission, however, confidentiality can only be offered within legal boundaries. It is my practice wherever possible to inform the client first should this confidentiality need to be breached.

I keep brief notes regarding the sessions which you are entitled to see at any time if you so wish. Clients cases may be discussed with supervisors and fellow colleagues, however, anonymity will be retained.

Any recordings made during sessions are the copyright of Inspiring Changes.

All notes and records are kept securely locked away within the terms of the the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) and Data Protection Act.

CANCELLATION POLICY

No charge is made for a cancellation, provided 48 hours notice is given.

If you need to cancel, please let me know as soon as possible by phone or email. Missed appointments, or those cancelled with less that 24 hours notice, will be charged in full.

PEACE OF MIND

I am a professional, fully qualified and registered hypnotherapist and psychotherapeutic counsellor.

I am a Senior Practitioner member of the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), the largest and one of the most highly regarded professional organisations for hypnotherapists, adhering to their National Code of Ethics. I am also validated by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC).

I hold a Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling and am registered with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), adhering to their National Code of Ethics.

I am regulated by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners whose key function is to enhance public protection by setting standards for registration within CNHC. The CNHC ‘quality mark’ is recognised as the hallmark of quality for the sector.

I hold professional and public liability insurance.

I have a full DBS and Enhanced Disclosure CRB check enabling me to work with children, thereby giving parents and carers peace of mind.