Your first appointment is an opportunity to explore the difficulties that got you in touch with me in the first place.  It is also an opportunity for you to decide if you would like to work with me, and for me to assess if I think I might be able to help you.  We will talk about what would make therapy useful.

 

Relationship therapy is a 'talking therapy', although I may make practical suggestions, if this is something you find useful.  I use cognitive behavioural techniques (CBT) which links what we do with how we think and feel.  I also draw on psychodynamic ideas, which is based on the idea that past experiences shape our present.

 

If you attend with your partner, I may suggest seeing each of you individually after your joint first appointment.  This can help you get greater  insight about your situation, and gives me greater clarity about your couple relationship, which in turn tends to make overall therapy more helpful.

 

I will usually suggest a certain number of appointments.  This does not mean that I necessarily think all your goals will  be addressed in this specified time, but it can give us focus, and a clear framework.