What to Expect from Therapy
Starting therapy can feel like a big step—but it’s also a powerful one. Therapy is a process of self-awareness and growth. When we work together, we’ll explore the key areas of your life: past and present experiences, relationships, emotional patterns, thought habits, and the behaviours that shape how you live and relate to others.
I believe our early life experiences often play a significant role in shaping how we feel and behave as adults—especially in our relationships. By gently bringing these patterns into awareness, we create space for change, healing, and new ways of being.
Beginning the Process
Finding the right therapist can feel daunting, so I aim to make the process as straightforward and supportive as possible.
If you’re considering therapy with me, we’ll begin with a free, no-obligation telephone call. This gives us a chance to talk briefly about what’s bringing you to therapy and whether we might be a good fit. From there, we can arrange an initial session—either in person at my consulting room in St Leonards-on-Sea, or online via Zoom, if that suits you better.
Your First Session
The first meeting is an opportunity for us to get a sense of what you’re hoping to explore in therapy and how I might support you. We’ll talk about what’s going on for you, what kind of changes you’d like to see, and how therapy might help. Together, we’ll decide whether to work on a short-term or open-ended basis.
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Short-term therapy often helps people navigate a specific crisis or life event.
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Longer-term therapy allows space to explore deeper, underlying patterns or long-standing issues that may be affecting your well-being.
There’s no fixed duration—some clients feel ready to end therapy after a few sessions, while others find value in working together over a longer period. We’ll work together for as long as you feel it is helpful, and regularly review how things are going and make sure the work continues to support your goals.
My Approach
I use an integrative approach, drawing from a range of therapeutic models—including psychodynamic, person-centred, existential, and transpersonal therapy. This means I tailor our work to you as an individual, rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
When appropriate, we might incorporate creative or experiential techniques, such as drawing, guided visualisations, or mindfulness. These can be especially helpful in accessing emotions that are hard to put into words.
Practicalities
If we decide to work together, we’ll agree on a regular weekly time for sessions. I offer early morning, daytime, and evening appointments, and a limited number of reduced-rate sessions for people receiving benefits.
Most importantly, effective therapy depends on a strong, trusting relationship. Research consistently shows that the connection between therapist and client is one of the most important factors in successful therapy. That’s why our initial meeting is so valuable—to help us both decide whether we feel comfortable working together.
"On day one, I never could've imagined just how differently I'd be feeling at my final session - thank you!"
"At first I felt a little apprehensive as I have never had counselling before, but you were very calm, patient and let me come at things in my own time..."
"Phil was adept at helping me explore troubling issues with empathy. He prompted me to think productively about why I felt the way I did. It enabled me to start feeling like me again and therefore retake control of my decisions and my life."
"I really appreciated your ability to listen and understand the underlying issues; and your flexibility to focus on the issues that were pertinent at the time"
"I found your whole approach helpful; I felt very comfortable, and was able to talk very openly"
