An initial consultation enables you to consider whether psychoanalytic psychotherapy is going to be right for you. We'll explore why you've come, and what kind of help you're looking for.

You'll be asked about your current situation, any difficulties you face, and your past background. You can discuss your uncertainties, and any questions you have can be answered.

Psychotherapy is a relationship between two people that requires mutual trust, openness and honesty. To establish this trust, it is important that we are able to work together. An initial consultation enables us to begin to get to know each other and see if this is going to be possible. If not, or if this psychotherpeutic approach doesn't seem right, we'll think about other possibilities.

Often a decision about this can be made after one meeting, but sometimes a further one is necessary.

At the initial consultation there is no obligation, on either side, for any future work together.

But if working together does seem to make sense, a verbal offer will be made. Sessions are 50 minutes long. We will agree the frequency, which can be once, twice or three times per week. This will depend on what seems appropriate and manageable. The verbal offer will be followed by a written one. This will clarify the details of the arrangement along with terms of our working together.

It is only at this point you will need to make a decision about whether you want to proceed or not. And if you subsequently decide psychoanalytic psychotherapy isn't for you, you simply stop. You can stop at any time. No quibble.