Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure of a session?

Each session lasts 50 minutes and offers a space to explore whatever feels important to you. In our first meeting, you're welcome to share any goals or areas you'd like to focus on, but it's also completely okay if you're not sure yet. Therapy can be a place to figure things out as you go. Clarity often comes with time and comfort, so there's no need for a set agenda, just a willingness to explore whatever naturally arises.

The process is led by you, which means we go at your pace and follow what feels most present or meaningful in the moment. I offer a grounded, non-judgemental space to meet you where you are, even if that place feels messy or uncertain. My focus is on how things feel for you in the here and now, your thoughts, feelings, and bodily experiences as they unfold in the session.

We usually begin with a moment to notice how you're feeling right now. There are no right or wrong answers here. We'll also end with some time to transition out of the session.

Is there anything I should tell you before I begin?

You’re welcome to share anything you feel would help me understand or support you better. This might include things like:

• Whether you're neurodivergent or have particular communication preferences

• If you've had previous therapy - what helped, or what didn’t

• Any cultural, gender, or identity-related experiences that feel important to name

• If there are topics you’re not ready to explore yet

• Health issues, sensory sensitivities, or access needs

• Anything about your schedule, support system, or lifestyle that might shape your experience

There’s no pressure to share more than you feel comfortable with, this is simply an invitation to let me know what might help create a space that works well for you. You can share on your free 15-minute chat, or at any time during your sessions.

Will there be a contract?

I will provide you with a professional working agreement for you to review and sign before work commences so you are fully aware of what to expect.

Is counselling for me?

We’re not all wired the same, so our support shouldn’t be either.

When it comes to our wellbeing, what helps one person might not work for another, and that’s ok. Counselling isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating space to explore what’s going on for you, at your pace, in a way that feels honest and sustainable.

Like any meaningful relationship, therapy works best when it feels like a good fit. You should feel safe, respected, and free to show up as you are without pressure or judgment. My approach is grounded in humanistic person centered counselling, which means I won’t give advice or tell you what to do. Instead, we’ll work together, gently and openly, to understand what’s going on beneath the surface, and explore what you might need - collaboratively.

There are many different types of therapy out there, like psychodynamic, CBT, and others. What I offer places your experience at the heart of the work and if it feels right for you, I can integrate tools from CBT and mindfulness, always with your consent, and never as a directive. This is your space, and I’ll adapt to what feels most useful for you.

I hold the belief that you are the expert on your own experience and my role is to support you in tuning into that inner knowing, and building trust in your own voice and decisions, especially when life feels confusing, noisy, or overwhelming.

Being human isn’t about being happy all the time. Emotions like anxiety, sadness, and anger aren’t problems to be fixed, they’re messengers worth listening to. Therapy can help you understand those emotions and work with them, rather than pushing them away or seeing them as signs of failure.

Counselling is a process, not a single moment of change. It takes time, reflection, sometimes courage, and it can be challenging - yet it can be a deeply empowering experience. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. You just need to be curious about what might unfold when you give yourself the space to really look inward.

What do I need to consider for online therapy?

You’ll need a quiet, confidential space where you feel safe and won’t be interrupted, ideally somewhere that helps replicate the sense of being in the room together. A stable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone are essential.

Try to avoid multitasking or distractions during your session, so you can be fully present. It can help to have a glass of water, tissues, a notepad, or something soothing to hold nearby. If possible, give yourself a little time before and after the session to settle and reflect.

What's the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

In practice, the terms counselling and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably, and both involve talking with a trained professional to explore emotional or psychological challenges. Sometimes counselling is seen as shorter-term and focused on specific issues, while psychotherapy may explore deeper, longer-standing patterns, but this isn’t always the case. What matters most is the quality of the relationship, the therapist’s training and approach, and what feels right for you.