January 2024 Update
I am offering therapy via Zoom to people anywhere in the UK. There is a waiting list at present, please contact me for more details.
Can I help you?
There are times in all our lives when we could all do with support. We may feel low, anxious or stressed,. We may begin to wonder if we are suffering from a mental health problem such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Depression. We may decide it is high time to tackle long-standing issues such as low self-esteem, procrastination, low self-confidence or overcoming past trauma.
At these times it is important to find a qualified professional who can accurately assess the nature of the problem and provide expert support. If you think you might benefit from therapy, feel free to contact me to discuss further.
Amongst the problems I can help you with are :
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Worry
- Stress
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Relationship issues
- Perfectionism
- Low self-esteem
- Decision-making
- Social Anxiety
- Performance Anxiety
- Procrastination
- Low self-confidence
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anger management
- Panic attacks
- Mid-Life Crises
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- This list is not exhaustive, but it gives some idea of the sort of problems I have helped people with before.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Worry
- Stress
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Relationship issues
- Perfectionism
- Low self-esteem
- Decision-making
- Social Anxiety
- Performance Anxiety
- Procrastination
- Low self-confidence
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anger management
- Panic attacks
- Mid-Life Crises
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- This list is not exhaustive, but it gives some idea of the sort of problems I have helped people with before.
If you are interested in getting help with any of these problems, please feel free to contact me now
About Me
I have over 25 years of experience of being a counsellor and psychotherapist. I am accredited by the BABCP and UKCP and am a registered member of the BACP.
My background was originally in philosophy ( I got first-class degree from Oxford University in P.P.E). In my late twenties I trained in psychology, counselling and psychology at The School of Psychotherapy, Regents College and later at the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre.
I have a private clinic 2 days a week via Zoom (Wednesdays and Thursdays). I also work part-time as a High Intensity psychotherapist in the NHS.
I have written three books, Wise Therapy (2001) & Achieve Your Potential with Positive Psychology (2014) and 365 Ways to be More Stoic (2022)
I also provide CBT supervision for other therapists (trainees and experienced therapist and counsellors) and run training courses in psychology and counselling.
I maintain a keen interest in philosophy and the way in which philosophy and psychology can inform each other. I have recently been an invited speaker at international conferences on Modern Stoicism in New York (2016) and Toronto (2017) and Meaning and Purpose (London,2017)
I have a private clinic 2 days a week via Zoom (Wednesdays and Thursdays). I also work part-time as a High Intensity psychotherapist in the NHS.
I have written three books, Wise Therapy (2001) & Achieve Your Potential with Positive Psychology (2014) and 365 Ways to be More Stoic (2022)
I also provide CBT supervision for other therapists (trainees and experienced therapist and counsellors) and run training courses in psychology and counselling.
I maintain a keen interest in philosophy and the way in which philosophy and psychology can inform each other. I have recently been an invited speaker at international conferences on Modern Stoicism in New York (2016) and Toronto (2017) and Meaning and Purpose (London,2017)
How Therapy Works
The initial consultation usually lasts 50 minutes. It is a chance for us to get to know each other and to make a start at understanding the main problem you want to tackle. We would then normally meet weekly, regularly taking stock of how the therapy is going and to what extent you have achieving your therapy goals. In these "middle" sessions you are gaining a new understanding of the problem, learning new skills to tackle it, and together we troubleshoot any difficulties. In the last few sessions, we sometimes move to sessions every other week, and look back on what we have done and create a "blueprint" an understanding of what has helped most and how to maintain progress.
It is very hard to say how many sessions are required. Sometimes, for example if someone needs help with making a decision or with panic attacks, only a few few sessions are required (4-6). It is more typical for more sessions to be required., especially if more than one problem is being tackled. For depression of recent onset, 8-10 sessions is a typical figure. For low self-esteem and other lifelong issues, 18-20 sessions would be more usual It is not uncommon for people to express a wish to shift from tackling an acute problem (such as depression) to wanting to improve their life further. In these cases it can be possible for me to draw more on my philosophical and positive psychology experience and the sessions, which are often then less frequent (for example bi-weekly or monthly), combine coaching with therapy..
My way of working is informed by many of the trainings I have undertaken in psychotherapy, counselling, coaching and philosophy. I draw extensively on evidence-based ideas from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well third-wave mindfulness based therapies, notably Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT). Practical philosophies such as Stoicism, Philosophical Counselling, Positive Psychology, Existential Counselling,and Life Coaching additionally provide tools that can be very helpful.
My view of therapy (and coaching) is that we work as a team. You know about yourself and what your want to get out of therapy. I know about therapy, the unhelpful patterns that people can get caught up in and what helps to alter them. Like two detectives working together, we can work out how to team up and solve the problem.
In the first or second session I will ask you to come up with some therapy goals, which allows you to have a large say in what we discuss and also means we can track progress effectively. An important part of the work is what happens between sessions. Therapy means understanding things in a new way, so often I will ask you to keep a diary to help us gain more data - just like a detective trying to find clues. Later in therapy you will be learning new skills. Just as when you have learnt other skills - such as cooking, learning a language, or driving a car - you will proceed much faster if you practice these skills between sessions, so this is strongly encouraged.
Sessions are confidential, subject to the usual limitations, namely that like all other practitioners have clinical supervision, and that in certain cases such as when you may be a serious risk to yourself or others, I am obliged to override confidentiality.
If you think this style of therapy could work well for you, please contact me now.
My private clinics are all via Zoom or Skype in the daytime and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
My standard fee is £95 per 50 minute session, except for the before-work 800 a.m. session which is £100 for 50 minutes.
The initial consultation is charged at the same rate and also lasts 50 minutes.
Payment is required by electronic transfer the day before the session.
I require a full 24 hours notice for cancellations, otherwise the full fee is payable.
If these times and days work for you please contact me find out my current availability.
Psychotherapy through Insurance Companies
I am registered with WPA.
Supervision (for therapists and counsellors)
I offer clinical supervision, specialising in CBT supervision and am happy to discuss your supervision needs and whether I could help you meet them.
The fee for 50 minutes supervision is currently £80 per 50 minute session.
I offer clinical supervision, specialising in CBT supervision and am happy to discuss your supervision needs and whether I could help you meet them.
The fee for 50 minutes supervision is currently £80 per 50 minute session.