Frequently Asked Questions
What do you specialise in?
I specialise in working with adults (18 and upwards). I have experiencing in working with a range of different mental health conditions including;
– depression
– anxiety and anxiety related conditions (phobias, OCD, panic disorder, perfectionism)
– trauma and PTSD
I also work with people who don’t have a specified mental health condition but may be experiencing some of the following:
– chronic pain/long-term health conditions
– relationship difficulties
– bereavement
– substance/alcohol abuse
– low self-esteem/loss of self-confidence
– adjusting to life changes
I am trained in a number of different models of therapy (psychodynamic therapy, EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT and CFT) and when I work with clients, I tend to work integratively, drawing on multiple frameworks rather than sticking solely to one model.
What are your qualifications?
I am a qualified clinical psychologist and I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I am also an Accredited EMDR Practitioner and registered with EMDR Europe.
2025: CBT for Chronic Pain, Centre for Mental Health & Aging, U.S.A.
2024 – 2025: Advanced Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy, NAOS Institute, U.K.
2024: EMDR for OCD and the use of flash forwards, EMDR Association, U.K.
2024: EMDR advanced tools and techniques, EMDR Association, U.K.
2024: Flash technique in EMDR therapy
2023: Trauma-focused CBT, Association for Psychological Therapies, U.K.
2023: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Association for Psychological Therapies, U.K.
2023: Advanced Clinical Skills in Compassion-Focused Therapy, Compassionate Mind Institute
2023: EMDR and polyvagal theory, EMDR Association, U.K.
2022: Compassion-Focused Therapy, Compassionate Mind Institute
2021: EMDR for complicated grief, EMDR Association, U.K.
2021: EMDR for suicidal ideation and self-harming, EMDR Association, U.K.
2020 – 2021: EMDR Training (parts 1 – 4), EMDR Academy, U.K.
2017: Behavioural Family Therapy, Kent & Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, U.K
2002 – 2011: Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
2008: Honour’s Degree in Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
2005: Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga Psychology, Bihar Yoga Bharati, India
2000 – 2002: Bachelor of Social Science, University of Cape Town, South Africa
What can I expect from therapy?
It can feel daunting to start therapy and it is not unusual for people to come to therapy with some apprehension and preconceived ideas based on what they’ve seen in movies, read about or heard from other people’s experiences.
In the introductory chat we will talk about what you are hoping to gain from therapy, what to expect from the process and the approach that we will take. You will have a chance to ask any questions you may have about how I work or what to expect.
What’s the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a counsellor?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who after their general training in medicine decide to specialise in mental health. As doctors, psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication.
Psychologists are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medication. They spend their whole training studying mental health and therapies and their training will involve learning to deliver more than one type of therapy.
Counsellors tend to train in one specific model of therapy and will work primarily within that framework.
How many sessions will I need?
The length of therapy is dependent on different factors including; the severity of the difficulty that the person is experiencing, how long the difficulty has been present and whether there are any complicating factors. But it will also depend on what your aims and goals for therapy are and what is practicable for you.
It is often difficult to stipulate an exact number of sessions that are required at the outset but if you find it helpful I will give you a rough estimate e.g. 10 or 20 sessions and we will periodically review our progress together.
How frequent are sessions?
Research suggests that therapy is most effective when sessions are held weekly, especially at the outset, but for some people this may not be practical or suit their needs.
We would discuss beforehand what is the right frequency for you.
Are the sessions confidential?
Everything that is discussed in sessions is kept in the strictest confidence. If there is convincing evidence that you intend to harm yourself or others, or are involved in criminal activity I would have a duty of care to report this which may involve breaking confidentiality by informing your GP, or in serious cases the police, emergency services, or other appropriate third parties. Wherever possible, I would discuss with you first.
It is good practice for psychologists to have regular clinical supervision which involves discussing casework as this ensures that clients get the best possible care and support from their psychologist. Identifying information is never shared in supervision.
What is the right type of therapy for me?
There are many different models of therapy. You may have some knowledge or experience of a particular model or you may not know anything about the different models of therapy. Either way, before embarking on therapy we would discuss which approach is the right one for you given your difficulties and what you are hoping to achieve from therapy.
Where do you work?
All appointments are online, via zoom and teams. You can use either a mobile device, laptop or desktop.
There are advantages to having sessions online for instance; convenience, accessibility, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. But there are also some key considerations to ensuring that you get the most out of your online sessions such as; having a space that is comfortable and private and making sure that your wifi or mobile data is sufficient to support a video call.