Question 1

How much do therapy sessions cost?

Accepted Answer

The costs for therapy sessions are as follows: £100 for a 50-minute CBT or EMDR session, £150 for a 90-minute extended session (ideal for EMDR), £450 for a 2.5-hour EMDR intensive session, and £1250 for a comprehensive EMDR intensive package (includes a 1.5-hour assessment and three 2.5-hour EMDR sessions).

Question 2

Who is therapy for?

Accepted Answer

Therapy is for adults (18+) experiencing PTSD, trauma, anxiety, stress, or trauma‑related difficulties. Many clients are high‑functioning, responsible, and capable, but feel stuck in survival mode or find it hard to switch off.

Question 3

What types of therapy do you offer?

Accepted Answer

I offer evidence‑based, trauma‑informed therapy including:
 • EMDR therapy
 • EMDR Intensive therapy
 • CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
The approach is tailored to your needs, goals, and nervous system.

Question 4

What is trauma-informed therapy?

Accepted Answer

Trauma‑informed therapy recognises how past experiences affect the brain and nervous system. It prioritises safety, choice, pacing, and collaboration. You are never pushed to talk about anything before you are ready.

Question 5

What is EMDR therapy?

Accepted Answer

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence‑based therapy used to treat PTSD, trauma, and anxiety. It helps the brain process distressing experiences so they no longer feel as overwhelming or present.

Question 6

What is an EMDR Intensive?

Accepted Answer

An EMDR Intensive involves longer, structured blocks of EMDR therapy delivered over one or several days. It allows focused trauma processing without the stop‑start nature of weekly sessions, while still prioritising safety and regulation.

Question 7

Do I need to be in crisis to start therapy?

Accepted Answer

No. Many people who seek therapy are functioning well in daily life but feel overwhelmed, tense, disconnected, or exhausted internally. Therapy can be helpful before things reach crisis point, especially for adults who are used to managing on their own.

Question 8

What does hyper independence mean?

Accepted Answer

Hyper‑independence often develops when someone has learned to rely on themselves for safety. Therapy provides a supportive space to explore this without judgement, while respecting autonomy and control.

Question 9

Is therapy suitable if I'm high functioning?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many high‑functioning adults seek therapy when coping strategies stop working or become exhausting. Therapy supports change without requiring you to fall apart or lose control.

Question 10

Do I have to talk about the past in detail?

Accepted Answer

No. Therapy is paced and collaborative. You are not required to share details before you feel ready. With EMDR, processing can occur without extensive verbal retelling.

Question 11

Is therapy confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Therapy is confidential and follows professional and ethical guidelines. Confidentiality limits (such as risk of harm) will be clearly explained.

Question 12

Do you offer online therapy in Somerset and the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I offer online therapy for adults across Somerset and throughout the UK. Online therapy can be as effective as in‑person therapy for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and stress when delivered in a trauma‑informed way.
Many high‑functioning adults choose online therapy for privacy, flexibility, and ease of access.

Question 13

Is online therapy safe for trauma work?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when appropriately assessed. Online trauma therapy includes careful preparation, exploration around dissociation,  grounding strategies, and ongoing check‑ins to ensure safety and stability.

Question 14

Do you offer in person therapy in Somerset?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In‑person therapy is available in Wellington, Somerset for adults seeking face‑to‑face support for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and stress.

Question 15

How is CBT different from EMDR?

Accepted Answer

CBT focuses on understanding and changing unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns that maintain anxiety or stress. EMDR focuses on processing traumatic or distressing experiences. Many clients benefit from a combination of both.

Question 16

How do I know which therapy is right for me?

Accepted Answer

This is discussed during a free consultation. Together, we briefly explore your needs, therapy history, and preferences to decide whether CBT, EMDR, weekly therapy, or an EMDR Intensive is the best fit.

Question 17

What happens in the first session?

Accepted Answer

The first session focuses on understanding what brings you to therapy, your goals, and how therapy works. There is no pressure to disclose more than feels comfortable.

Question 18

How long does therapy last?

Accepted Answer

The length of therapy varies depending on your goals and the approach used. Some people prefer short‑term focused work, while others benefit from ongoing support.

Question 19

Can therapy help with sleep difficulties?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Trauma, anxiety, and stress often affect sleep. Therapy can help address the underlying nervous system patterns contributing to insomnia or disrupted sleep.

Question 20

What if I've tried therapy before?

Accepted Answer

Many clients seek therapy after previous approaches felt limited or incomplete. CBT, Trauma‑informed therapy and EMDR can be effective even if therapy hasn’t helped in the past.

Question 21

How do I get started with therapy in Somerset?

Accepted Answer

You can begin with a free consultation to ask questions, discuss your situation, your needs and explore whether online therapy or in‑person therapy in Somerset feels like the right next step for you.

Question 22

What mental health issues can you help with?

Accepted Answer

I can help with PTSD, trauma, depression, anxiety, panic, phobias, intense stress, OCD, and low self-esteem.

Question 23

Are you an accredited therapist?

Accepted Answer

I am proud to be I an accredited EMDR Practitioner with EMDR UK. In addition, I hold full, dual accreditation with the BABCP as a CBT Psychotherapist and CBT Supervisor.

What that really means is that I’ve spent years training, practicing, and being closely supervised in how to help people move through difficult experiences safely and effectively.

Question 24

Are there any issues you do not cover in your therapy services?

Accepted Answer

I do not offer crisis support or help for high-risk situations involving suicide or self-harm. For urgent assistance, please contact your GP or the Samaritans. Additionally, I do not specialize in treating children and young people, eating disorders, or recurring psychosis and schizophrenia.

Question 25

What is the Adaptive Information Processing model in EMDR?

Accepted Answer

The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model is the foundation of EMDR. The AIP model proposes adverse memories with the original emotion, belief and bodily sensations are not processed fully or processing is blocked which leads to psychological disturbance and distress. When processing is blocked the memory can be triggered in the present day and lead to the following symptoms: Intrusive memories; nightmares; flashbacks, intense emotional reactions and negative self beliefs. 
​
Example of adaptive processing:
Daily stress - memory of a minor argument or setback without intense emotional distress because the brain has integrated other information from other experiences and learning that you have got through it. 
​
Example of blocked processing where adaptive information processing has not happened:
Being in a road traffic accident - continuing to feel the physical sensations, emotions and cognitions as if the accident were still happening. This gives the sense of reliving and continuing to feel in danger even though the danger has passed.
​
Processing being blocked or information not being adaptively processed is not your fault or anything you have done wrong. It is likely the nature of what you have lived through was experienced at such an intensity that regions of the brain automatically respond in a different way. EMDR can support processing to reduce the vividness and associated disturbance being experienced.

Question 26

How does EMDR work?

Accepted Answer

Neuroplasticity is a beacon of hope that reminds us of our brain's ability to change and restructure. Just because an experience has not been processed or integrated and has become stuck does not mean it has to stay like this. 
​
EMDR works through: 
1. Reactivating the traumatic memory, through reactivating the memory is temporarily liable for change

2. Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) is introduced, BLS taxes working memory to reduce the vividness and emotionality to support adaptive information processing and enhances communication between the left and right hemisphere in the brain.

3. New and adaptive information is integrated.

4. The memory is re-stored adaptively, when the memory is brought to mind less disturbance is experienced.
​
EMDR is not seeking to rewrite an experience or invalidate what happened, the aim is to integrate information which then impacts on reducing the disturbance experienced when it is brought to mind and the impact it has on you in the here and now.​

Question 27

What software do you use for online EMDR?

Accepted Answer

Online EMDR is just as effective online as it is in person. I use specific, secure programs that deliver the bilateral stimulation (Bilateral Base) when meeting online. As long as you have a private, confidential space to meet online where you will be uninterrupted this can work well. Offering online EMDR has been great for working with people who are not local to Somerset.

Question 28

CBT or EMDR which therapy is right for me?

Accepted Answer

Both CBT and EMDR are evidence‑based therapies, but they work in different ways.
CBT therapy focuses on:
 • Understanding and changing unhelpful thought patterns
 • Developing coping strategies for anxiety and stress
 • Improving emotional regulation and behaviour patterns
 • Managing symptoms in the present
CBT is often a good starting point if anxiety, stress, overthinking, or sleep difficulties are the main concern.
EMDR therapy focuses on:
 • Processing traumatic or distressing memories
 • Reducing emotional and physical reactivity to the past
 • Helping the nervous system recognise that the danger is over
EMDR may be recommended when trauma, PTSD, or unresolved past experiences continue to drive anxiety or overwhelm.
In many cases, CBT and EMDR are used together — CBT to build stability and coping, and EMDR to process trauma when appropriate.

Question 29

Why choose me?

Accepted Answer

I am an experienced CBT Therapist holding full accreditation with the BABCP. I have used CBT therapeutically since 2014 and supervise other CBT therapists. Some people I have worked with previously had a negative experience of CBT and will report a very different experience and outcome working with me. I am passionate about CBT and confident with the impact it can have. I am adaptive in my approach and will strive to make the therapy bespoke and tailored to you so you can get as much as you can from the therapy

Question 30

What are the EMDR phases? What can I expect?

Accepted Answer

EMDR is characterised by distinct phases:
History Taking Phase - exploration of presenting problem, trauma history, past memories linked to current problem, present triggers. The purpose of this phase is to develop a shared understanding and form a therapy plan.​

Preparation Phase - this includes psycho-education, establish safety and trust, develop resources (e.g. calm space, container, attachment figures). Purpose of this phase is to develop emotional stability and readiness for processing. Emotional regulation and the ability to access and be alongside distressing experiences is needed at this stage before proceeding to the processing phase. If dissociation is experienced a longer period of time is often needed to spent here in the preparation phase before moving into processing. This is to ensure safe and ethical EMDR.​

Processing Phase (Assessment, Desensitisation, Installation, Body Scan, Closure) - Purpose is to support adaptive information processing. EMDR uses a three pronged approach, targets processed in this phase may be past experiences that led to the current problem, present triggers that activate distress or future templates to support adaptive resources

Question 31

How much does therapy cost?

Accepted Answer

I charge £100 per 50 minute session of CBT or EMDR and £150 for 90 minute sessions. EMDR Intensives are charged at £1250 - this is a comprehensive personalised package which includes 9 hours worth of therapy time within a condensed period, plus a personalised workbook.

Therapy FAQs EMDR Therapy, CBT Therapy and EMDR Intensive for PTSD, Trauma and Anxiety in Somerset and Online Across the UK

Therapy FAQs

EMDR Therapy, CBT Therapy and EMDR Intensive for PTSD, Trauma and Anxiety in Somerset and Online Across the UK