How to make an appointment
The first step is to complete a brief confidential questionnaire.
Share Your Current SituationWhat Happens After You Submit
Completing the questionnaire is free of charge and does not commit you to beginning therapy. It enables me to understand your circumstances and the kind of help you are seeking, so that I can advise whether the service I provide is likely to meet your needs.
Online Questionnaires
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 carefully review your responses to build a balanced understanding of your relationship and what form of support may be most helpful at this stage. If couples therapy is sought, the review will only be instigated when both questionnaires have been submitted.
Clinical Recommendation
You receive a considered recommendation regarding the most appropriate next step. Where couples therapy appears likely to be beneficial (or when the Avon Relationship Check-up has been requested), I will contact you by email to propose an initial consultation in accordance with your stated availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a questionnaire necessary before arranging an appointment?
Before arranging an appointment, it is important to establish together whether the therapy offered is likely to be helpful for your relationship and what you hope to achieve.
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 your relationship before making any recommendations, rather than relying solely on a brief introductory conversation.
Do both partners need to complete the questionnaire?
If you are seeking couples therapy, yes. The review process begins once both partners have submitted their responses.
This allows for a balanced and accurate understanding of the relationship, which is essential in determining how to be most helpful to you.
Does this guarantee a consultation?
Completing the questionnaire does not automatically lead to an appointment. Where the review suggests that another form of support would be safer or more beneficial, I will explain this and, where indicated, signpost you towards alternative services.
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 to have at least a basic willingness to engage in the process. This does not require certainty or confidence — uncertainty is entirely understandable — but there does need to be a shared openness to attending and participating.
Where this is not yet in place, it is often more helpful to take time to consider readiness or explore individual support before beginning couples work.
How is it decided whether to proceed with therapy?
After both questionnaires have been received, they are reviewed carefully to understand your situation and what type of support would be most appropriate.
In some cases, couples therapy here may be suitable and offered. In others, a different form of support may be more clinically suitable at this stage.
Will I receive specific recommendations if a different type of support is recommended?
Where relevant, general guidance will be provided to help you consider possible next steps. The level of guidance possible will depend on the nature of the enquiry and the information available at the time of review.
What about confidentiality?
Your information is handled in accordance with UK data protection law and professional ethical guidelines. Submissions are transmitted securely and reviewed only by myself. Where information is retained as part of clinical work, it is stored securely in line with professional standards.
Availability
To maintain continuity and a high standard of clinical care, the practice limits the number of active therapy clients.
Evening appointments typically carry the longest wait times. Clients able to attend during weekday daytime hours are often offered appointments sooner.
Where a more detailed assessment would be clinically helpful before deciding on the most appropriate course of action, I may recommend a standalone Initial Consultation.
Your position on the waiting list is determined by the date your completed enquiry is received.
Privacy & Data Use
The information you provide is used solely for the purpose of reviewing your enquiry and determining the most appropriate next step.
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.