Got questions?
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What is Humanistic Therapy?
Humanistic therapy, or the humanistic approach, is an umbrella term that covers several types of therapy, including person-centred therapy, Gestalt, existential therapy, solution-focused therapy and transactional analysis. The humanistic approach is about free will, self-discovery and achieving your full potential as a human being. It looks at what makes you who you are and focuses on you as a unique individual and your relationship with the world around you. The therapy is client-led, so your therapist will work with you on the issues you want to explore. They’ll help you think about your feelings and take responsibility for your thoughts and actions. (BACP)
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What is Integrative Therapy?
Integrative therapy and counselling draws on techniques from different types of therapy to tailor an approach specifically for you. (BACP). The adaptability of integrative therapy allows individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to find value in their own way. It is grounded in understanding and addressing the unique needs and goals of each individual, fostering self-awareness, self-discovery and improvement, and overall well-being.
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What can therapy help with?
Clients come to us for help with a number of issues, including: Abuse, Addiction, Anxiety (generalised anxiety, panic, social anxiety), Bereavement/loss, Depression/low mood, Infertility, Low self-esteem, Periods of change or uncertainty, Relationship difficulties, Sexual identity, Sexual problems (impotence, pornography, loss of desire), Stress and burnout, Trauma (PTSD, CPTSD/DID, vicarious trauma), Workplace issues
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How does therapy work?
Therapy happens once a week, at the same time. Session are 50 minutes. You will discuss whatever is on your mind and your reasons for coming. Your therapist will explore these with you and help you make sense of your experience.
Our group of therapists are all passionate about the work they do and are committed to providing a safe, supportive and confidential space, in which you can speak freely.
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What's better? In person or online?
Whether you’re looking for in person or online therapy in London, will depend on your circumstances. Our therapists work in different locations throughout London, as well as online. There is no right or wrong when it comes to therapy, just what feels best for you.
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How much does it cost?
Prices vary between therapists, but Individual fees are usually between £60 - £90 per session, Couples Therapy ranges between £90 - £150 per session.
Each of our therapists sets their own price, and you can find this displayed on their profile page.
The London Therapy Alliance believes in expanding access of psychological care and seek to make therapy affordable. If you would like therapy but are on a low income or financially struggling, please email us to see if one of our therapists can offer a reduced rate.
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How do I start?
The first step towards therapy can feel very nerve wracking. Start by browsing our bios and see if any of the profiles resonate with you. You can drop us an email, which is found at the bottom of our bios.
All of our therapists offer a free 20-minute consultation to allow you to ask any questions you have, and see if you’re the right fit.
If you’re not sure which practitioner sounds right for you, contact us via email or the contact form and someone will get back to you.
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Will what I say be private?
As all members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) we are bound by their Ethical Framework to protect a client’s confidentiality. Therefore, everything that we discuss is confidential and treated confidentially, except in certain circumstances (for instance, if we think that you or other people around you are in danger) which your chosen therapist will be able to explain to you in full.
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I'm worried that I might shock my therapist
There might be some thoughts, feelings and behaviours that you never shared with anyone else before and for this (and other) reason you might be concerned that you could shock us. We understand your concern and we know it takes courage to disclose some aspects of ourselves. We are happy and committed to offering you an open and available space to be your true self, where anything can be discussed together.
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How many sessions do I need?
It depends on the type of issue you would like some support with and your “readiness” (in terms of space and time) to explore the issue and its potential roots in depth. We would be able to offer you both short (between 10-20 sessions) and long-term therapy (over 20 sessions). In short-term therapy, we will focus on specific topics, explore external resources, develop problem-solving skills, and consider choices for implementing changes. In long-term therapy, we will delve deeper into current and past relationships, working towards fostering authenticity and autonomy to help you fully embrace your true self. The duration of your therapy journey is something that will be discussed with your therapist during the initial sessions and it will be periodically reviewed together.
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What happens if I don't gel with my therapist?
If you don't feel a connection with your therapist, it's important to address it. Therapy works best when there's trust and comfort between you and the therapist, so feeling disconnected can hinder progress. Here’s what you can do:
Talk about it: Sometimes, discussing your concerns with the therapist can improve the relationship. They might adjust their approach or clarify misunderstandings.
Reflect on the reasons: Consider whether the discomfort is due to the therapist’s style, personality, or challenging topics being brought up in sessions. Discomfort can sometimes be part of the process.
Request a change: If after discussing the issue you still feel it’s not a good fit, it’s okay to seek a different therapist. Therapy is about your needs, and finding the right match is crucial for effective treatment.
Ultimately, finding the right therapist is key to your therapeutic success, and it's completely normal to switch if the connection isn’t right
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Is Couples or Individual therapy best for me?
Deciding between individual therapy and couples therapy depends on the challenges you're facing and your goals.
Individual therapy is ideal if you're focused on personal growth, exploring your emotions, or dealing with issues like anxiety, past trauma, or self-esteem. It's a space for self-reflection and understanding how your personal experiences shape your relationships and behaviour.
Couples therapy, on the other hand, is best when the core issues involve your relationship. If communication problems, trust issues, or recurring conflicts are the focus, couples therapy can help both partners understand each other's perspectives and work toward healthier dynamics.
If you're unsure which would be more helpful, consider what you're hoping to achieve. For personal change, individual therapy may be the better choice; for relational improvement, couples therapy could be more effective. There is also a benefit to participating in both concurrently.
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If I send an enquiry, what happens next?
If you have sent a direct enquiry to one of our practitioners, they will get back to you within 2 working days. If you have made a general enquiry, a member of our team will get back to you to arrange an assessment and guide you towards the most suitable member of our team, based on your needs.
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What happens if I can't afford it?
If you find yourself struggling financially, talk to your therapist. You will work through possible solutions together. That might include reducing the regularity of sessions, agreeing a fixed number of sessions, discussing adjustment of rates, helping you to find a low-cost counsellor or working towards an ending. If you're looking to start but already know you can't afford to pay a fully qualified therapist, many institutions offer low cost therapy from trainees.
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What should I expect in a first session?
The initial session is usually dedicated to the assessment, the session provides an opportunity for both you and your therapist to establish whether you are a good match and ensure that our skills and experience align with the specific concern you bring to the sessions. Following the initial session(s), we will jointly decide whether to proceed.
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What if I don't want to do weekly sessions?
It’s usual for sessions to be held once a week, especially at the beginning, but depending on the client’s specific needs and availability, we would be also open to see you more or less often than this. Different therapists will have their own protocol on this.
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How do I pay?
You will pay your therapist directly, usually weekly by bank transfer. This is something you will discuss in your intro session.
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What happens if I need to cancel a session?
Each therapist will have their own cancellation policy, whereby if you cancel over a certain notice period you won't be charged for the session, but if you cancel within that time, then they will need to charge you for that session. This is something you will discuss together at the beginning.
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How does it work if I go on holiday?
If you go on holiday during your sessions, please give your therapist at least one week, but ideally more, notice and your therapist will give you ample notice when they are going to be away too.
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What happens when I want to stop therapy?
When you feel that you’ve got what you need from therapy, you can end with your therapist at any point. We ask that you give your therapist a minimum of two weeks’ notice so that you can work towards an ending together.
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What if my therapist leaves?
If your therapist is no longer able to work with you, they will discuss this with you, with plenty of time to end and to consider the best transition options for you. That may be helping to find you another suitable therapist or working towards an ending.
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Who do I contact if I’m in crisis?
Our therapists are only available for the times you have scheduled with them. If you are in crisis then please contact your local GP or the Samaritans (116 123 or www.samaritans.org).
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Got a different question?
Email us at hello@londontherapyalliance.com and we will get back to you.