FAQs

1. Starting Therapy

What happens in the first session?

The first session is a space for you to speak about what brings you to therapy and what you hope might change. I will ask a few questions to understand your background, relationships, and what feels most important right now. Together, we decide whether it feels like the right fit.

How do I know if psychodynamic psychotherapy is right for me?

Psychodynamic work is suited to people who want to understand why their thoughts, feelings, and patterns keep repeating—even when they try to change them. It is helpful if you are curious, open to exploring emotions, and able to sit with uncertainty at times.

If you're unsure, one or two initial sessions usually make things clearer.

Do I need to prepare anything?

No preparation is needed. You’re welcome to bring whatever feels important — thoughts, memories, feelings, questions you have about yourself. There is no “right” way to begin.

2. The Therapeutic Process

What does a typical session look like?

We sit together, and you talk about whatever feels present. We explore your thoughts, emotions, and the patterns that emerge — including how past experiences shape what happens in the room. Over time, this reflective process helps you relate differently to yourself and others.

How long will therapy take?

There’s no set timeline. Psychodynamic therapy can be short-term or long-term depending on your needs. Meaningful change often unfolds gradually, and many people stay for as long as the work feels useful.

Is therapy just talking about the past?

The past matters because it shapes the present, but we also focus closely on your current relationships, expectations, emotional life, and what happens here and now.

Will you give me advice?

I don’t give direct advice in the coaching sense. Instead, we explore what drives your choices and reactions so that your own clarity and confidence can develop.

Can this help with anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts?

Yes. Psychodynamic therapy helps by uncovering the meanings behind symptoms. We explore the emotional patterns and internal conflicts that give rise to anxiety, depression, or rumination, so that change can happen at a deeper level.

3. Practicalities

Do you offer online therapy?

Yes. I offer both in-person sessions (Fleet Street, London EC4) and secure online sessions.

What are your fees?

My fee ranges from £80 to £130 per session, depending on your circumstances. We discuss this in the initial consultation to find a fee that feels manageable and sustainable.

How often are sessions?

Sessions are once a week, at the same time each week. This consistency is an important part of the therapeutic frame.

How long is a session?

Each session lasts 50 minutes.

4. Working Together

What if I’m not sure what to talk about?

That’s completely normal. Not knowing is often part of the process. We pay attention to whatever shows up in the room — thoughts, silences, emotions, or shifts in the relationship.

Will therapy change me?

Therapy doesn’t aim to “fix” you, but to help you develop a different relationship with yourself. When patterns become clearer, new possibilities for living, relating, and feeling often emerge.

What if I find therapy difficult?

Some sessions can feel challenging, especially when touching on emotions that have been avoided. We work at a pace that feels safe and respectful, and we make sense of these reactions together.

Do you work with trauma?

Yes, though not in a crisis capacity. Psychodynamic work helps explore the emotional and relational impact of trauma over time.

5. Inclusivity & Identity

Do you work with LGBTQ+ clients?

Yes. My practice is LGBTQ+ affirmative and welcoming of all gender identities and sexual orientations. These experiences often benefit from a space where they don’t need to be justified or explained.

Do you work with people from minority or culturally diverse backgrounds?

Yes. My own experience of living between cultures has shaped how I listen to questions of identity, difference, and belonging. I welcome clients of all racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.

Can we work in French?

Yes — I offer therapy in both English and French.

6. Clinical Boundaries & Ethics

Is everything confidential?

Yes. What you share stays confidential within the limits of professional ethics. I follow the UKCP and BPC ethical codes.

Do you write medico-legal reports or court letters?

No. I do not provide legal reports, court statements, or documents for tribunals. I can confirm session dates and attendance if requested.

Do you prescribe medication?

No. Psychotherapists are not medical doctors. If medication may be helpful, we can discuss referring you to your GP or a psychiatrist.

Are there issues you don’t work with?

I do not offer crisis intervention, or medico-legal assessments. If these are your primary needs, I can help signpost you to appropriate services.