Our first session involves an initial assessment where I gather information about your background, history, current concerns and goals for therapy. This helps me to understand your unique needs and customise your treatment plan accordingly.
My aim is to create a safe and non-judgmental space where you feel comfortable in expressing yourself openly.
Together, we will work to identify your specific goals and objectives. These goals may focus on alleviating symptoms, improving coping skills, gaining insights into patterns of behaviour, or achieving personal growth and self-discovery
How does therapy work?
Do you teach helpful techniques or just listen?
Depending on your needs, I may teach practical coping strategies and skill-building techniques to help manage your symptoms and improve your overall well-being. This may include, for example, relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, cognitive restructuring, self-hypnosis or communication skills training.
Do I have to do homework?
Our sessions explore and reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I often ask open-ended questions, encourage self-reflection and facilitate deeper exploration of underlying issues or concerns. For this reason, I encourage you to start writing a journal to make feedback easier at the start of each session. For this reason, between sessions, I may assign homework or exercises to reinforce learning, practice new skills, or continue exploration outside of the therapy room. These assignments are designed to support your progress and integration of therapeutic insights into daily life.
What happens if I become emotional?
Therapy provides a safe space for you to process and express your emotions including identifying and naming them, exploring their underlying causes and helping you to develop healthier ways of coping with difficult feelings.
Sessions often involve challenging unhelpful beliefs, thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to distress or dysfunction. I may help you to become awareness of negative patterns and develop alternative perspectives and behaviours.
How will I know therapy is working?
Throughout therapy, you and I will periodically review progress towards goals, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and make adjustments to the treatment plan as needed. This ongoing feedback helps ensure that therapy remains focused and beneficial for the client.