Question 1

What happens in the first therapy or EMDR session?

Accepted Answer

Your first therapy or EMDR session is a chance for us to talk through what has brought you to therapy and what you would like support with. We may explore your current difficulties, relevant background, emotional wellbeing, relationships, health, trauma history or past experiences, depending on what feels relevant.
If you are interested in EMDR, we would not usually begin processing traumatic memories straight away. The first stage is about understanding your history, assessing suitability, building safety and making sure the work feels appropriate and paced.
You do not need to have everything perfectly explained. The first session is a starting point for us to understand what is happening and what kind of support may be helpful.

Question 2

Can therapy help if I am neurodivergent, disabled or chronically ill?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Therapy can offer space to explore the emotional impact of living with neurodivergence, disability or chronic illness, including anxiety, shame, grief, anger, burnout, identity, relationships and feeling misunderstood or unsupported.

Question 3

Can therapy help with shame, grief or anger around disability or chronic illness?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many people experience grief, shame or anger when their body, health, capacity or identity changes, or when they have had to fight to be understood. Therapy can help you process these feelings with more compassion and less self-blame.

Question 4

Can EMDR help with medical trauma or difficult health experiences?

Accepted Answer

EMDR may help people process distressing or traumatic experiences, including medical procedures, diagnosis experiences, hospital treatment, pain-related memories or times when they felt unsafe, powerless or dismissed. Suitability would always be discussed carefully first.

Question 5

What is neuro-affirming therapy?

Accepted Answer

Neuro-affirming therapy does not treat neurodivergence as something to fix. It recognises ADHD, autism, AuDHD and other forms of neurodivergence as valid ways of experiencing the world, while still supporting the very real anxiety, overwhelm, shame, burnout or trauma that can come from being misunderstood or unsupported.

Question 6

How often do therapy or EMDR sessions take place?

Accepted Answer

Therapy and EMDR sessions usually take place weekly, especially at the beginning of the work. 
Weekly sessions can help build consistency, trust and momentum, particularly when we are working with anxiety, trauma, grief, self-worth, neurodivergence, disability, chronic illness or emotional distress.
EMDR also usually works best when sessions are regular, as we need time to build safety, prepare carefully and process material at a pace that feels appropriate.
In some circumstances, fortnightly sessions may be possible, but this depends on what you are coming for support with, your goals, availability and what feels clinically appropriate.

Question 7

Do you offer reduced-fee therapy sessions?

Accepted Answer

I have a limited number of reduced-fee counselling/therapy spaces available, depending on availability and individual circumstances.
Reduced-fee spaces are limited and may not always be available. If cost is a barrier, you are welcome to ask about this when getting in touch, and I can let you know whether I currently have any reduced-fee therapy spaces.
Reduced-fee sessions apply to counselling/therapy only and do not usually apply to coaching, EMDR assessments, coaching packages or organisational work.