Type of therapy I provide
It’s really important to me that clients know their time and money is being well spent, so I practice types of therapy that have a strong evidence-base and which are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. I base my approach around doing a few things well, rather than trying to be expert in everything. There is virtually no couples counselling offered via the NHS, so I see quite a lot of couples. It suits my style – a bit more active and directive than most therapists, with a focus on trying to find immediate solutions.
Who I see
Typically, I see people who work in well-paid, but highly pressured jobs - which I know a bit about. Many of the people I see are well-established in their careers, often hugely successful, but now wondering whether there is more to life, or struggling with relationships with their partner or children. Others are right at the start of their career and beginning to rub up against how to manage their work-life balance. I see individuals and couples and also older adolescent children - themselves often experiencing intense pressure for academic success.
Coaching and Consulting
Although I gave up my corporate job a few years ago now, as the co-Director of The London Centre for Applied Psychology, I frequently consult to businesses on wellbeing and mental health at work. I also offer executive coaching to senior managers and leaders. So I still have a good idea about the stresses and strains of work. I also personally manage a busy professional life alongside my role as a husband and father.
What I can help with
I love working with pretty much anyone who is motivated to make a positive change in their life. Therapists are typically very modest, but rather immodestly, I think I am quite good at what I do, and I love helping people change. Having a therapist is a bit like having a personal trainer; in theory you could do it on your own, but you probably wouldn’t. While I take a bit of credit for what goes on, the bulk of the work is done by the client, of course.
In-person and online
I was an early advocate of online therapy - my experience is that it saves time and works well - a finding backed up by recent research too. But sometimes it just feels right to attend in person. If you come to my consulting room you’ll see lots of books. I hope that’s reassuring - I’ve read widely and you’re in safe hands. But many of the books have nothing to do with therapy - I hope that also suggests I am not obsessed with therapy as the answer to everything and I know a bit about the world in general too.
Either way, therapy works
75% of people who come to therapy are better off than those who don’t. Across thousands of studies, over multiple decades, therapy consistently shows an effect size larger than almost all interventions in cardiology, and greater than the success rate of flu vaccinations. Although it’s expensive, almost no one regrets it and more than three-quarters of people who’ve had therapy say they would recommend it to a friend or family member.
Fees
My sessions start at £135 for a 50 minute session.
