FAQs
Is counselling/psychotherapy for me?
People seek therapy for any number of reasons. It may be a long-standing issue you have struggled with, or you may be at a crossroads in your life. Perhaps you feel depressed, anxious, overwhelmed or ‘stuck’ in life. You may be suffering the impacts of loss, trauma or abuse, experiencing relationship difficulties, or perhaps you are seeking more meaning and fulfilment in life. It maybe a specific issue or goal, or perhaps a more general 'feeling' that might not make much sense to you. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ – everybody is different and has unique needs and wants. Your reasons and your therapy journey will be personal to you. Whatever your reasons for seeking psychotherapy, it can be a life changing experience that can help you better understand yourself and fulfil your potential.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
The terms counselling and psychotherapy are sometimes used interchangeably. Some suggest counselling and psychotherapy can be differentiated according to level of qualification and /or accreditation, or according to the length or type of work. Counselling may involve short-term work with more immediate and transitional issues; psychotherapy can involve longer-term and more ‘in depth’ work, involving changes in your sense of self and how you experience yourself, others and the world.
How can counselling and psychotherapy help?
How you experience the process of therapy and its impact on you, your relationships and your life will be unique to you, depending in part on your reasons for coming to therapy. In general terms, therapy can help you to gain greater clarity and a broader perspective on your life and the issues you are facing. It can help you to develop awareness, understanding and compassion for yourself; you can discover new ways of being and coping, and feel more empowered to make the choices that lead you to a more fulfilling life.
How many sessions of therapy do I need?
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This will vary depending on your needs, wants and goals which we can discuss during our initial session. Some issues can be addressed or resolved in a few sessions, others may take a lot longer encompassing deeper changes to your sense of self; how you experience yourself, the world, and yourself in it.
We can discuss and agree on the number of sessions at the start, or we may agree to review and negotiate sessions on a more on-going basis. I will ensure we review and evaluate our work together regularly, to support you to make decisions about what best suits you and meets your needs. I will always respect and value any decision you make. Ideally, we will explore and agree on endings together, to suit your needs. You can of course, always choose to stop or pause therapy at any point - I won’t feel offended.
What are your fees?
Initial consultation – free
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I offer a sliding scale payment option for sessions between £40-£60, which we can discuss in our initial session.
Students and therapists in training - £40
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If you are unemployed or have a low income, please don’t hesitate to discuss alternative fees with me.
Payments can be made by cash or BACS transfer.
How do I book a session?
I offer a free initial appointment, which is a good way for you to meet me and get a sense of what working together may feel like. We can talk about your needs, wants and goals and discuss how we might work together, before you decide if what I offer as a therapist sounds helpful to you. If you are looking for something different to what I can offer, I won’t feel offended, and am happy to discuss referrals with you, if that is helpful.
If you would like to book an initial session, have any queries or perhaps want to find out more about the way I work please feel welcome to get in touch. I can be contacted by email at polly@pollydextertherapy.com or you can call and leave a text or voicemail message on 07851095347. Please leave details of your availability so I can call you back at a convenient time.
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To protect your digital privacy, I ask that if you do get in contact with me by email/message, you offer limited personal details and do not share sensitive information.
Availability and location
Availability
I am available Tuesday – Friday from daytimes, and can potentially work on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (6.30pm – 8.30pm).
Location
My practice is based in Whatton, a small village in the Vale of Belvoir, close to Bingham (approx. 3 miles), just off the A52 between Nottingham (12 miles) and Grantham (11 miles). There is a train service from Bingham, Nottingham and Grantham to Aslockton station which is a 5 minute walk away from my therapy room along a public footpath. I can provide specific directions on request.
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If you have any physical challenges or particular needs, please do let me know and we can discuss how I can support your needs to enable you to access sessions safely.
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Parking
Parking is available on the drive next to my therapy room, or on the street outside my home.
My therapy room
I work from my home where I have a warm, comfortable and private therapy room, situated on the ground floor with its own separate entrance and toilet facilities.
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Online or in person therapy?
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many therapists now offer a choice of face-to-face and online video counselling. I value very much being able to offer online counselling, particularly where and when this is the only available option. I continue to experience therapy together ‘in person’ to offer a potentially richer experience of relating, as well as offering a private and safe space away from the rest of your life. Working together online offers a different way of working. The pros and cons experienced will be unique to each therapy relationship - I am happy to explore and discuss this option, and the potential for blending the two ways of working with you, to find an option which best suits your needs.
If you are considering therapy online, it is important to carefully consider the following:
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Whether you have an appropriately private, quiet and safe space within which to undertake therapy. If this is not possible, face-to-face counselling may be a more appropriate option for you.
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Online therapy is reliant upon a stable internet connection (which is never 100% guaranteed), so it is important to consider whether you have the internet bandwidth capacity for this if you wish to meet online.
Therapy outdoors?
It might be that you would prefer therapy to take place outdoors - I am happy to explore and discuss potential options with you. Perhaps the idea of sitting face-to-face with a therapist in a therapy room feels a little intense or fills you with apprehension. It may be that sitting outside in the fresh air, surrounded by nature supports you to engage with and process your experience.
There is a private area outside my therapy room with comfortable seating which may be an option you wish to consider.
Alternatively, walking together whilst talking may better suit your needs - it may feel less intimidating for you if we walk and talk ‘alongside’ each other rather than sit face-to-face. For some people, the combination of walking, fresh air and being immersed in nature can support them to connect with their experience, and feel more grounded. Being physically active for some, can help release tensions and stimulate new thoughts and ideas.
If you are considering ‘walk and talk’ therapy, the first session would take place at my therapy room or online, where we could discuss issues such as confidentiality, how we will negotiate encountering other people if we were out walking, what we will do if the weather is bad and so on. We can also discuss and agree on a designated spot from where we can walk and talk together.
