In an ideal world I wouldn’t charge for my work. I enjoy my work and I also find it very meaningful. At the same time the work is also very demanding and I have a young family to support. I need to charge a certain amount – currently £80 per session – to make a viable income and to be able to offer a high quality service.
What does your payment cover?
Of course, your payment covers my time and energy within the hour we are together. Beyond this it covers:
- Preparation and recuperation time before and after the session. I prepare myself to make sure I am fully present, compassionate and alert when I am with you.
- Ongoing supervision and personal development work to maintain a high standard of practice.
- 5 years+ of ongoing training and study. I have, and continue to, put many, many hours into training and I pay significant fees to training providers. (I have and continue to train with the Metanoia Institute in London, which is recognised internationally for the quality of its training).
- I have to put time aside each week for admin, such as responding to emails, maintaining practice paperwork, and keeping things like insurance and professional memberships up to date.
- There is an ongoing cost in running and maintaining our comfortable therapy space.
- As a self-employed individual I receive no sick pay, holiday pay or pension contribution, so my fees also need to cover these aspects of income usually paid by an employer.
- I offer a few slots at low cost to clients who cannot afford to pay full fees – so some of your fee will contribute to making high quality therapy accessible.
In short, the time I put into providing a session with a client is a lot more than just the time I am with them, and the fee reflects this.
How and when do I make payment?
Payment can be made before our sessions or within 24 hours after a session. Payment can be made my bank transfer or by card at the end of the session.
What if I need to cancel?
Cancellations can be made up until 48 hours before the start time of a booked session. If you cancel within 48 hours of the session start time you will still be charged for the session. To understand more about why I have this policy in place, please click here.
What if I cannot afford £80 per session?
I am aware that £80 per session is a lot of money for many people, and that it might make therapy inaccessible. I value working towards a more equal society and I feel uncomfortable about excluding people based on their ability to pay. As such, I work to offer a few slots each week at a lower cost. You are welcome to inquire if you are seeking a low cost option.
As you can probably appreciate, these lower cost sessions are often full. If this is the case I will try and put you in touch with a therapist or organisation that might be able to provide you with a lower cost service and that is grounded in the same values and approach I use.
So, please feel free to contact me if you are exploring lower cost options.