How I Work
An integrative, person‑centred approach to online counselling.
I’m an integrative counsellor, which is a slightly technical way of saying I don’t believe in one‑size‑fits‑all therapy. Here’s what that means in practice, and what you can expect when we work together.
My approach
What "integrative" actually means.
Integrative counselling is an approach that draws on several therapeutic traditions, rather than rigidly applying one. In practice, it means I bring tools and ideas from a few different schools of thought — person‑centred therapy, psychodynamic theory, cognitive‑behavioural approaches, and more relational, body‑aware ways of working — and I shape the work around you, not the other way around.
What that looks like week to week is a conversation. Sometimes the most useful thing is to slow down and really feel what’s coming up in the present moment. Sometimes we’ll look at patterns from your past that might be shaping what is happening now. Sometimes we’ll be practical and look at what is actually getting in the way of your day. I follow your lead, and I check in with you regularly to make sure the work is doing what you need it to do.
If you have had therapy before that felt rigid, scripted, or focused on you “doing it right”, this is probably not that. And if you have never had therapy before — welcome. You don’t need to know what you’re doing.
What a session is like
What actually happens in a session.
Many people who haven’t had therapy before tell me they don’t know what to expect. Here is roughly how it goes.
01.
Sessions are online via a secure video link I send you on the day. You’ll want somewhere private — your bedroom, the car, a quiet corner of the house. Headphones help. Camera on, camera off, or just audio — your call.
02.
I usually open with a simple “How are you?” — and I mean it. You don’t need an agenda. Sometimes people bring a specific thing they want to talk about. Sometimes they don’t. Both are fine.
03.
Most of the session is a conversation. I’ll ask questions, reflect things back, and occasionally offer an observation or a framework that might be useful. There are no surprise exercises and no “homework” unless you specifically want it.
04.
Towards the end of the 50 minutes I’ll bring us to a soft landing, so you don’t have to leave mid‑feeling. We agree the next session, and then we’re done. You go and have a drink of water.
Getting started
How to begin — three small steps.
Reaching out is almost always the hardest part. Once you’ve done that, the rest is straightforward.
01
Fill in the contact form
A short form, no pressure to write much. I’ll reply within two working days to arrange your free introductory call.
02
By phone or video, whichever you prefer. We get a sense of each other, you ask whatever you want, and we both decide if it feels like a good fit.
03
50‑minute sessions, online, weekly or fortnightly. No minimum commitment. I send you a link on the day. That’s it.
Practical details
The practical stuff.
Online, anywhere in the UK. I use a secure video platform and send you a fresh link on the day of each session.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Most clients see me weekly or fortnightly. Monthly is possible too, though it tends to work better once a regular rhythm has been established.
Some people work with me for a few sessions to think something through. Others work with me over many months. There is no minimum commitment. We’ll review how things are going every six weeks or so.
£60 per 50‑minute session. The free 30‑minute introductory call is exactly that — free, no obligation. I hold a small number of reduced‑rate slots — please ask if cost is a concern.
I ask for 48 hours’ notice for cancellations. If life happens, life happens — but the slot is held for you, so I do need to charge for sessions cancelled with less notice. I do the same for you if I ever have to cancel.
Ready to take the first step?
A free 30‑minute call is the easiest way to find out if we’re a good fit. No commitment.
I respond within 2 working days.