What to expect from therapy
Starting therapy can bring questions about what happens in a session, what you need to share and how the practical arrangements work. Here you can find information about getting started, working together online and session fees. If there is anything else you would like to know, you are welcome to ask.
Start by telling me a little about what you need
The first step is to get in touch through the contact page. You can explain what has prompted you to consider therapy, ask about availability or raise any questions you have.
Your first message can be brief. You do not need to describe difficult experiences in detail or write your full history.
It is helpful to include:
- A short description of the support you are looking for
- The country where you will be attending sessions
- Any questions about working together
- Any practical or communication needs you would like me to know about
From there, we can consider whether my practice is a suitable fit and discuss the arrangements for getting started. Making an enquiry gives you an opportunity to find out more before deciding whether to proceed.
A chance to begin getting to know each other
Your first session gives us time to talk about what has brought you to therapy and what you would like support with.
You may have something specific you want to address. You may be finding several parts of life difficult and feel unsure where to begin. We can start with what feels most relevant and work from there.
Some of the things we may talk about include:
- What is happening in your life at the moment
- How your difficulties are affecting you
- Experiences or relationships that feel relevant
- Any support you have received before
- What you hope might change through therapy
There is no set amount you need to share in that first meeting. You can ask questions about how I work, tell me if something is difficult to discuss and raise any concerns about the process.
Before our work begins, we will also need to agree the practical arrangements and discuss confidentiality, its limits and the terms of working together.
Agreeing a focus for our work
As we get to know each other, we can agree what to focus on and consider which therapeutic approaches may be relevant.
Some conversations may centre on a current difficulty. Others may involve looking at earlier experiences or understanding patterns you have noticed in your life.
You can tell me what feels useful and what does not. If your priorities change, or something else needs attention, we can revisit the focus of our sessions.
The number and frequency of sessions are things to discuss together. There is no need to arrive with a complete plan. We can consider your needs and circumstances, then make time to review how the work is going.
Making space for your session
Sanctum operates predominantly online. Before your first appointment, the joining arrangements should be clear so you know how to attend and what you need.
For an online session, it helps to have:
- A private place where you can speak without being overheard
- A suitable device with working sound and video
- A reliable internet connection
- Time set aside when interruptions are less likely
- Headphones, if they help you hear or give you more privacy
You can raise any concerns about technology, accessibility or finding a private space before booking. We can consider whether the arrangements are suitable for you.
If you will be joining from outside the UK, please tell me which country you will be in. I can then confirm whether I can offer support in your location.
Session fees and payment
Individual counselling and psychotherapy
Session fee: [Confirm fee and currency]
Session length: [Confirm duration]
Before you book, you should know what your session will cost and when payment is due. If you have a question about fees or payment arrangements, please ask before committing to an appointment.
Payment arrangements
Payment is made by [confirm accepted payment methods] and is due [confirm payment deadline].
Changing or cancelling an appointment
If you need to change or cancel a session, please let me know as soon as possible.
The required notice period is [confirm notice period]. For appointments cancelled with less notice, [confirm the applicable charge or policy].
Questions about getting started
Explore some of our frequently asked questions.
A few sentences about what you are looking for are enough. You can mention the main difficulty, ask a question or explain that you are unsure where to begin. Please also include the country where you would be attending sessions.
You do not need to prepare a detailed account of your life. If it helps, you could make a short note of the things you want to discuss or questions you would like to ask. We can also begin with a conversation and take it from there.
No. Your first enquiry and first session do not need to contain every detail of your experience. We can begin with what has brought you to therapy and discuss what feels difficult to talk about as part of getting to know each other.
That will depend on the support you are seeking and the focus of our work. We can discuss your expectations at the beginning and review things as we go. I would not want to suggest a fixed number without understanding your circumstances.
We can discuss session frequency before starting, taking account of your needs, availability and the work we are considering. The agreed arrangements should be clear before you commit to ongoing sessions.
Please raise any concerns about joining sessions before your first appointment. We should agree what to do if the connection fails or another technical problem interrupts a meeting, so you know how to make contact and what happens next.
My practice supports clients in the UK, Europe and Southeast Asia. Please tell me your location before booking, and let me know if it will change during our work. I will need to confirm whether I can offer sessions where you will be staying.
Ask the questions you need to ask
If you would like to know more about sessions, fees or whether therapy with me could be right for you, please get in touch. We can talk through the details before you decide on your next step.