Some people feel that 6 – 10 weekly sessions of therapy is enough to get them on the right track. Others decide with their therapist, to continue for longer than this. I would recommend that you commit to a minimum of 6 sessions and then review progress. Deeper work such as trauma or recovery from a long-term depression may make take much longer. However, the goal of therapy is always to get you feeling better as quickly as possible, not only in the therapy room but independently in your daily life.
Forming a good relationship with your therapist is an essential predictor of a positive outcome in therapy. I think it is a really good idea to test out a few therapists either on the phone or in person. This is why I offer a free telephone consultation. It gives us a chance to test out the chemistry and see if we are a good fit for each other. Remember that as part of our training as therapists we have been in the client chair for many years, so we know it can be daunting. When you are checking out therapists, ask lots of questions and trust your instinct!
CBT is the style of therapy that most people have heard of because it is frequently used in the NHS. CBT encourages clients to change destructive patterns of behavior and negative ways of thinking and acting. It is a short-term approach and in fact there are some TA tools and CBT tools that work in a similar way. TA is a versatile model very well suited to both short and long-term work. TA therapy works to affect change at a thinking, feeling and behavioural level and many of the concepts are creatively presented which make them interesting and easy to talk about with clients.
I like to think of therapy as an art and not a science. With this in mind, I try to be flexible in my approach, tailoring therapy to clients rather than the other way around. Have a look at the TA page on this website and see if there is something there that sparks your interest. For more information on therapy styles, visit the UKCP website ‘types of therapy’ page.
For counsellors and psychotherapists, ethics is a huge part of our training, accreditation process and ongoing professional development. For me, this is more than just a box ticking exercise. Confidentiality is key to successful therapy. How can you open up about your issues if you don’t feel safe? At your first session I will encourage you to ask as many questions as you like about ethics and confidentiality and if we decide to continue with therapy, we will both sign a confidentiality agreement. I can discuss our code of ethics more specifically in the session but to give you an idea, here are some of the ways I will protect your confidentiality:
- Session notes will not have your name on them
- Session notes and files containing your personal details will be kept separately
- Every attempt is made to ensure that you will not bump into other clients either on arrival or departure
- If I take an issue arising from our therapy to supervision, you will not be identified
- If someone you know is also attending therapy at The Wellness Project, neither party will be discussed with the other
For more information on our ethical code visit https://www.uktransactionalanalysis.co.uk/about-ukata/our-ethics
It’s a good idea to talk about this at your first session and work out a plan which best suits you. However as a broad principle, I will not usually acknowledge you (aside from perhaps a nod or a smile). This is not because I am unfriendly, it is because I am protecting your confidentiality. You might not have told friends or family members you are attending therapy and you are likely to feel uncomfortable discussing therapy issues in a public space where other people can overhear you. So, if I do bump into you, know that I am trained to deal with that situation and will ensure your right to privacy is protected.
Before your first session we will probably talk a little bit on the phone about what brings you to therapy and you can ask as many questions as you like. You might want to know more about me or how the process usually works if you are new to counselling. If you decide to move forward, we will agree a time that works on a weekly basis and at your first regular 50-minute session we will sign a contract. The purpose of this is not to tie you in or restrict you in any way, it is to set out some of the processes and ensure you are safe and protected. A key part of your contract outlines the confidentiality agreement between you and your therapist which is why we both need to sign it. The paperwork part of your first session takes about 10 minutes but this only needs to be done once. The most important part of your first session is that we get to know each other and you communicate what you need support with.
