Practicalities and FAQs
- How long do sessions last?
Sessions are usually weekly, at the same time each week, and last for 50 minutes. This can depend (sometimes sessions may be more frequent, or longer, if we agree this would be a good idea).
- Are you trained, insured, and DBS checked?
Yes, I am a Jungian Analyst. I have completed a training in adult psychoanalysis at CG Jung Institute, Zurich. This is a recognised course lasting several years, involving psychotherapy theory and long-term supervised clinical work including 2 years as a part time psychodynamic psychotherapist in the NHS.
I am a member of a professional organisation called the IAAP, the international association for Jungian Psychology. The IAAP requires analysts to behave in an ethical manner and describes these standards in guidance on their website www.IAAP.org
Should you be concerned about non-ethical behaviour concerning any analyst you may contact the IAAP via their website (www.IAAP. org) to make a complaint.
I hold a current enhanced DBS certificate and full professional insurance to practice.
Like all analysts, I work with clinical supervision and participate in continuous professional development, which I’d be happy to discuss.
- How many sessions will be needed?
Jungian work is usually a long-term relationship, which can extend over months and years.
- How should I make a start?
If you’re interested in analysis, see the contact page. We can set up a time for an initial conversation by phone and then, if you wish, we can organise a fifty-minute meeting to discuss analysis.
You don’t need to prepare anything for this first meeting- just come along as you are. The first session aims to help sense into what it might be like to come for sessions. I’ll show you round the office, speaking about myself and therapy and asking more directed questions about what brings you to therapy at the moment, your life and background. It’s important to only share what you feel comfortable with and there’s no need to try and tell your whole life story in 50 minutes.
After this initial meeting, if we decide to work together, I will reserve a regular weekly time slot for you. I ask for one month’s notice if you would like to stop analysis once we have started seeing each other regularly.
- What is a typical session like?
We will meet at my consulting room in Torquay, 10 minutes walk from Torquay train station. We will typically sit and speak together for the fifty minutes. Some people might choose to paint or to make model images whilst they talk, or instead of talking. What we talk about depends on you, though I’ll ask questions and make suggestions.
- What about breaks and holidays?
Therapy works best if it is regular but breaks are possible and sometimes helpful.
Some breaks are booked into the calendar and I will confirm these with you when our sessions begin: I generally take the 2 weeks surrounding Christmas and Easter, and the last 2 weeks of August. I may also take a week’s break to travel to attend conferences outside these times, a few times a year.
Please give me as much notice as possible of your own breaks and consider whether we can meet by phone or online at our usual time when you are away. If you are planning extensive travel, or work is very unpredictable and would result in multiple missed sessions, it may not be the right time to be in analysis as regularity of meeting is very helpful. Similarly I really appreciate meeting in person if we can, versus online sessions.
48 hours notice that a session will be missed is needed, or the session will be charged (except in emergencies, at my discretion).
- Are online consultations possible?
I prefer to work in person, at my consulting room, where possible. Where impossible because of distance, sickness or access issues, I can offer sessions by a phone call or online video consultation. If possible, I recommend attending our first sessions in person, as this helps us to know each other in a different way from on screen.
- Clinical supervision
Every analyst works under the supervision of a more senior analyst. I work with a senior Jungian analyst from CG Jung Institute, Zurich. I regularly discuss my work with my supervisor but do not disclose clients’ names or addresses.
I do not supervise the work of other analysts and do not provide “training analysis” for those in clinical training, but am happy to recommend analysts who do.
- What about confidentiality?
What you tell me is absolutely confidential between us, unless you give me permission to disclose information, or I am compelled to disclose your records by the court, or am concerned about a risk of serious harm to you or another person should I not disclose information you have told me. Examples of needing to disclose details for legal reasons include if I am legally required to provide information for a court case, or if I need seek payment for unpaid fees if other options are exhausted. If I believe I need to disclose information told to me in our session, I would try to speak to you about this in advance, and avoid disclosure wherever this is possible. If I do need to disclose information this will only be whatever is necessary and proportionate to respond to the risk or legal requirement.
I keep notes carefully, with any paper notes kept in a locked file. Records are kept for 7 years after the last session of analysis as required by the law. My data protection information is available separately.
In the event of my death or serious/ incapacitating illness I have a “therapeutic executor” who can access a list of contact details for analysands, in order to advise them of the situation. This person cannot access your clinical records, but only your contact details to tell you I am unable to see you for sessions. They will not use your details in any other circumstances nor for any other purpose and will destroy your contact details once the message has been given.
- What is OK to discuss?
You are welcome to discuss any topic. There is an express invitation to speak about topics which might not normally come up in conversation, including spirituality and religion, dreams and imaginations, sex, superstitions, areas where you might feel envious, hateful or you otherwise feel you “don’t come out of the story well,” compulsions and addictions, fears, expectations, creative blocks and impulses… It’s also important that we may speak about positive and enjoyable parts of life- we need not only focus on difficulties but strength, joy and hope is also on the agenda.
- Contact between sessions, ethics, and socialising.
Once regular sessions are in progress, you are welcome to email or text me between sessions to rearrange meetings. I will acknowledge your message as soon as I can. I don’t recommend we otherwise get in contact outside the session times, unless we have agreed to this (for example to send in information about an image or dream to look at in the next session) because it’s important our work is done in the session itself, when we are together.
As part of my ethical commitment, I do not mix socially with analysands because this causes confusion to our work. If we meet socially by accident outside the consulting room, I will take my lead from you and acknowledge any greeting but would not recommend saying more about our relationship in front of others. I would not imply we have a prior relationship and would not start a conversation. Similarly, I do not undertake business with analysands. I do not undertake analysis with family members or close contacts of people who have been in analysis with me.
Fees:
There is no charge for an initial phone call for information about analysis, which can be set up by contacting me to arrange a convenient time. Our first in-person 50 minute session is charged at £90, payable in advance by bank transfer.
Weekly sessions cost £90/ session, billed in arrears every “half term” and payable by bank transfer.
I have some very low-cost slots for people whose financial situation would otherwise make analysis impossible. These slots are currently full, but if you would like to go on the waiting-list, please let me know.
