What is therapy?
The therapeutic process might seem shrouded in mystery, but in reality, we're just a group of  ordinary people, who really care about other people, are good listeners and want to help. The difference is that we have the training, skills, qualifications and  experience, and are able to provide an objective view, in a way that you might not get from family or friends. In therapy, everything that you discuss with your therapist will be confidential* which means that you can speak openly and without fear.

*There are some limits to this confidentiality which your therapist will discuss with you at the first session.

How much will a session cost?
Usually sessions will be 50 minutes long and cost between £60 and £80, depending on the therapist, type of therapy and length of sessions. For example, couples sessions might be longer and cost slightly more. You can meet with your therapist in person or online. We also offer a limited number of low cost sessions at £18 per session, please get in touch for more information. 

What do therapists actually do?
​Your therapist will be a non-judgemental, neutral person, who will do their best to listen to you and understand what you're going through. They will help you to learn about yourself by reflecting things back to you, noticing patterns, and offering you feedback, in a thoughtful and considerate way. Therapists have been trained in specific techniques and strategies to help you to deal with life problems, and they can also help you by teaching you some of these techniques. Therapy can provide you with a safe space to learn and practice new skills. Therapists aren't mind-readers - we'll try to go gently and only at your pace, so there's no need to be afraid! 

Some therapists might just listen, and others might offer tools, or teach you techniques, sometimes called psychoeducation. Usually your therapist will tailor the sessions to you, and you can discuss with your therapist the approach that works best for you.

Are there different types of therapy?
Yes, you might have heard of different types of therapy - sometimes some are better than others at helping with specific issues, but all methods can have positive results. The terms 'counselling' and 'therapy' are used interchangeably to describe the same thing.

Person-Centred or Humanistic therapy: A person-centred therapist puts you at the heart of the process. Your therapist will focus on building a strong, positive relationship with you, whilst providing an empathic ear. The therapist will help you to to find areas where the real self and ideal self differ, and encourage change or acceptance. The majority of our therapists at TherapEast take a person-centred approach.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This theory is based on the idea that a person's thoughts influence their behaviour and that by changing our behaviour, we can learn to manage our thoughts. We have CBT trained therapists working at the centre too.

Psychoanalysis: This has a more traditional image of a bearded therapist, couch and notebook. Although this form of treatment has become less popular, it can still be helpful, by focussing on childhood experiences and unconscious drives. 

Integrative or Pluralistic therapy: Combines one or more of the above approaches, to create a blend that's tailored for your specific needs.

Psychotherapy: To call yourself a Psychotherapist you need a formal psychotherapy qualification, which might be longer and more in-depth than a counselling qualification, such as a degree or masters in psychotherapy. Although psychotherapists are trained to work at greater depth, many counsellors also undertake longer-term work with clients, looking at the structure of the client's personality and the world around them.

Psychiatry: A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor, who is able to diagnose and prescribe. 

There are other types of therapy, including DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Internal Family Systems (IFS) etc. Some of TherapEast's therapists have training around these areas - get in touch to find out more. 

How quickly can I see someone?
Depending on availability you should be able to see someone within the next 1-7 days. However, TherapEast is not an emergency service. In an emergency, you should contact your GP, call 111 or visit the NHS website for more information.

How many sessions will I need?
This depends very much on how long you want to stay in therapy for. Some clients get what they need from 4 or 6 sessions, other people work with the same therapist for years. You can discuss this with your therapist at the first session - their job is to make sure you get what you need out of the sessions - so if you only want a few sessions, let us know and we can make sure that we find a therapist that's right for you.  

Are there limits to therapy?
Your therapist should not tell you what to do, but instead help you to find the best course of action for yourself. Your therapist will help you to solve your own problems, rather than solving them for you. Some mental illnesses can't be managed by therapy alone and your therapist might recommend that you also see a GP or other professional. Therapy requires some work on your part - your therapist might ask you to keep a journal or do homework. Reflecting on what you've discovered and practicing new skills can be more helpful than pushing everything to the side each week between sessions. Your therapist isn't your friend, and it's important to have firm boundaries around the relationship. Your therapist also can't read your mind, so if you hide information, or don't tell them the full story, it's hard for them to reflect back an accurate picture of what's going on. If your therapist can't help with a particular issue, they can recommend someone else, or signpost you to services that can help instead.

Does the centre have disabled access?
Regretfully, the centre is on the first floor of a building with stair-only access. If this is difficult for you, we can arrange to meet in-person at an alternative local location, or online.

If you need to speak to someone urgently
If you need help right now you can access NHS services, please call 111 or in an emergency, 999. There are other online and telephone services who can help, including the Samaritans (call on 116 123). You can text "SHOUT" to 85258 for free from all major UK mobile networks. You'll then be connected to a volunteer for an anonymous conversation by text message.

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