Frequently Asked Questions about Counselling and Psychotherapy

What's the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?

When are Counselling and Psychotherapy useful?
There are many and varied reasons for coming to therapy. They include relationship problems, addiction, anxiety, depression, employment issues and seeking greater self-awareness.

How long is a session? How many sessions will I need?
Sessions are usually once weekly for 50 minutes. One session can be helpful and, on rare occasions, will suffice. More complicated issues will take much longer. Short-term therapy keeps to around six sessions, and very useful work can be done in that time frame.

What does it cost?
Therapy is charged per session, and costs vary hugely from one therapist to another. My fee for counselling and psychotherapy is on a sliding scale from £45 to £55 per session. In every case, the first session is £20. This gives you an opportunity to meet me and make a more informed decision about whether you'd like to continue. Please contact me to see if I can help.

What do people say about working with you? It can be helpful to read what people have said about their time with me. These testimonials are from past clients.

“Opened my eyes and taught me see this world from every perspective. I felt very calm after every session and reassured. I started to believe myself more and felt more confident. Adrian is very good listener.“

"I was apprehensive of working with a male therapist at first but with Adrian, the issue of gender did not intrude at all and I felt relaxed straight away. The first thing I noticed about Adrian was his patient and gentle manner. I did not feel I needed to make much effort to put my points across as Adrian is a great listener, one of the best I've met actually. There were a couple of exercises I wanted to try and Adrian was open to this and added his own take on it. I would happily work with Adrian again."

"I found my time in counselling with Adrian to be deeply transformative. It helped me move through and integrate old patterns of behaviour into healthier and more joyful ways of being".

How do I find the right therapist?
Sheldon Bach, a very experienced New York psychotherapist, recalls the advice he heard long ago: "Take the analyst to a stable and see how the horses react to him". Hardly practical advice, even in Exeter, but it carries a nugget of value: judge your therapist with your instincts. The relationship you develop with them is the key factor in how well the work will progress, so it's vital that you feel right about them.

The Counsellors Guide offers some useful guidance about Counselling and Psychotherapy

What is outdoor therapy?
There is an increasing awareness of the healing power of nature, and I offer 'walk and talk' sessions in local parks as a way of bringing that dimension into our work. We would meet at the park entrance at a prearranged time. The park then becomes our therapy space; you can walk or sit, explore different spaces in the park or stay in one spot. By the end of our 50-minute session, we will have returned to our starting point.

If you'd like to know more, please contact me.

Do you offer online sessions?
Yes, I offer sessions using Zoom. Once we've arranged a meeting time, I'll send you an invitation and see you online.

Have you worked with LGBTQ+ clients?
Yes. I have always had an LGBTQ+ affirmative stance and work with people with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.