My approach is designed to make therapy feel clear, comfortable and straightforward, from your first conversation onwards. We’ll discuss what you’re experiencing, understand your goals and agree on a personalised way forward that feels right for you.
Taking the first step towards therapy can feel daunting, particularly when you know something needs to change but you’re not quite sure what is wrong or where to begin.
My role is to help you make sense of it.
With around 30 years of experience in psychological assessment and therapy, I offer a warm but focused approach. I won’t simply listen to what is happening; I will help you understand why you are feeling or behaving the way you are, what may be keeping the problem going, and most importantly, what we can do to change it.
Your first appointment is a comprehensive assessment rather than simply an introductory conversation. We will look at the difficulties you are experiencing, relevant experiences and patterns, how these are affecting your life and what you would most like to change.
From there, I will develop a personalised treatment plan, drawing upon the therapeutic approaches and strategies most appropriate for you. There is no one-size-fits-all programme: your treatment is shaped around your individual needs, personality and goals.
I take an active, practical and solution-focused approach. Where appropriate, you will have strategies and exercises to use between appointments so that progress continues outside the therapy room as well as within it.
You don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what’s wrong, what kind of therapy you need or even how to explain how you’re feeling.
That’s what the assessment is for.
Together, we can understand what is happening, identify what needs to change and create a realistic path towards feeling differently.
You don’t have to stay stuck. Your first appointment can be the beginning of understanding what is happening — and changing it.
Your Initial Psychological Assessment is more than an introduction. It is a thorough assessment designed to understand the bigger picture.
We’ll explore:
The aim is to leave your first meeting with greater clarity about what is happening and what can be done about it.
Following your assessment, we’ll work together to establish a clear treatment plan.
Rather than following a fixed programme, your therapy is shaped around your needs and goals.
Your treatment roadmap may include:
Clear Goals
Specific outcomes that give therapy direction.
Recommended Approach
The therapeutic methods and techniques most appropriate for your circumstances.
A Structured Plan
An understanding of what we will focus on and how different parts of therapy fit together.
Progress Reviews
Regular opportunities to reflect on what is changing and adjust the approach when needed.
Where appropriate, you will also receive a written summary of your assessment and treatment recommendations.
Therapy isn’t only about what happens during your appointment.
Depending on your treatment plan, you may receive personalised exercises, practical strategies or resources to help you apply what you have explored in your session to everyday life.
After each appointment, you can use these tools to continue working towards your goals between sessions.
When appropriate, we can also collaborate with other professionals involved in your support, helping create a more coordinated approach.
There is no single formula for therapy.
Some people come with a specific problem they want to address. Others arrive knowing that something needs to change but aren’t quite sure what that change looks like yet.
Wherever you are starting from, the aim is the same:
You don’t need to have all the answers before your first appointment. That’s part of what the assessment is for.
Request an Initial Psychological Assessment to discuss your concerns and explore the most appropriate way forward.
