Taking the first step and reaching out for help can be difficult. It is normal to feel uncertain and worry about finding the right therapist, with whom you may go on to share some deeply personal experiences. To ease the stress of not knowing, I mapped out my process. I hope you will find this useful.

Stage 0 – Can we work together?

1. First Consultation: The first step is to arrange a first consultation with me which is 30 minutes long and over Zoom. You can arrange a first consultation through my appointments page. During this call I would like to find out whether I can help you with what you need and clarify any questions you may have. You can then decide if you wish to start therapy with me.
2. Paperwork: If you decide to work with me, I need you to go through following forms:
   1. Terms of Service
   2. GDPR Notice
   3. Personal Information Form
   4. Invitation to participate in Research
3. Invoicing & Payments: Once you filled in the forms, I will know how you would like to pay for your sessions and I will be able to invoice you accordingly. For more on costs of therapy, please visit my fees page.

Stage 1 – Assessing the Problems and Developing a Strategy

1. Data collection: The first step in therapy is to collect as much data as possible about you, such as your history, your relationships, your habits, your health just to name a few.
2. Understanding the Problems: We will also drill down to the core aspects of your current and historical problems and prioritise them to get a sense where to start with therapy.
3. Agreeing on a Therapeutic Strategy: Once we have prioritised your challenges and discussed how to address them therapeutically, therapy begins. A strategy is for us both a guide in which direction to look.
4. Developing a Therapeutic Relationship: This process of assessment, problem formulation and strategy development serves also for us both to establish a collaborative, therapeutic relationship to address your challenges together as a team.

Stage 2 – Therapy Beginns

1. Developing Support: If you show signs of psychological traumatisation or neglect, developing intra-psychic resources and support is often a key part of therapy.
2. Addressing the Key Problems: Once there is enough support, we will also address key problems we agreed on.
3. Strengthening of the Therapeutic Relationship: Over time, you will have a sense how I work and how the therapeutic process is. As our collaboration strengthens, some of the problems will become easier to address.
4. Re-Assessing Progress: As we resolve some of the issues, we will re-assess how your therapy is going and whether we are still on track with what you need. There will be cycles of addressing- and reassessing problems.

Stage 3 – Therapy Ends

1. First Signs of Therapy Coming to an End: Therapy comes to an end when you feel better and no longer need the weekly routine of meeting me.
2. Reviewing the Therapy: If you made the decision to end, we will go through a review process and look at your therapeutic journey. Acknowledging how far you have come is a deeply moving process.
3. Working through Grief, Loss and Fear: Grief, loss and fear about the future can surface towards the end of therapy. These feelings are normal and welcome aspect of the ending process.
4. Saying Good-Bye: Eventually we will say goodbye to each other. For me personally, the most satisfying part of therapy is the ending, because the changes become a lot more visible once you look back at your journey.