I live 200 miles away or even on the other side of the world! - how can you help me?

There are a number of techniques that are possible to do over the phone - I have helped clients with IBS, bladder & bowel problems, panic-attacks, stress and depression as well as anger and fear issues. You can also buy a CD or MP3 download -from the Shop Section -  I recommend the "Being Calm" recording as suitable for most anxieties and lack of sleep.

How soon can you see me?

Within a week usually - although some times of the year are busier than others. If anyone is in serious difficulties  such as panic attacks or not sleeping, I try to see them as soon as is possible.

How do I book an appointment?   

OK, I do work some weekends as well by arrangement.

I'm in a different time zone to you?
I'm sure that we can find a mutually convenient time by arrangement.

Is there any extra charge for working outside normal hours?

Is there any charge if I miss an appointment or have to cancel last minute?

No.  My experience is that usually the client has been distracted by some serious life-event and often is quite happy to rebook at some later time when things are more settled. The worst case is when the odd client does a "DNA" - Did Not Attend but didn't bother to ring up, so I'm left wondering if they have had a mishap...

The number of sessions required for therapy can vary because many factors may be involved such as:

Nature and complexity of the problem eg simple phobia or agoraphobia or repeated sexual abuse, each requires a different approach and can take some time to unravel.

The personality of the client:

optimistic / pessimistic, right-brained / left-brained approach to the world.

Some physical issues can be resolved quickly - others require more persistence to bring about some change.

One of the greatest factors is time - the time spent between sessions - clients get homework to do on their own. Although this might sound like going back to school - it might be some simple task like taking a daily walk around the block or listening to a CD whilst going to sleep.
The reason for this approach is that if you are awake about 100 hours per week and you have about an hour with a therapist, then the therapist is only responsible for what happens during that hour - you are responsible for effecting some sort of change during the other 99% of the week. The clients who do their own work / homework are the ones who make the changes more easily. Some clients need more support to makes those changes.

On average, the bulk of most problems seems to shift within the first six sessions.

How many sessions do I need for stopping smoking?

Why haven't you got testimonials on your website?

The main reason is because the professional associations I belong to, such as UKCP, specifically forbid members to do it. The best testimonial I can offer is that I am recognised as being a therapist by several national British psychotherapy and hypnotherapy organisations and I'm also a supervisor of some of their members as well. In the About me section you can discover that my route becoming a therapist wasn't straightforward!

Will I be able to drive home afterwards?

Yes - regardless of the type of techniques employed during the session eg hypnotherapy - you should find that you feel more refreshed, relaxed and yet alert than when you arrived. You will have altered your brainwave pattern from beta to alpha - when we are stressed we are more likely to make mistakes, have arguments and be in traffic accidents than when we are relaxed. If you are listening to a CD - obviously not while you are driving! then you may want to wait a few minutes to enjoy the feeling efore dashing off to do something stressful like driving in the rush hour!

I'm really scared / anxious  - can I bring a friend / relative with me?

I'm happy to meet your friend at the door but it is very difficult to concentrate on one person if someone else is in the room. I'll also be asking you some standard questions that you might feel embarrassed answering in front of your friend. Many people, men and women, young and old feel very nervous the first time. By the end of the first session they usually can't wait to come back for the next session.
An exception is when working with children or vulnerable adults, as they require a slightly different approach (and an adult present) for UK purposes, you only become an adult at 18!

What happens in the first session?

I go through my standard questionnaire with you - I'll just ask lots of questions about you and see which ones give us a reaction eg school, parents, drink, work.

I'll then explain a few things about the sort of work we are going to do - give you some very simple homework(!!!) - (No, it's not written work and most clients find it fun to do) and then usually I round the session off with some basic hypnotherapy to help you feel better.

I don't want hypnotherapy - I'm scared of it / scared of you / my religion forbids it?

You don't have to have it - it is simply offered to help you feel more relaxed. It is a very natural state, like the gap you experience when you are driving a car, waking-up, going to sleep, reading a book, walking the dog, watching a film at the cinema etc. Another way to think of it is as meditation - being helped to meditate -to go to that special palce within you where all is calm!

They all can help you in some way or another.                                 

I'm not trying to control anyone - this is an urban myth spread by the media / hysteria. Hypnotherapy is not stage hypnosis or mind-control - it is a delightful method of helping you change how you feel about yourself, other people and situations. If it was compulsory for everyone to learn self-hypnosis at school, there would be far fewer days absence at school and work and your tax bill would be much smaller because the average health of people in this country would rise dramatically!

Once your problem has been sorted out you will know why you had it, how you got rid of it, and you will know that you won't ever have to have it again!

Fees - how much?

Each session is £50 for 60-75 minutes.
An intensive 2 hour Stop Smoking session is £110

All MP3 downloads = £10 and all CDs = £12 (inc Postage  & Packing ) available in the SHOP -
You can use Paypal to pay for them securely { even if you don't have a Paypal account }.

How can I pay you?
I accept cheques made payable to "Psychotherapy4all Ltd." If I'm seeing a client in person then I also accept cash - from ehe end of March 2011, it will be possible to pay for sessions using your debit or credit card securely via Paypal. There are no extra charges for paying by cheque or by card and there is no VAT or other hidden charges.