1. What's the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
2. How long does therapy take?
3. What happens at the first session?
4. How do regular counselling and psychotherapy sessions work?
5. Where are you located?
6. What are your fees?
7. What is your cancellation policy?
8. What else should I be aware of?
9. I'm still not sure. Can I speak to you first?
10. How do I book an appointment with you?
What's the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
I tend not to make a distinction between the two and often just use the phrase 'therapy' to describe both.
There is no definitive answer for this, counselling often refers to shorter-term work, focused on a specific and relatively straightforward issue/goal, while psychotherapy involves exploration of more complex issues, at a greater depth and over a longer time-frame. It may involve examining past hurts, present difficulties and our hopes for the future. I am trained in both and use them interchangeably when working with individuals and couples.
How long does therapy take?
This entirely depends on:
The first few sessions will help us to establish a time-frame together.
It may be that you want to make changes in your life at a deep-rooted level and examine ingrained patterns. There are no time limitations on this type of in-depth work; you can use therapy for as long as it feels helpful in achieving your goals and aims.
Shorter term work (lasting between 16 and 28 sessions) is appropriate for those who are generally happy with their life but have an immediate and specific concern to address, such as a bereavement or loss, work problem or recent traumatic event.
As the process unfolds, we can regularly review your goals and the work we are doing together to ensure it feels appropriate to your needs and circumstances.
What happens at the first session?
Our initial session gives us the chance to explore the reasons that have brought you to me at this point and for me to better understand what it is that you hope to gain from therapy. This may involve gathering some information about your background and significant events in your life.
It is also your opportunity to get a feel for me, how I work, and to ask any questions about the process. This also includes an explanation of my way of working and policy on confidentiality, cancellations, available appointment times and fee.
There is no obligation to continue after this first session, should you so wish. This allows you to make more of an informed decision about whether you would like to embark upon therapy with me.
How do regular counselling and psychotherapy sessions work?
If you decide that you would like to start working with me, we would then enter into a therapy contract and arrange a regular slot and start date. Therapy sessions last 50 minutes (or 60/90 minutes for couples) and take place at the same time and day each week.
Weekly sessions provide the safety and consistency required for effective therapy and lasting results. It helps to promote an environment in which you can begin to drop the mask and dare to reveal and heal your whole self. Sometimes painful and uncomfortable feelings arise as a result, but this type of continuity means they can be experienced safely and worked through in our sessions. It also allows for the optimal amount of processing and integration you do in between sessions.
As we evolve, our situations and needs change, but our habits and behaviour may no longer serve us. Therapy can be a useful means of identifying these and then establishing new ways of being which are more in line with who we are and would like to be now. You can read more about how I work here
Where are you located?
I practice as a counsellor, psychotherapist and coach via the medium of online/phone sessions, or face-to-face in Shoreditch EC2 (near Old Street) conveniently located in Central London and the City. Full address and map details are below:
Counselling, Psychotherapy and Coaching online and in Shoreditch, Central London EC2
The Old Fire Station
140 Tabernacle Street
Old Street
Shoreditch
EC2A 4SD
My Shoreditch practice is based in a quirky period building, retaining many of the features from it's previous life as an old fire station. The building is easily accessible from Hoxton, Hackney, Dalston, Brick Lane, Shoreditch, Old Street, Liverpool Street, Angel, Clerkenwell and the City of London.
Nearest tube/overground stations: Old Street and Shoreditch High Street
(See map below or Google Maps here for more detailed directions)
What are your fees?
Initial session and assessment
£100 flat rate for individual therapy (50 minutes), £130 flat rate for couples therapy (75 minutes)
Individual therapy fees:
Based on a sliding scale, starting from £95 - £120 per session (50 minutes)
Couples/relationship therapy fees:
Based on a sliding scale, starting from £130 - £150 per session (75 minutes)
Coaching fees:
Starting from £175 per session (lasting 50-60 minutes) - either in person in and around Central London or via Zoom/phone. Bespoke half day laser focus workshops are also available upon request. For further details, feel free to contact me.
What is your cancellation policy?
Your weekly slot is reserved especially for you and therefore the full session fee is payable for any sessions that are missed or cancelled. If I am able, I will try to reschedule the session, although this might not always be possible to do, depending on my availability.
What else should I be aware of?
Confidentiality and Ethical Practice
The work we do together will be held in the strictest confidence, apart from in a couple of exceptional circumstances laid out in the BACP ethical framework (of which I am bound). I also request that you keep all details pertaining to our therapeutic work to a minimum in any emails, as these are not regarded as secure communications. It is better to discuss any personal details via video session or on the phone.
With regard to social media accounts, I will not 'add' or message you and if you do this, I will decline. You are however, very welcome to discuss articles or content on my website with me in person. This ensures that privacy risks to you are minimised, our relationship remains professional and that any thoughts/feelings that arise from online material can be explored in a safe and constructive way.
I am fully insured with Balens and professionally registered with the BACP to ensure safe, ethical and boundaried practice.
Holidays
I will give you as much notice as possible of any annual leave I plan to take throughout the year. This normally amounts to around 8-10 weeks in total and you will not be charged for any sessions that fall on these dates.
All other sessions are subject to the full fee if missed or cancelled.
I'm still not sure. Can I speak to you first?
Absolutely. I know it can be daunting trying to find a practitioner that you feel you will be able to 'click' with and build an open and trusted alliance with. I believe the quality of the relationship is at the very heart of successful therapy.
With this in mind, I offer a free and informal 15-20 minute telephone/video consultation. This allows us to talk through any concerns or questions you have before deciding to book an initial session and assessment with me via secure video call, or in person in Shoreditch EC2, Central London.
You can arrange this by calling me on 07946 432 669 or using this form to email me. I will get back to you within 48 hours.
How do I book an appointment with you?
You can contact me in any of the following ways to talk further about counselling, psychotherapy or coaching online (via video session) or in Central London:
By email: info@nafeezatowheed.co.uk
By telephone: 07946 432 669
Or by using this contact form
I look forward to hearing from you.
