PHILIPPA LYONS
THERAPY

Psychotherapy is right for you if you want to understand yourself more deeply and you value having a trained, objective person to help you explore your own experience. A good fit with your therapist matter, because like a good teacher or partner, the help bring out your best thinking. Trust and safety will help you open up and explore your experience in ways that broaden your perspective and help you see yourself more clearly. There different types of psychotherapy. All cover the same broad themes or issues with the intention of helping improve mood and well-being, but they do this with different approaches. Psychotherapy is about learning more about yourself. The right fit is about matching a type of therapy or therapist to your current learning style or preference. 

Psychotherapy can help with anything that is causing you distress or keeping you stuck - yes this includes issues that are broadly listed as depression, anxiety, trauma, grief or relationship issues. But the key benefit of psychotherapy is that it is uniquely personal. Rather than a prescriptive approach, therapy meets you where you are and helps you understand not generally, but specifically what is going on for you. You learn which psychological insights apply to your experience and which don't, and you refine your understanding based on your unique experience and what matters to you. 

Understanding yourself deeply means you develop the awareness and skills to navigate whatever life brings up. What you can take away is not just a one time fix, but an ongoing ability to read yourself as you evolve and change. That self-knowledge becomes your compass through all the stages and challenges of life. 

Research supports that online therapy isn’t just flexible and convenient, it is a distinct and effective way of working. Compared to in-person therapy some differences include: a more balanced dynamic, the shared virtual space can create a different kind of connection that feels more equal. On screen our faces are closer than in-person which can foster a sense of closeness without feeling intrusive; there's closeness while maintaining safety in distance. For some, being in their own space while connecting remotely allows for deeper openness. Feeling as relaxed and at ease as possible gives the best environment for change and growth. Research also suggests an online space is particularly helpful for those with social anxiety or shame-related issues to engage more openly.

The first session is really about getting to know how to work best together. It's the start of something new - it's normal to have mixed feeling, including apprehension and readiness. Sometimes the best way to figure out how to work together is to jump straight into the work. Sometimes its about exploring expectations, boundaries and direction. Sometimes its about sharing context and background so we have a shared bigger picture. Usually it's a combination of all these things. However therapy begins, they'll be room for checking-in and course correction along the way. You're at the wheel. I'm navigation support. 

It depends on where you are and what you want to achieve. In my experience, rough estimates for those working with me for the first time are that three to five sessions can be enough to take something meaningful away. Between 8 and 20 sessions can be enough to have significant impact on a specific goal or theme of work. If you are unsure what you want to cover, feel there are several connected areas that you want to work on, or you want or need a slower, gentler pace then longer term work may be preferable. This can be anywhere between six months and two or more years. I suggest taking paced breaks during longer term work. It's also possible to complete sessions and later return for one or more sessions to consolidate or springboard. Working in blocks of sessions can be a good way to stay mindful of duration without committing indefinitely, while still leaving room for flexibility in pace and direction as you progress. 

A contract or client agreement is considered good practice across all coaching, counselling, psychological or psychotherapeutic settings. It's a simple, effective way of stating the expectations of both parties. All the information may not feel relevant right away but it can be helpful, and reassuring to know it's there to refer back to when needed. It covers things like scheduling and payment but also more personal things like the approach being offered or how to pause, end or question the work with accountability. I provide a client agreement, shared between an introduction call and your first session. I welcome questions, feedback and any changes that would make it feel more relevant to you. It's a living document, not a fixed set of rules and as with the therapy itself, it can be updated as things progress.