About canterbury Central Counselling and Psychotherapy

What happens in the Therapy?

People come to therapy for many reasons but mainly with some pain, frustration or anger that at times can overwhelm them. A decision to approach a therapist is not taken lightly when at a critical point where emotions are high, or where life feels flat if many areas of life are too difficult to address alone or with friends and family. Some points of difficulty are more easily identifiable such as losing someone you love, others are not. Therapy gives you the space to look at this.

The focus really is on you and supporting your resolve. As your therapist, my skills, qualifications and experience are all there to help you. I offer a confidential non-judgemental setting where, by working together, we can recognise and address some of the psychological patterns and experiences that affect you and your relationships. The aim is for you to feel differently and make positive changes in your life.

Through talking about your concerns and worries you can begin to connect with your own deeper feelings. This is where new patterns of relating and being at one with yourself can grow; so that you can move on and feel better placed in your relationships. Therapy provides a safe and trusted space for you to work through this with the help of your therapist.

What happens next?

Once you have contacted me I will be in touch either by email or phone to arrange a suitable time for The Initial Consultation. This first meeting can last between an hour and an hour and a quarter.

What is an Initial Consultation?

It is an opportunity for you to talk about what brings you to counselling/ psychotherapy and where the I will clarify any aspect of my counselling and psychoanalytic approach which you may have uncertainties about. I will ask about some aspects of your personal history; yet you won’t be put under pressure. How you are feeling about life and relationships is of key importance in therapy rather than the therapy itself being another set of expectations you may feel you have to meet. At the end of the Initial Consultation a decision will be made with the therapist about whether to go ahead with further sessions. When accepting an offer of therapy the fee and the time and frequency of regular sessions will be agreed. The fee of an Initial Consultation is set at £45.

The session? Fee £35 to £55. Agreed at the Initial Consultation.

Once you take up therapy, what has been agreed about time and fee will be confirmed in writing. Session duration is usually 50 minutes with an expectation of weekly sessions or twice weekly if agreed with the therapist.

My training, work experience and any achievement

• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered Psychotherapist - Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist since 2006
• MA and Diploma in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy - Institute of Psychotherapy and Social Studies (IPSS) London (UK) 2006
• MA Psychotherapy Goldsmiths College. University of London 2001
• MSc. Policy Research

I work as a full time psychotherapist from my private practice in the centre of Canterbury, Kent . After providing counselling and therapy and managing and researching into counselling services at different points in my career, I undertook a psychoanalytic training, which spanned over 7 years. During part of that time I managed a Community Mental Health Day Centre supported by Local Authorities and NHS. My counselling practice also developed over that time and was intensively supervised as part of my trainings. Since qualifying as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in 2006 I established myself as a full time Associate Psychotherapist at LACAP (London Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) near to the City in Aldgate, and also practiced independently in Regent Street’s Linen Hall over a two year period.

I am committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Counselling, Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. I abide by the Code of Ethics of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Psychotherapy and Social Studies (IPSS) London.

Further Information

I offer Private Counselling and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Services for these Issues

Abuse, Addictions, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Bereavement, Childhood Issues, Creativity, Depression, Dissociation, Fear, History of Mental Health Problems, Identity, Inhibitions, Lack of Meaning in Life, Low Self Confidence, Low Self Esteem, Obsessions, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Attacks, Personal Growth, Personal Relationships, Phobias, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Self Development, Self Harm, Sexual Abuse, Sexuality, Sleeping Problems, Social Phobia, Stress, Suicidal Thoughts, Transitions, Trauma, Work Issues and Relationships