No surprises
Fees and availability
Published, because you should not have to send an email to find out what something costs.
What the fee covers
The 50 minutes in the room, plus the preparation before it and the notes afterwards. Between sessions you can email me about practical things — moving an appointment, a quick question about something we worked on. I do not charge for that.
How long it usually takes
It is fair to want a rough figure before committing. As a guide:
- Six to eight sessions for a single, reasonably contained problem — a recent slip after a long period of stability, or a focused piece of anxiety work.
- Twelve to twenty sessions for most addiction work, where the pattern has been running for years and there is a life to rebuild around it.
- Longer where there is trauma, bereavement or long-standing depression underneath.
We review every few weeks. I would rather tell you that you are done than keep taking your money.
If money is the barrier, say so on the call. There may be options — fortnightly sessions, a shorter piece of focused work, or a signpost to a local service that costs nothing. That conversation is easier than quietly deciding not to ring.
Lower-cost and free alternatives in Kent
If private therapy is not affordable right now, these are genuine options and I would rather you used them than nothing:
- Change Grow Live and We Are With You — free drug and alcohol support services operating in Kent.
- GamCare — free gambling treatment nationally, including one-to-one work, and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
- NHS Talking Therapies — free, self-referral, no GP needed. Waiting lists vary across Kent.
- AA, NA, GA and SMART Recovery — free peer groups, several meeting weekly within a short drive of Borough Green.
- Your GP — for medication, detox and referral into specialist services.
Common questions
Do I pay for the first phone call?
No. The 15-minute call is free and there is no obligation to book anything afterwards.
Can I claim on my private health insurance?
It depends on your policy and your provider. Most require the therapist to be registered with a recognised body, and some need a GP referral before they will authorise sessions. Check with them before your first appointment and I will supply whatever details they need.
What if I need to cancel?
Give me 48 hours and there is no charge. Inside that, the session is payable. Genuine emergencies are treated as genuine emergencies.
Do you offer a package or block booking discount?
No. Paying up front for a block creates pressure to keep going when you might be ready to stop, which is not in your interest.
Talk it through first
The first step is a short phone call. No commitment, no pressure — just a conversation about what is going on and whether I am the right person to help.
Free 15-minute call · Confidential · Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9am to 5pm