How do I know if therapy is right for me?

You do not need to be certain before getting in touch. People often begin therapy because something feels painful, stuck, confusing or difficult to bear. Sometimes the problem is clear. At other times, it is harder to name.

An initial consultation gives us a chance to think together about what brings you to therapy and whether working together may be helpful.

Do I need to know what I want to talk about?

No. It is enough to begin with whatever feels most present, even if that is uncertainty, anxiety, silence, confusion or not knowing where to start.

Part of the work of therapy is allowing what matters to emerge over time.

What happens in the first session?

The first session is an initial consultation. I will ask something about what has brought you to therapy, what you are hoping for, and any relevant background. You are also welcome to ask questions about how I work.

The consultation is not an assessment that you need to pass. It is a chance for us to think together about whether therapy with me feels possible and useful.

Is the initial consultation free?

Yes. I do not charge for the initial consultation.

How often would we meet?

Individual psychotherapy usually takes place once weekly, at the same time each week. In some circumstances, more frequent sessions may be appropriate, and this can be discussed.

Couples therapy may take place weekly or fortnightly, depending on the situation and what seems clinically appropriate.

How long are sessions?

Individual psychotherapy sessions last 50 minutes.

Couples therapy sessions last 75 minutes.

How long does therapy last?

This varies. Some people come for a shorter period to think about a particular crisis or difficulty. Others work for longer, especially where difficulties are longstanding, complex or deeply rooted.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is not usually a quick-fix approach. It often takes time for unconscious patterns, repetitions and conflicts to become clearer.

What if I feel nervous about starting?

It is very common to feel nervous about beginning therapy. Speaking to someone new about personal difficulties can feel exposing or uncertain. You do not have to arrive with everything clear or organised. We can begin from wherever you are.

What is psychoanalytic psychotherapy?

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a form of therapy that pays attention to unconscious patterns, feelings, conflicts and ways of relating. These may shape how you experience yourself, other people, relationships, work, love, loss, anxiety, desire and change.

The work involves speaking and listening carefully over time, so that what has been difficult to think about can gradually become more understandable.

Is psychoanalytic therapy different from counselling or CBT?

Different therapies work in different ways. Some approaches focus more directly on managing symptoms, changing behaviours or developing practical strategies.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is interested not only in symptoms, but in what they may mean and how they may be connected to a person’s history, relationships and unconscious life. It is less about advice or techniques, and more about creating a space in which something can be spoken, heard and understood differently.

Will you give me advice?

I do not usually give direct advice about what you should do. Therapy is not about me telling you how to live your life.

Instead, the work is to help you speak and think more freely about what is happening, so that your own position, desires, conflicts and choices can become clearer.

What kinds of things can I talk about?

You can talk about whatever is on your mind. This might include current difficulties, relationships, memories, dreams, bodily feelings, work, sex, family, grief, anger, anxiety, shame, fantasies, fears, or things that feel hard to say.

Sometimes what seems small or incidental can turn out to be important.

Can therapy be difficult?

Yes. Therapy can be relieving, but it can also be emotionally demanding. Speaking about painful experiences, recognising repeated patterns, or encountering difficult feelings may be unsettling.

This does not necessarily mean the work is going wrong. Often, it is part of the process by which something previously avoided, defended against or unspoken begins to be understood.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Therapy is confidential and what you bring is treated with care and respect.

There are some limited exceptions, for example where there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, a safeguarding concern, or a legal obligation to disclose information. These limits can be discussed at the beginning of the work.

Do you keep notes?

I keep brief clinical and administrative records where necessary for safe, ethical and professional practice.

Information is stored securely and handled in accordance with data protection law. More information is available on the Privacy Notice page.

What if I see you outside the therapy room?

Because I practise in Truro, it is possible that we may occasionally cross paths outside the consulting room.

If this happens, I will usually take my lead from you. I would not approach you in a way that reveals the therapeutic relationship to others.

Where is your practice?

My practice is based in Truro, Cornwall, within walking distance of the city centre and railway station.

The full address is provided once an initial consultation has been arranged.

Do you offer online sessions?

Yes, online sessions may be possible where appropriate. This can be discussed during the initial consultation.

For some people and some kinds of work, in-person sessions may be preferable. For others, online work may be clinically and practically suitable.

What are your fees?

Individual psychotherapy sessions last 50 minutes and cost £60.

Couples therapy sessions last 75 minutes and cost £90.

Some lower-fee places may be available, depending on circumstances and availability.

How do I pay?

Payment is usually made by bank transfer.

What if I need to cancel a session?

Cancellation arrangements can be discussed at the beginning of the work. Because therapy depends on regularity and a reserved weekly time, missed sessions and cancellations need to be thought about carefully as part of the frame of the work.

Do you offer emergency support?

No. I do not provide an emergency or crisis service.

If you are in immediate danger, or feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, please contact emergency services, attend A&E, call NHS 111, or contact an appropriate crisis support service.

Do both partners need to attend?

Yes. Couples therapy usually involves both partners attending together.

If one partner contacts me first, this is usually only to arrange the initial consultation or ask practical questions. The therapeutic work begins when both people are present.

Will you take sides?

No. My role is not to decide who is right or wrong, but to help both people think about what is happening between them.

Couples therapy pays attention to the relationship itself: the repeated patterns, emotional positions, misunderstandings, injuries and expectations that may be shaping the difficulty.

Does couples therapy mean we are trying to stay together?

Not necessarily. Some couples come because they want to repair the relationship. Others come because they are unsure whether they can or should continue.

Couples therapy does not assume a particular outcome. It can help both people think more clearly about the relationship, whether that leads to repair, separation or a different understanding of what has happened.

Do you offer supervision?

Yes. I offer clinical supervision to psychotherapists, counsellors and trainees, both in person in Truro and online.

My supervisory work is informed by psychoanalysis, Lacanian theory, relational thinking, and contemporary psychoanalytic practice.

Can trainees contact you for supervision?

Yes. I have a particular interest in working with trainees and early-career practitioners.

Supervision can support clinical work, case formulation, questions of the frame, transference and countertransference, training requirements, clinical writing and the development of a more confident therapeutic position.

How do I arrange an appointment?

You can contact me by email or phone to ask about an initial consultation.

You do not need to explain everything in your first message. It is enough to say that you are interested in therapy, couples therapy or supervision, and to include your contact details.