FAQs
What can I come to therapy for?
There doesn't need to be one particular problem or diagnosis. Sometimes people come to therapy because something specific has happened; at other times, it is the cumulative weight of responsibilities, relationships and expectations that has become difficult to carry.
I work with women around a broad range of experiences, including anxiety, low mood, stress and overwhelm, trauma, bereavement, relationship difficulties, self-worth, perfectionism, people-pleasing, neurodiversity and major life transitions. Therapy can also be a space to understand oneself more deeply and explore patterns that seem to keep repeating.
Do I need to be in crisis to have therapy?
Not at all. Therapy isn't only for times of crisis. Some people begin therapy because life has become particularly difficult, while others are functioning well outwardly but want a space to understand themselves, their relationships or the ways they respond to certain situations. There can be real value in becoming curious about patterns that have developed over time, including those that may once have been helpful or protective but no longer serve us in quite the same way.
What made you work exclusively with women?
I’ve enjoyed working with both men and women across a range of counselling roles. As a woman myself, I believe there’s great value in a therapeutic space shaped specifically around women’s experiences, which so often go unspoken, so I’ve made a conscious decision to focus my private practice on women. Many of the women I work with have spent a long time holding things together for other people, sometimes at considerable cost to themselves. I work with women across adulthood, and with the full range of experiences they bring.
What kind of therapy do you offer?
I offer integrative psychotherapy, drawing on different therapeutic approaches depending on your needs. My work is relational and trauma-informed, which means I place particular importance on the relationship we build together. I believe that feeling understood and developing trust over time can be an important part of change, alongside exploring the experiences and patterns that have shaped us.
While we may focus on what is happening in life now, we can also look beneath the surface at recurring patterns, earlier experiences and relationships, and how these may continue to influence the way someone sees themselves and relates to others.
Will we talk about my childhood?
Possibly, but not for the sake of it. I believe that earlier experiences and relationships can have an important influence on how we understand ourselves, relate to others and respond to situations in the present.
Where it feels relevant, we might explore these experiences together and consider how certain patterns or ways of coping have developed. Therapy isn't about blaming the past or assuming everything stems from childhood; it is about understanding what feels useful and relevant to the person sitting in the room now.
Do you work with neurodivergent women?
Yes. I welcome both neurotypical and neurodivergent women and have a particular interest in ADHD, autism, masking and late diagnosis or recognition. I recognise neurodivergence as part of the different ways people think, process and experience the world. Therapy can provide space to explore what neurodivergence means personally, including experiences of masking, relationships, identity and living within environments that may not always accommodate different ways of being.
What happens before and during the first session?
I offer a free 15-minute introductory call before booking a first session. This gives us a chance to briefly talk about what has brought you to therapy, for you to ask any initial questions, and for us both to get a sense of whether working together might feel like a good fit.
If we decide to go ahead, our first full session will involve a more detailed assessment. I'll ask more about what is happening for you now, your background and significant experiences, your relationships and support network, and what you might hope to gain from therapy. There is plenty of space for you to ask questions too, and we can begin thinking together about what our work might look like.
What does a therapy session actually look like?
There isn't a set agenda that every session follows. Some sessions may focus closely on something happening in the present, while at other times we might notice a recurring pattern, explore a relationship, or make connections between what is happening now and earlier experiences.
Talking is at the heart of my work, but I also bring an awareness of the relationship between mind and body. My background as a yoga teacher has given me many years of experience working with breath, bodily awareness and mindfulness, and where it feels appropriate, I may draw on this within therapy to support grounding, reflection and an awareness of what is happening in the present moment. This isn't something I impose or a separate technique that clients are expected to do; it is simply another way we can work when it feels useful.
How often would I come to therapy?
I usually work with clients weekly, with sessions at the same time each week where possible. Regular sessions provide continuity and allow the therapeutic relationship and work to develop over time.
How long will I need therapy for?
There isn't one answer to this. Some people come with something relatively focused that they want to explore, while others want to work at greater depth over a longer period. We can think together about what feels useful and review the work as it develops, rather than deciding in advance how long therapy should take. I practice in an 'open ended' way, meaning we don't have a set number of sessions, rather we work together, regularly checking in to see how things are progressing as we go.
Are you a qualified psychotherapist?
I am currently undertaking advanced clinical training in Integrative Psychotherapy at the Metanoia Institute in London and am a registered trainee member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
I have been formally assessed and signed off by my training institute to practise privately while completing my MSc. I also hold an MSc in Psychology with Distinction, have substantial clinical experience across community counselling settings, and previously worked within an NHS chronic pain psychology service. My clinical work is supported by regular professional supervision.
Are sessions confidential?
Yes. What is discussed in therapy is treated confidentially. There are some limited circumstances where confidentiality may need to be broken, particularly where there is a serious concern about your safety or the safety of another person. I explain these boundaries clearly when we begin working together.
Do you offer online therapy?
Yes. I work both in person from my therapy room in Reigate, Surrey, and online. Online sessions follow the same 50-minute format as in-person sessions and can be a good option for those who live further away or simply prefer to have therapy from home.
How much do sessions cost?
Sessions are 50 minutes and cost £65. I also keep a limited number of reduced-fee spaces for people who might otherwise find therapy financially inaccessible. You're welcome to ask about availability when getting in touch.
How do I get started?
You can contact me by email to express your interest in exploring the potential to work together. I offer a free 15-minute introductory call, which gives us an opportunity to briefly talk about what you're looking for and to see whether we might be a good fit before arranging a first session.