Working together
Choosing the right therapist and approach is an important decision. The first step is simply to share a little about your current situation.
A brief questionnaire is the starting point whether you are considering ongoing therapy or would first value a professional perspective through a standalone Initial Consultation. It gives me a better understanding of what has brought you here and how I may be able to help.
You do not need to decide at this stage whether you want ongoing therapy.
You can select the ARC within the questionnaire. I will then review your enquiry and advise you on the next step.
What Happens After You Submit
Online Questionnaire
For couples therapy, each partner completes a confidential questionnaire outlining your relationship, current concerns and what you hope to achieve through therapy. Individuals seeking relationship-focused therapy complete the same enquiry as a single applicant.
Clinical Review
Once the relevant questionnaire(s) have been received, I review the information provided to develop an understanding of your circumstances and the support you are seeking. For couples therapy, the review begins once both questionnaires have been submitted.
What happens next
Depending on your circumstances, I may invite you to an Initial Consultation, offer a place on the waiting list, or suggest another appropriate way forward.
Initial Consultation
An Initial Consultation is a focused opportunity to explore your circumstances in greater depth and consider whether working together would be helpful.
It can be the first stage of regular therapy, or it can be arranged as a standalone consultation if you would value a professional perspective on your situation without committing to ongoing therapy.
Availability
To maintain continuity and a high standard of clinical care, the practice limits the number of active therapy clients.
Regular therapy appointments are offered when a date and time becomes available that match the availability you have shared with me. Evening appointments typically carry the longest wait times, while clients able to attend during weekday daytime hours may be offered an appointment sooner.
Standalone consultations can usually be arranged within around three weeks.
Where a waiting-list place is offered, your position is determined by the date your completed enquiry is received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to complete a questionnaire?
As a first step, I ask prospective clients to provide some background through a confidential questionnaire. For couples therapy, this allows me to consider both partners' perspectives before we begin working together.
Couples therapy is most effective when the therapeutic approach is well matched to a couple's particular circumstances. The questionnaire helps me gain a balanced understanding of the relationship and the circumstances each partner brings, rather than relying solely on a brief introductory conversation.
Do both partners need to complete the questionnaire?
For couples therapy, yes. Each partner completes their own confidential questionnaire, and I review both responses together once they have been submitted. This helps ensure that both perspectives are considered from the outset.
Does completing the questionnaire guarantee a consultation?
No. Completing the questionnaire does not commit you to therapy or guarantee a consultation. It provides the information needed to understand what you are looking for and whether an Initial Consultation, regular therapy or another form of support may be appropriate.
What if one of us is unsure about starting therapy?
It is very common for partners to feel differently about beginning therapy.
For couples work to be effective, both partners need some willingness to attend and participate in the process. This does not require certainty or confidence — uncertainty is entirely understandable — but there does need to be a shared openness to engaging in the work.
Where one partner is very unsure about taking part, an Initial Consultation may provide a useful opportunity to explore the situation before deciding whether regular couples therapy is the right way forward.
Can I have an Initial Consultation without committing to regular therapy?
Yes. An Initial Consultation can form the first stage of regular therapy, or it can be arranged as a standalone consultation if you would value a professional perspective on your situation without committing to ongoing therapy.
It is a paid clinical appointment rather than a free introductory meeting.
What happens after my questionnaire is reviewed?
Once the relevant questionnaire(s) have been received, I review the information provided to understand your circumstances and what you are looking for from the work. Depending on the circumstances, this may lead to an Initial Consultation, a place on the waiting list or guidance towards another form of support.
What if another form of support would be more helpful?
Where relevant, I will explain in general terms why another form of support may be more helpful and provide guidance on possible sources of support. The questionnaire is not a full clinical assessment, so more detailed recommendations may require a separate consultation.
What about confidentiality?
Your information is handled in accordance with UK data protection law and professional ethical standards. Submissions are transmitted securely and reviewed only by me. Where information is retained as part of clinical work, it is stored securely in accordance with professional requirements.
Privacy & Data Use
The information you provide is used to review your enquiry and to manage any subsequent consultation or therapy.
Relationship difficulties often involve sensitive personal information. All submissions are transmitted securely, reviewed only by myself, and handled in accordance with UK data protection law and professional ethical standards.
Should you proceed to therapy, relevant information may be retained as part of your clinical record. If you do not proceed, your information will be retained only for a limited period before being securely deleted.
For full details, please review the full Privacy Notice.