Question 1

What are the pros and cons of online therapy?

Accepted Answer

I have been working online since 2016, when it was still a relatively unusual way of working as a therapist. Since the covid-19 pandemic, more and more people are offering online psychological therapy.
Online therapy offers many advantages. For example:
We can communicate despite being in different places, so it is ideal if you can’t access therapy where you are living.
There are no travel or venue costs so I am able to charge a lower fee than is usually charged by experienced Clinical Psychologists.
Some people find it easier to speak openly when not sitting in the same room as their therapist.
Some people like the privacy of sessions with a therapist who is not local – knowing that we won’t bump into one another when out and about.
It is worth bearing in mind that online therapy also has disadvantages. For example:
Technology can fail: connection problems can interfere with sessions at times. However, we will talk about how to manage these situations if they arise.
Online therapy is not recommended for people who are suicidal or experiencing a profound mental health crisis. In those situations it would be better to seek help more locally from your doctor or a local hospital.

Question 2

What sort of therapy do you do?

Accepted Answer

I am an integrative therapist, which means that I draw from a number of models depending on which seems the most appropriate for your situation. See my Services page for more information.

Question 3

What sort of problems do you work with?

Accepted Answer

I have experience of working with a wide range of problems, ranging from mild concerns to severe and enduring mental health difficulties. Examples of typical problems I work with online include:

Fears, phobias, anxieties
Low mood, depression, mood swings
Upsetting memories; being troubled by past events
Low self-esteem, self-criticism, perfectionism
Eating difficulties including anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder
Bereavement and loss
Transitions
Relationship issues: e.g. work, friends, family
Stress
Self-harm
Difficulty sleeping
Childhood sexual, physical or emotional abuse
Trauma in all its forms
Spiritual and existential concerns, questions and doubts

Question 4

Do you offer a service to people in the USA?

Accepted Answer

Sadly, no, due to State licensing laws.

Question 5

How much do you charge?

Accepted Answer

Please contact me to discuss fees. 
I charge a competitive rate, less than many other experienced Clinical Psychologists, because working online means I have lower overheads.
I offer a number of significantly reduced rate spaces for people on low/no income, but unfortunately these spaces are currently full.

Question 6

How do I arrange a session?

Accepted Answer

Just send me an email giving a brief explanation of the difficulties you’d like help with. We will have an email conversation to begin with, and if you like, we can then have a free 15 minute initial Zoom/Skype meeting.  If we decide to proceed with therapy, we will then set up an assessment appointment.

Question 7

Do I have to commit to a minimum block of sessions?

Accepted Answer

No. We will jointly agree an initial contract and we can review this as we go along. Depending on the nature of your problem, I might advise a certain number of sessions, but this is entirely your choice and you are free to end our work at any time.

Question 8

How often will we need to talk?

Accepted Answer

Session arrangements can be flexible, and adapted to suit your particular circumstances. For example, sessions can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, etc.

Question 9

Are the sessions confidential? What about data protection?

Accepted Answer

As a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, I follow the guidelines laid out by my professional bodies: the British Psychological Society and the Health and Care Professions Council. This means that the content of our sessions, and any notes taken from them, remain strictly private and confidential. This will be discussed in further detail during the assessment session, where legal exceptions to confidentiality will also be outlined and explained.

I generally use Zoom, Skype and Whatsapp. Some US organisations have expressed concerns about confidentiality when using online platforms for therapy. However, these platforms are increasingly being used as a vehicle for therapy in other countries, including within the UK NHS. They are encrypted at a high level and are widely believed to be more secure than a telephone call and at least as confidential as most traditional therapy. For example, in a traditional therapy setting it is impossible to guarantee 100% confidentiality or anonymity : there is the risk of the session being overheard, of appointment letters being intercepted or of seeing someone you know in the waiting room or on the way into the clinic. (Hawker, D. & Hawker, D., 2016. Skype Therapy: more or less confidential than traditional therapy? Clinical Psychology Forum, 286, 39-43.)

Please let me know if you would prefer to use a different way of communicating online.

For information about Data Protection, please click here.

Question 10

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

We will start with an initial assessment. This will allow us to explore the problem in depth, to clarify the therapeutic approach that will be most helpful to you and to think together about the goals for therapy.
 
We will then decide on a plan. Sometimes people just want a few sessions of focused work on a specific issue. In other cases it may be appropriate to have a longer period of therapy, to allow exploration of the problem and longer-term support.
​
Beginning a period of therapy does not mean that you are committed to a lengthy series of sessions. You are free to end our work at any time.

Question 11

Do you work with neurodivergence?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

I have been on a number of relevant training courses, but the best teachers have been my neurodivergent clients along the way. I'm still learning :-)

Question 12

Do you work with LGBTQ+ individuals?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

I work affirmatively with LGBTQ+ individuals.

Question 13

Do you work with people of differing ethnicities and faiths?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

I enjoy meeting and working with people from different ethnic/cultural backgrounds.

I welcome opportunities to work with people of differing faiths, worldviews and perspectives on spirituality (including agnosticism and atheism).

In addition to training and clinical experience, I have travelled widely and have also lived for four years in a very different culture to my own - experiences which have shaped my understanding and openness regarding these issues.

FAR & WIDE THERAPY

ONLINE CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pros and cons of online therapy?

What sort of therapy do you do?

What sort of problems do you work with?

Do you offer a service to people in the USA?

How much do you charge?

How do I arrange a session?

Do I have to commit to a minimum block of sessions?

How often will we need to talk?

Are the sessions confidential? What about data protection?

How many sessions will I need?

Do you work with neurodivergence?

Do you work with LGBTQ+ individuals?

Do you work with people of differing ethnicities and faiths?