I know that starting therapy can feel daunting, so I like to keep the first steps simple and low-pressure. When you get in touch, I’ll offer a free 20-minute chat by phone or on Teams. This isn’t a formal assessment — it’s just an opportunity for us to talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, answer any questions you have, and see whether we feel like a good fit.

You’re welcome to share as much or as little as feels comfortable. I may ask a few gentle questions to help guide the conversation, such as what’s prompted you to reach out now, what you’d like support with, or whether you’ve had therapy before and how that experience was for you.I like to keep things as relaxed as possible when we first meet, no pressure to share your whole life story, fill out intensive questionnaires, or go through formal procedures. I often ask more detailed questions in the first session to help me get to know your current situation better, such as employment status, recent history, relationships and general health to ensure I can offer you the most appropriate support.

While the traditional psychotherapy model often involves committing to weekly sessions, I understand that this doesn’t always fit with modern life — logistically or financially. That’s why I aim to make therapy as flexible and accessible as possible: if online works best for you, great; if in-person suits , that’s totally fine, or if you’d prefer a mix of both — why not!

My focus is on removing barriers to therapy, not creating them. The only thing I ask is that you come willing to engage in the co-creation of our work.

My age limit starts at 5, however little ones of this age are closely assessed prior to any therapeutic work commencing to ensure I am the appropriate therapist to work with them at this stage in their life.

I don’t provide treatment for primary psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. If you’re seeking support in these areas, I’m happy to offer referrals to NHS providers.

Everything you say in a session, remains with me. All clinical notes are anonymised and I only breach confidentiality if I believe you are in danger of hurting yourself, others or if someone is harming you. Any breach of confidentiality is discussed with you prior to any disclosures - unless I believe you are at immediate risk of death.

For younger children, therapy is a shared journey. I offer regular parent check-ins to help you understand and support their emotional world outside sessions, while also protecting your child’s privacy so trust can grow.

Some children wish for parents / carers to be heavily involved in their therapy process, others find this intrusive, either way I work with the child and their family as a whole unit to ensure your child is getting the most containing therapeutic experience.

Safeguarding is always paramount, and we clearly agree how this balance works from the start.

Teenagers need privacy to feel safe opening up. I follow the Gillick competency framework, which means young people under 16 can consent to their own therapy if they show enough maturity to understand the process. At the start, you, your child and I agree how and when parents are kept informed, and the situations where confidentiality must be broken — such as if there is a risk of harm to themselves, towards or from others.

Parents remain supported throughout; I offer guidance on how to help your teen outside sessions without compromising their trust. If I ever have concerns about a young person’s safety, I will always involve the appropriate support.