How do we begin therapy?
The first session gives us the opportunity to meet and gain a basic picture of who you are, and what you might be seeking help with. At this meeting, we will also be able to explore whether psychoanalytic psychotherapy might be an appropriate and useful intervention. This first session can take up to 90 minutes and the fee is £85.
We will often need one or two further meetings to continue our exploratory discussions. These initial sessions offer you a taste of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and can help you decide if this feels right for you. These sessions last 50 minutes.
If we agree to embark upon therapy, we would arrange a format for working together - how many sessions a week, and for how long; fees and payment; and a schedule for sessions.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy can vary in terms of frequency of sessions and the duration of the therapy. Both of these depend on individual circumstances and what would feel helpful. There is no such thing as a "standard" treatment; it is always tailored to each person's specific needs.
Once-weekly therapy
Some people feel they would like to meet once-weekly in order to talk through their thoughts, feelings and difficulties. They may feel this is the right amount of support they wish for, and might not feel comfortable with more contact. There might also be practical considerations of time and money.
I offer once-weekly therapy either on an open-ended basis, or for a pre-determined amount of time as agreed.
Intensive therapy
Once-weekly therapy might not sufficient in many situations, particularly if there has been a great deal of struggle or distress. There might be a need for more contact and support, for in-depth help and understanding. Here, 'intensive therapy' would be recommended, which entails meeting several times a week.
The time and space offered by several sessions a week can facilitate a deeper exploration yourself and your life, your unconscious and its influence, and its myriad manifestations which include dreams and fantasies.
'Intensive therapy' is both a very supportive and also very creative process, with the option to lie on the couch.
