Individual Therapy

Therapy with me begins with curiosity, understanding and creating a sense of safety

People come to therapy for many different reasons. You may be struggling with depression, anxiety, low mood, burnout, PTSD, grief, difficulties with self-worth, relationships, body image, or patterns you can recognise but cannot seem to change. You may already have some understanding of where these difficulties come from, or you may have no idea yet.

My role is not simply to help you manage symptoms. Together, we will develop a psychological understanding of what is happening now, the experiences and circumstances that may have shaped your current difficulties, and what may be keeping them going.

That understanding does not sit outside the realities of your life. We may also consider the impact of your relationships, family, culture, work, community and wider social environments, particularly where these have influenced how safe, supported, valued or able to be yourself you have felt.

We may explore beliefs you developed about yourself, ways you learned to cope, protective emotional responses, and needs that may not always have been recognised or met. The aim is not to search your past for the sake of it. It is to understand enough of your story and present circumstances for what you are experiencing now to begin to make sense.

How I think about therapy

I do not begin with a therapy model and try to fit you into it. I begin with you.

Psychological formulation helps us bring together what you are struggling with now, what may have contributed to it, how you adapted, what maintains the difficulties, and the strengths and resources you already have. From there, I draw on approaches according to what we understand together and what you need.

Safety matters

Therapy should offer enough emotional and relational safety to explore difficult experiences without feeling rushed, judged or pushed beyond what feels manageable. We work at a pace that takes your needs and circumstances seriously.

Approaches I may draw on

Because therapy is tailored to the formulation we develop together, I may integrate different evidence-based approaches rather than working rigidly from one model.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Schema Therapy
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
• Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)

What to expect

Sessions are normally one-to-one. The length of therapy varies depending on what you are bringing, your goals and the type of work we agree would be helpful. Longstanding or trauma-related difficulties can benefit from longer-term work. We review progress together rather than asking you to commit to a predetermined number of sessions.

We can discuss whether online or face-to-face appointments in Worsley, Manchester are most appropriate. Please contact me to confirm current availability, session arrangements and fees.

Who might benefit from Individual Therapy?

People seek therapy for many reasons. Your difficulties do not have to fit neatly into a diagnostic label before we can begin.

• Anxiety, stress, persistent worry and emotional exhaustion
• Depression, low mood and difficulties with self-worth or confidence
• Trauma, PTSD or distressing life experiences
• Grief, loss and significant life transitions
• Relationship difficulties and recurring interpersonal patterns
• Body image concerns or difficulties with eating
• Burnout, perfectionism, self-criticism and feeling stuck

What happens in sessions?

• We usually begin with an assessment and collaborative psychological formulation, exploring what is happening now and what may have shaped or maintained the difficulties.
• One-to-one sessions are generally around 50 minutes. Some trauma-focused work may involve longer 100-minute sessions where appropriate.
• Sessions are often weekly, although the pace and duration are discussed and reviewed together. There is no fixed minimum number of sessions.
• Depending on your goals, we may use reflective tasks, journaling, practical exercises and skills between appointments.
• Ending therapy is a shared decision informed by progress and what feels helpful; some people prefer gradually spacing out sessions before ending.

Location, fees and insurance

Therapy is offered online or face to face in Worsley, Manchester. The current fee listed on the website is £140 per standard session. Some health insurance policies may cover all or part of the fee; check with your insurer before booking. See current fees and arrangements or ask a question about therapy.