Anyone can come to therapy. People usually come when they are unhappy with something in their life, and they haven’t been able to resolve it themselves. It might be anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, bereavement, or a whole host of other reasons. If you want to understand whether therapy is for you, you can call me for a free telephone consultation on 07901981050 or email me at Ashleen@clearmindlondon.co.uk

What should I expect from individual therapy?

Individual therapy is a joint process between me, the therapist and you, the client. You may not want to talk to your friends and family about what you are going through, or perhaps you are receiving responses such as ‘Oh don’t worry about it, it will be ok’ or ‘Cheer up’. These words may be well meaning but in reality they often don’t help the situation. It is difficult to face hard times alone so individual therapy allows you to be heard without interruption, giving you the space and time that you may not get in everyday life.
Individual therapy has many benefits such as encouraging self-exploration, increasing self-awareness, identifying healthy boundaries, helping improve communication, and building self-esteem. There are no issues too big or too small. You don’t have to be experiencing a trauma to come to therapy, sometimes we need help with everyday life. Together we can talk about what you are feeling and thinking and discuss strategies and tools that will help you when you are feeling down, overwhelmed or in a situation where you feel trapped and alone. Individual therapy can help you take back control of your life and feel more empowered.

Do you offer relationship therapy?

Yes, relationship counselling also known as couples counselling can help couples with a multitude of issues. It is often thought that couples only come for therapy if they are in crisis, but this is not always the case. Whether it is small or something more complex, relationship counselling can help you resolve your issues and move forward.
Couples counselling can help you explore your thoughts and feelings with your partner, gaining new insights and ways to relate to one another. During our sessions you can speak freely where problems can be discussed and explored, identifying techniques and interventions. It requires commitment and honesty and often means you have to let go of the fixed ways of doing things in order to explore alternatives.
I am not there to take sides, rather I will facilitate the communication between you and help you both to feel heard. I will help you explore your relationship, identifying similarities and differences, and how you can appreciate these differences.
You do not have to be in a romantic relationship to have couples counselling, it can be used by anyone who wants to improve their relationship such as two people in a family, or business partners.

Do you work online?

I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation where we can briefly discuss what you're looking for in therapy. This is a chance for you to share a little about what’s brought you here and to see if you feel comfortable moving forward. If it feels like a good fit, we can then arrange an initial session.
This is also your space to ask any questions you may have about the process. There’s absolutely no pressure to commit after this session—what matters most is that you feel therapy is the right step for you.
If you decide to continue, we’ll agree on a regular time to meet each week. Sessions are 50 minutes long and will take place on the same day and time each week, creating a consistent and supportive space for your growth.

I offer both short and long-term therapy. This can be discussed in the initial session.

Evidence shows that for effective therapy you need to attend regularly otherwise progress may be slower. I appreciate that life can be hectic, so I will always try to accommodate you as much as possible. We will set a day and time and aim to meet at the same time each week. If you have any questions about this, please call or email me.

Absolutely! The only time I will ever break confidentiality is if I think that there is a risk to you or someone else, you are involved in terrorism, crimes against children or if the courts request information. In these cases I will always endeavour to speak with you first. I also receive regular supervision to ensure a high standard of practice and all clients will be discussed anonymously. Supervisors are also bound by this confidentiality.