FAQs
What is existential psychotherapy?
Existential psychotherapy is a philosophical approach to therapy that focuses on helping individuals confront and come to terms with the challenges of human existence.
It provides a framework for understanding and navigating these challenges, in all of their complexities. Though the tone of existential philosophy may be complex at times, I find the most beauty in the true simplicity of the therapeutic encounter; the meeting of humans, and it is in this meeting that meaning, authenticity and self-understanding tends to emerge.
Core to how I ground myself within existentialism is that I am fundamentally a human trying to understand another’s understanding and experience of themselves.
I do this by working collaboratively with clients to explore their lived experiences, values, and choices from a human-hearted perspective. I am most concerned with what matters to you and so seek to avoid imposition of my own interpretations and assumptions.
Though some say that existential psychotherapy is less concerned with past experiences or symptom reduction, I am informed by several schools of thought and believe that examining the past may facilitate an awareness of how you find yourself in the present.
However, I am equally interested in helping individuals live more fully in the present and future, which can be particularly helpful for those grappling with life transitions, identity issues, or experiences of stuckness.
How long is therapy?
Given that I work existentially, I tend to work with clients on an open-ended and long-term basis. I believe that time-limited therapy can make a client susceptible to unnecessary pressure to arrive at certain outcomes, like feeling “fixed”, or forcing change.
Open-ended work also gives you the opportunity to decide if and when you’d like to end the therapy. If you would like short-term therapy, I am open to discussing this with you in more detail.
For more information about ending therapy, please see “what if I want to end therapy?“.
How does online therapy work?
I deliver online sessions via Zoom. I will send you a link for our sessions on a weekly basis.
In order for online sessions to run smoothly and work beneficially, these are the suggestions that I make to clients:
— Join the session from a quiet and confidential space that is quiet and secure enough for you to be able to speak freely and without distraction.
— Ensure that your internet connection is adequate for the entirety of our 50 minute session.
Please note that continued difficulties with internet connection may result in a re-evaluation of whether online sessions are adequately supportive.
— I strongly recommend that you join from a laptop or iPad/tablet where possible.
— Enable do not disturb on your device, or close down any background applications that may send notifications, as this can be distracting.
— Try to give yourself some time on either side of the session to collect your thoughts, so that you can transition in or out of your engagement with the session in a way that feels helpful to you.
Are psychotherapy and counselling the same?
Though both terms are used interchangeably, there are some key distinctions between the two. Psychotherapists generally have more extensive and longer training.
Psychotherapy often involves a deeper, more long-term exploration of a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, including their past experiences and unconscious patterns. It aims to address root causes of issues and may be more suitable for complex or long-standing mental health problems.
Counselling typically focuses on specific, current issues and behavioural patterns, offering short-term support to help clients navigate immediate problems or life changes. It tends to be more action-oriented and present-focused.
What is group psychotherapy?
The process begins with establishing trust and group cohesion, then progresses to members sharing their experiences, thoughts, and feelings openly. As the group develops, participants provide support, feedback, and insights to one another under the therapist’s guidance. This collaborative environment offers several unique benefits: it reduces isolation by showing members they’re not alone in their struggles, provides opportunities to learn from others’ experiences, allows for practicing new social skills in a safe setting, and offers multiple perspectives on personal issues.
The group dynamic itself can be a profound mechanism for change, as members work through interpersonal challenges and gain self-awareness from the perspective of others. Group therapy can lead to improved coping skills, enhanced self-esteem, and better relationship functioning.
What are the BACP and UKCP?
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) are two of the leading professional bodies for psychotherapists in the UK. They play crucial roles in regulating and promoting the psychotherapy profession. Both organisations aim to ensure high standards of practice, protect the public, and advocate for better access to mental health services.
How does individual therapy work?
Therapy works on relative to individual needs, however there is a basic framework for all therapeutic relationships. Sessions occur at the same time every week unless otherwise discussed.
It is generally not advisable that clients take extended breaks from therapy unless there are exceptional circumstances. This is because consistent engagement with the therapy is key to the process of self-understanding, and it’s also the best way to ensure that you can get adequate support from me.
I see therapy as the provision of a safe, confidential and secure environment in which clients can explore aspects of their lived experience that may be causing them difficulties or distress.
What if I want to end therapy?
You are free to end the therapy at any time. I always suggest that, where possible, time is taken to reflect on our time together and to establish how we work towards an ending. The manner in which endings occur will differ depending on your individual needs and how long you have been in therapy.
Endings are crucial in therapy as they provide a unique opportunity for growth, closure, and consolidation of therapeutic gains. The ending process allows clients to review their progress, address any unfinished business, and prepare for life after therapy. It offers a chance to experience a healthy, planned conclusion, which can be particularly healing for those who have experienced traumatic or abrupt endings in the past. Endings can be as therapeutically significant as the sessions themselves, providing a model for handling transitions and losses in other areas of life.
Why is there a contract?
A contract establishes a clear, professional framework for the therapeutic relationship. It serves multiple important purposes: setting expectations, defining boundaries, ensuring informed consent, and protecting both the client and therapist.
It typically covers practical aspects such as session duration, fees, cancellation policies, and confidentiality limits. By explicitly outlining these elements, it helps build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and create a safe environment for therapy. The contract also empowers clients by providing them with information to make informed choices about their therapy. Additionally, it serves as a legal document that can be referred to in case of disputes, ensuring ethical practice and adherence to professional standards.
How does confidentiality work?
I am bound by the codes of ethics of BACP and UKCP. These codes require practitioners to maintain client confidentiality as a fundamental ethical principle, with some specific exceptions. BACP and UKCP stress that therapists must protect client information and only disclose it with the client’s explicit consent or when legally required to do so. The codes allow for breaching confidentiality in cases where there is a risk of serious harm to the client or others, or when mandated by law. BACP and UKCP expect their members to maintain confidentiality even after the therapeutic relationship has ended and to ensure that any records are kept securely. These ethical guidelines aim to create a safe and trusting environment for clients while also recognising the therapist’s broader responsibilities to society.
Why is there an explicit commitment for groups?
Group psychotherapy often requires a long-term commitment for several reasons, all in the service of enabling participants to achieve more profound and lasting changes in their lives. This is because:
— The process of building trust and developing meaningful relationships within the group takes time. As members become more comfortable with each other, they can engage in deeper, more authentic interactions that facilitate healing and personal growth.
— Many of the issues addressed in group therapy, such as deep-seated emotional patterns or long-standing interpersonal difficulties, require sustained effort and practice to change. The group provides a safe environment to work through these challenges over time.
— The group dynamic itself evolves, offering new insights and opportunities for growth as members progress through different stages of the therapeutic process. Research suggests that the first three months of engagement are critical, but fully effective treatment often takes longer.
— The extended timeframe allows for the consolidation of therapeutic gains, the practice of new behaviours, and the internalisation of insights gained from the group experience.
Additional questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out, you can get in touch here.
SESSIONS & FEES
CONTACT