What to expect
If you have never seen a therapist, or never tried hypnotherapy, it is reasonable to want to know what you are walking into. Here is how it goes, from the first call to the last session, and what the space is like when you get here.
Nothing here is a test. There is no right way to start, nothing you need to have worked out beforehand, and nothing you have to say until you are ready. The first call is a conversation about whether this is the right kind of help, the first session begins with what would help you feel steadier, and the pace after that is yours to set.
The process, step by step
A free 20-minute call
You tell me what is going on and what you are hoping for; I explain how I work, what to expect from a session, and answer your questions. I may be able to offer information and advice at this stage that is helpful from the start. There is no obligation to book afterwards; it is important you find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable.
You book a time
The booking page shows my real availability. Choose in person or Zoom, pick a time, and pay at booking. {{deposit or full payment, and your cancellation policy}}
I get in touch
Within a day or so you will hear from me personally, with everything you need in one email: your appointment details, a short registration and consent form to complete before we meet, and either directions and a photo of the entrance, or your Zoom link. If there is anything else you should know, it will be in that email too.
Your first session
One hour. We take time to talk about what you have come with and plan the work together. For hypnotherapy, it includes an introductory relaxation so you know what it feels like before we go further. Nothing difficult happens in the first session unless you want it to.
After that
Most issues need a few hours of work to make positive, lasting change. Because everyone is different, I will not promise a number; much depends on your own motivation and commitment to the changes you want. We review as we go, and I will work with you to get there in as few sessions as possible. You can pause or stop at any point.
The space
I see people at my practice in Tansley, a small village just outside Matlock in the Derbyshire Dales. It is a quiet, green place; you will hear birds rather than traffic. The consulting room is a calm, private space with its own entrance and comfortable chairs, a long way from anything clinical.
Getting here
- Where
- Tansley, near Matlock, Derbyshire
- Parking
- {{e.g. on the drive, directly outside}}
- By bus
- Nearest stop is in Tansley near the park; I am happy to collect you from there.
- Access
- {{steps, ground floor, accessible toilet}}
- Online
- On Zoom, wherever you are.
If you would rather meet on Zoom
Online sessions work just as well as in person, for counselling, hypnotherapy and EMDR, and some people find it easier to talk from their own sofa. Your Zoom link comes in the same email as everything else; you just need a quiet room, a device with a camera, and headphones if you share your home. For hypnotherapy, a chair you can sink into helps.
You can switch between Zoom and the room at any point. Plenty of people start online and come to Tansley later, or the other way round.
What hypnosis feels like
Not what you have seen on television. It is a state of relaxed, focused attention, a bit like being absorbed in a book. You stay aware, you can hear everything, and you can stop at any time. You cannot be made to do or say anything you would not choose to. Most people find it pleasant and are surprised how ordinary it feels.
Confidential
What you tell me stays between us, within the usual limits of safety, which I explain at the start.
Your pace
You set the speed and the direction. You never have to describe anything you are not ready to describe, and you can stop at any point.
Bring someone
You are welcome to bring a friend or family member to the first session, or to have them wait nearby. Just let me know.