What are the aims of therapy sessions?
My aim is to facilitate a non-judgemental, reflective discussion in which you have space to explore your thoughts and feelings. I may then encourage you to identify and access your strengths and resources, recognise the choices you have and, if you desire, to implement change. We are both active participants during therapy and the overall outcome also depends on your input, especially between sessions.
When and where are you available?
I am generally available for weekday appointments, starting between 08:00 – 19:00, with some flexibility.
As a private practitioner I am unable to offer an emergency service. If you need urgent support and cannot wait to book in a session, I recommend that you call The Samaritans on 116 123; free of charge from any phone.
I am available for online sessions over Zoom, with occasional and limited spaces face to face in Reading; if you are interested in this option, please get in touch to enquire.
What are your fees?
I offer a sliding scale of fees on an individual basis that I agree with you in advance. This is with the aim of making my practice accessible, whilst remaining sustainable. For more information about my fees, and enquiries regarding concessions, please do contact me and I will be happy to send you more information.
I currently have spaces available within a range between £65-75 per session for individuals, and £90-100 per session for couples.
Do you offer a free introductory call?
If you’d like to speak with me before booking in an initial session, we can arrange for a free introductory call, over Zoom. This is 20 minutes for individuals, and 25 minutes for couples. This gives enough space to discuss any practical concerns you might have about therapy, and see what it is like speaking with me.
What happens after the introductory call?
After this call, if we have decided to continue together, I will email you my ‘Therapy Agreement’ which outlines the practical terms of working together, alongside my Privacy Statement, regarding GDPR. I will also ask you for some personal details such as your DOB and GP contact details which I hold in case of emergency. This is all the administration that is required at the start, with the aim of clarifying the practical terms of the process before we begin.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is a good opportunity to go into more depth with the issues you are bringing, as well as exploring your hopes and expectations for therapy. I will invite you to tell me more about what brings you to therapy at this point in your life, and together we can begin to set some intentions for the work.
How long is a therapy session and how many should I have?
Individual sessions are up to 50 minutes long.
Couples and Relationship sessions can be up to 75 minutes long.
Most people choose to to have ‘open-ended’ sessions, where the ending is approached more organically. Alternatively, you may choose to have a limited number of sessions, for example if you are dealing with a specific issue that you feel would benefit from a ‘time-limited’ approach.
The length of the therapeutic process will vary for each person and we can review this together as we go along, making adjustments as needed. I recommend attending with some regularity at the start of the therapeutic process; often this is around 6-8 weeks, but we can discuss what feels most useful to you, and then review and adjust as appropriate
Is it confidential?
Everything you discuss with me is confidential, and that confidentiality will only be broken:
Where it is deemed that you, or connected persons, are at serious risk, in which case relevant third parties may be contacted in the interests of safety.
Where you give explicit permission for private information to be shared with third parties, for instance with your medical practitioner.
Where I am required to divulge information by a court of law.
I will always try to speak to you about this first, unless there are safeguarding issues that prevent this.
Please see my Privacy Statement for information regarding GDPR.
What if I miss a session or need to cancel?
Missed sessions or cancellations outside of 24 hours’ notice are charged at full price,
unless we can easily reschedule a session within that week.
How / when do sessions end?
Endings are inevitable, and can be just as transformative as the rest of the work. I ask that you let me know as soon as possible when you decide to end so that we can explore how best to facilitate that, making sure you have proper space to reflect on your therapeutic journey and perhaps set some intentions for your future path.
I may suggest an ending for various reasons; for example where it feels we have reached a natural threshold of our work together, or where I feel I am unable to work within my competency, and may offer signpost to other practitioners or organisations that could be a better fit for you.
It is very common for many of us to have had difficult endings in the past, so it can be restorative to experience an ending that is respectful of your choices and boundaries, and allows for intentional closure.
Daša Radovanović, MA, MBACP (Accred) 