Compassionate Therapy for You

Therapy can offer a new way of seeing a difficult issue — helping you explore solutions that may not have felt accessible on your own. Having someone alongside you who genuinely seeks to understand can make all the difference when navigating what feels complex, stuck, or overwhelming. 

Clients often say that therapy helps them develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their personal values, and what truly matters to them. Many find that their relationships improve as they gain new skills in communication and connection. Therapy can also foster greater confidence in managing challenges such as depression, anxiety, or eating difficulties. Above all, it can support you in finding clarity and workable solutions to the concerns that first brought you to seek help. 

Psychotherapists are bound by the ethical codes of their professional registering bodies. Failure to uphold these standards can result in removal from the professional register. Ethical practice includes maintaining appropriate confidentiality, refraining from emotional, sexual, or financial exploitation of clients, representing one’s qualifications and experience truthfully, and holding valid professional insurance. 

I am committed to offering confidential support. In most cases, this means that what you share in sessions will not be discussed with anyone else. However, all therapists are required to have regular supervision – a professional, confidential space where aspects of client work are reflected upon to ensure the quality and safety of the therapy. While client material may be discussed in supervision, your identity is protected, and nothing is shared beyond this context. 

There are some legal and ethical limits to confidentiality. Therapists are obliged to share information if ordered to do so by a court or if they become aware of certain serious risks. These include current child abuse, active plans to harm oneself or another person, or the intention to commit a terrorist act. In such circumstances, I would always aim to discuss any necessary steps with you before taking action. 

A couple of people have asked me about client testimonials. The UKCP do not allow client testimonials. Their ethical guidelines prioritise confidentiality, privacy, and the integrity of the therapeutic relationship and they believe that giving a testimonial or recommendation may hamper this. More information is available here: https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/media/bkjdm33f/ukcp-code-of-ethics-and-professional-practice-2019.pdf

Most clients attend therapy on a weekly basis, with each session lasting 50 minutes. There’s no obligation to continue beyond the initial exploratory session, and you’re free to end the work at any time. That said, unless you’re seeking a clearly defined short-term arrangement, it’s often helpful to remain open about how long the process might take — therapeutic work can unfold in unexpected ways. In longer-term therapy, we would usually approach the ending thoughtfully and collaboratively, allowing time for reflection and closure.