Patricia Terry MA, MSc, MBACP (Snr.Accred)
Senior Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you work and at what times?

• My practice for women is in Kingston upon Thames from 08.00 to 17.00 on Fridays.
• My practice for couples, women and men is in central Esher on other weekdays.

What does it cost?

My fee is £50 a session.

How long do sessions last?

Sessions last up to an hour, with initial sessions sometimes taking slightly longer. Couples may also like to take more time over a specific issue and 90-minute sessions can be arranged.
How often and for how long do people attend?

People usually attend once a week, although they may attend more often if they are dealing with a crisis. Sometimes they find problems can be resolved in a few sessions and sometimes it takes longer.

• If you see me as a couple then allow at least six to ten sessions.
  
• If you have experienced an issue that may have affected you for a long time, such as sexual abuse, it could take longer. We usually agree an initial six sessions with progress to be reviewed on a regular basis.

You will never be under any pressure to commit more time or money to therapy than feels right for you.

What happens if I decide to go ahead?

Telephone me on: 01372 467 857 or email me at: info@patriciaterry.co.uk

After a brief chat to decide if therapy is right for you, we will arrange a time and date for our first meeting. This will give us an opportunity to discuss your problems and to determine the best way of helping you. If we decide to work together, usually we will agree to meet on a regular basis at the same time each week.

Attending the initial session places you under no obligation to attend further sessions.

You've explained what you offer, but what is counselling?

Counselling is a 'talking therapy' that aims to provide you with a safe, confidential space in which to say how you feel and what you think about the issues you want to discuss. It cannot change external circumstances or other people, but it can assist change in you so that you develop the ability to take steps to alter external circumstances, or to improve relationships. It is my role to help you explore the issues and support you as you gain more insight and understanding into areas that are difficult to resolve. We will also work together on the changes that could bring you a more rewarding and fulfilling life. These changes can involve someone else, or they may be for you.

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but usually counselling is quite brief and targets a specific issue. Psychotherapy is a more extensive and deeper form of therapy, exploring the sources of issues and how past incidents might be influencing you and preventing you from moving forward in a positive way.

On your home page you mention various therapeutic approaches - what do you mean?

Integrative Psychotherapy describes the use of several distinct approaches in a convergent way, rather than as separate therapies. I use the integrative approach because I believe that each individual is unique and benefits from a way of working that is designed especially for him or her.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is described as 'the psychology of excellence': it views the world as a place where people either have the resources or can create them in order to achieve excellence. NLP has been used successfully as the basis for executive and life coaching, and where appropriate I use NLP to help you create your own choices, especially as you move out of therapy.

I have another question

This page may not answer all your questions: if there is anything else you would like to discuss about counselling or psychotherapy please call or email me.

Telephone me on: 01372 467 857 or email me at: info@patriciaterry.co.uk