The first session focuses on what brings you to therapy, and what you hope to get from it. It also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and get a sense of whether therapy feels right for you.

Whatever is on your mind. People come to therapy for different reasons and at different levels of psychological distress. You do not need all the answers before coming to therapy.

The duration of therapy varies from person to person, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people attend for a few months, others stay for long-term work, and sometimes people pause therapy and return later. Most people who come to therapy have long-standing, ingrained problems that developed over a lifetime, and it is important to acknowledge that deeper work requires patience. Ultimately, you can decide what feels right at each stage.

Yes. While it might not suit everyone, online therapy can be just as meaningful and helpful as meeting in person. For many people, being able to attend sessions from a familiar space can feel less intimidating and make therapy more accessible.

Yes, what you discuss in psychotherapy is confidential. The only exceptions are if you are in serious risk of harming yourself or others, or if there is a concern about the safety of minors. Any disclosure would be discussed with you beforehand.

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine. Psychiatrists are doctors and they focus on assessing symptoms, diagnosing disorders and managing medication. Because psychiatry operates within a medical model, people are usually referred to as “patients”, whereas in psychotherapy we tend to use the term “clients”.

Psychology is an academic discipline that studies how people think and behave. Psychologists work across many different areas, including clinical, educational, organisational, forensic and in research. Many clinical psychologists focus on psychological assessments and testing, other also provide psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy is the practice of working within a therapeutic relationship to improve mental people’s mental wellbeing and support personal growth. Rather than focusing solely on addressing visible symptoms, it takes a “bottom-up” approach. Metaphorically, it aims to help people build strong walls before fixing the roof. It works with a person's lived experience, emotions, relationships, the residual effects of trauma, and overall sense of self.