Why see a therapist?
People seek therapy when they are in pain – you know something isn’t working for you but you may not be able to pinpoint what. You may be facing acute known difficulties such as bereavement, the loss of a job or relationship problems. You may be experiencing familiar distressing situations and begin to wonder why you encounter the same problem over and over again. Or you may find yourself personally limited by anxiety or depression or the ways you find yourself reacting. Life transitions can also be confusing times as you ask yourself big questions such as: Who am I? What do I want?
Why see a private therapist?
I have worked in the NHS as a counsellor receiving referrals from GPs and offered brief therapy, usually six sessions. I also work in a local charity as a volunteer counsellor as well as having a private practice. I value each of these settings and it is important to me that therapy is accessible to all.
I see four differences in seeing a private therapist which you may consider of benefit to you. I accept self-referrals –you do not have to be referred by your GP. I am usually able to offer appointments without a wait. Waiting lists at most GP surgeries are many months long and this is often also the case in the charity sector. The ‘why now’ question - what has brought you to seek therapy at this particular point in your life, is very helpful. Being able to see a therapist when you are in touch with these thoughts and feelings is very useful. Most significantly, I am able to offer ongoing therapy and am not limited to offering the usual six sessions that are available on the NHS. This means that we are able to complete the work that brought you into therapy in the first place. I practise in a welcoming and comfortable room, which I hope will help put you at ease and open the way for you to talk about what’s important to you.
I appreciate that private therapy is a significant investment in yourself and your relationships. I find that clients conclude that it has been good value in both time and money and readily stands comparison with how they spend these assets in other areas of their lives.
