I’ve never done this before. What should I expect?

 

This is a thoughtful and important question. At Compassionately Curious Counselling, therapy is first and foremost a space for open, authentic conversation with someone who will do their utmost to understand you. So that, in turn, you can better understand yourself. At the heart of the therapeutic process is awareness: awareness of your thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and underlying beliefs. With awareness comes choice, and through choice comes change. All I ask of you is that you bring your presence and your willingness to engage.

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There will always be an invitation to bring that which you are comfortable with yet nothing is ever a requirement.

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How would you describe your work?

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At Compassionately Curious Counselling, my approach is integrative, combining a foundation in humanistic and relational psychotherapy with specialist training in relationship and psychosexual therapy and trauma. I aim to create a space that is both direct and compassionate, where we can explore what it means to live more fully, relationally, and in alignment with how you would like.

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What if my partner won’t attend therapy? Can I still work on the relationship alone?

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Yes, you can. While it is often beneficial for both partners to attend, I appreciate that this isn’t always possible. Relationships are co-created, which means that any one person making changes to how they relate can significantly shift the dynamic. By focusing on your own patterns, behaviours, and emotional responses, you can develop greater clarity and agency. Your personal growth will not go unnoticed, and it may influence your partner in ways that open up new possibilities, for them and for the relationship as a whole.

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How do I know if you can “fix” me (or us)?

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This is a common and understandable question. Many of us are used to the medical model: we go to the doctor with a problem and they ‘fix’ it. But therapy works differently.

A helpful analogy is a broken bone. Medical professionals set the conditions for healing—they align the bone, apply the cast, and offer guidance—but your body does the actual healing, in its own time. The same is true in psychotherapy. I provide the space, attention, and structure, but the real work happens within you, between sessions, in the choices you make and the awareness you build. I don’t “fix” people. Instead, I help create the conditions in which meaningful insight, change, and healing can occur.

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What if I don’t know what my problem is called?

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That’s absolutely fine. You don’t need a label to begin therapy. At Compassionately Curious Counselling,  I work with the whole person, not just the diagnosis. Many issues—whether emotional, relational, or sexual—overlap or present differently for different people. If I believe a medical opinion is required, I’ll encourage you to consult your GP or a specialist to rule out physical causes. From there, we can explore your experience together, regardless of whether it fits neatly into a particular category.

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I/we need to see you urgently. Do you have space?

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My availability can be limited, but I do my best to accommodate new enquiries, particularly those in distress. Please contact me and I will do everything I can to find a time that works. ​

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I cannot commit to weekly therapy. Can I see you every two weeks?

 

Yes, although I do suggest at the beginning to meet weekly, I also recognise that is not always possible.  It is important to allow for some regularity for the depth, rhythm, and trust that are essential to therapeutic progress. While I appreciate that weekly commitment isn’t always possible, it would be encouraged to meet at least every two weeks.

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