In-person and Online
I offer flexible and accessible counselling options tailored to your needs. Whether you prefer face-to-face sessions or the convenience of Zoom/Teams, I’m here to support you. My therapy room is in the town centre of Reading in Castle Street. Opposite Reading Police station
Free Initial Consultation
A 20-minute session to explore your needs and how we might work together. You can ask questions and check me out to see if I fit and can help with what you need and want.
50-Minute Counselling Sessions
Designed to give you the time and space to address your challenges. This can be altered for clients who are autistic or who have ADHD to meet your specific needs.
Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice from the beginning of your session if you need to cancel a session. If notice is not given, full payment will be required.
Fees
£50 Per Session for Individuals
Concessions
Available for individuals on low income, those facing false sexual or rape allegations, and students on approved counselling courses.
Session Structure
Sessions can be short-term, long-term, or open-ended—you decide how many sessions feel right for you. According to information from the NHS, the average number of therapy sessions in the UK is typically between 12 and 16 sessions, with most NHS therapy courses lasting between 5 and 20 sessions depending on the individual's needs and complexity of issues involved. NHS therapy sessions usually fall within a range of 5 to 20 sessions. The number of sessions will vary depending on your specific needs, the and the severity of their issues.
We will review our progress regularly and discuss your goals to ensure the sessions remain appropriate to your goals and needs.
Availability
Day, Evening, and Weekend Appointments
Flexibility to fit your schedule.
Thursday 4–8 pm
Friday 4–8 pm
Saturday 8 am–8 pm
Sunday 8 am–8 pm
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session
A Timeline for Men
If you're considering therapy, I know it can feel a bit intimidating or confusing. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect during your first session, so you can feel more prepared and at ease:
1. Waiting:
When you first arrive, you'll likely check in with the receptionist, fill out some initial paperwork, and then wait for me to call you in. It's normal to feel a bit nervous, but this is just part of the process. It’s okay to take a few deep breaths while you wait.
2. Introductions:
The first part of the session will be getting to know each other. We don’t need to dive straight into the deep stuff immediately. I encourage you to start with lighter topics—talk about your interests, hobbies, or even something recent that’s happened in your life (like a film or book you enjoyed). This will help us build rapport and give you a chance to get comfortable with me. It’s not about jumping into your most painful experiences right away, but rather starting to build a trusting connection.
3. Establishing Needs:
I’ll want to know why you're coming to therapy. What’s been bothering you? What issues do you want to work through? We’ll discuss what you’ve tried before to deal with these struggles—what’s worked, and what hasn’t. This helps me get a clearer idea of how I can support you. Therapy is a collaborative effort, and it’s important that we’re on the same page about your goals.
4. Asking Questions:
During our first session, I’ll likely ask a few questions to help me understand you and your situation better. These might include:
- Have you been to therapy before?
- What are you struggling with right now?
- Is there a history of mental health issues in your family?
- How are things at home or in your personal life?
- Have you ever had thoughts of self-harm or suicide?
- What do you hope to achieve from therapy?
I know these questions can feel intense, but they’re important for me to understand your needs so I can help you more effectively. Feel free to take your time answering them.
5. More Questions for Me:
It’s completely fine for you to ask me questions too. This is your therapy, and you should feel comfortable with me. Some questions you might want to ask include:
- Is everything we talk about confidential?
- When would you need to break confidentiality?
- How long have you been a therapist?
- Have you worked with clients who are dealing with similar issues to mine?
- Have you ever been to therapy yourself?
- What kind of things should I do between our sessions?
I’m happy to answer any questions you have. It’s important for you to feel clear about the process and comfortable with how we work together.
6. The Path Forward:
After this first session, we’ll have a better understanding of how to move forward. Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, and the work we do together will be based on your unique needs. Depending on what you’re dealing with, therapy can range from a few sessions—maybe to address something like anxiety before a big event—to several months or even longer for deeper issues like trauma, identity struggles, or ongoing challenges. We’ll review regularly to check how things are going and make sure we’re on the right track.
I want you to know that therapy isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you understand yourself better, develop new ways to cope with challenges, and find ways to move forward with your life. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, stress, or deeper issues, therapy gives you a space to work through those struggles and gain new insights.
And remember, if you ever feel unsure about the process, or if something doesn’t feel right, we can always talk about it. This is your journey, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.
My Agreement to You
From my experience working with clients, I’d advise you to give therapy at least three to four sessions before deciding whether it’s the right fit for you. The reason for this is that the first session often involves some of the less exciting aspects of therapy—things like reviewing the contract, discussing fees, and getting to know each other. It’s not always about diving deep into the work right away, so the first session can feel a little different from the rest.
But this first session is really important. It allows me to do something called a "case formulation," which means I gather all the information you share to help me create a plan for how we’ll work together. It helps me understand what resources or support might be needed to help you, and it sets the foundation for the work we’ll do.
I also want to make sure you feel comfortable being completely honest with me. There are no wrong answers here, and I’m not trying to test you. I’m here to listen and to help. Everything you share is confidential, with the exception of a few rare situations where I am required to break confidentiality for safety reasons.
This is your time. You can talk about whatever you need to, at your own pace. I’m not here to judge you, and if you’ve read my “About Me” section, you’ll know that I’ve gone through a lot myself. I’ve made many mistakes, and because of that, I’m in no position to judge anyone. I truly understand that some of the things you may share with me might be things you’ve never told anyone else, or even things you’ve never said out loud before.
I feel honoured that you’ve chosen me to help you through whatever has brought you to therapy. I’ll work hard to offer you a space where you can explore and address what you’re struggling with. Together, we’ll work towards finding the path that feels right for you.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on +44 78528 98135 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.