Unless you tell me you are going to harm yourself or someone else, the sessions are confidential.

For you to achieve your aims in relation to the issue that brought you here.

Different types, models or theories of therapy make less difference to outcome than the way you get on with your therapist.

Research paper: Therapeutic relationship predicts therapy outcomes, especially when this involves shared goals, agreed methods, and a strong interpersonal bond.

You can stop any time. You don't have to work on everything all at once: you can have episodes of therapy with gaps between. Long-term issues can take time to turn around.

Up to you. It is helpful to start with 6 sessions and then review. We also review as we go along.

Progress towards your aims is what we're interested in. We'll be checking that all the time.

Usually people have aims but they've not put them into words. In the sessions you'll find aims that fit your situation.

At the start, while we build our understanding, it's helpful to have weekly sessions. Later, when you have more control of the issues, you may want to space the sessions out, or have episodes of therapy with gaps between. You decide.

Very little. The therapeutic relationship makes more of a difference than the mode of therapy.

Research paper: Counselling and Psychotherapy: Is There Any Difference?

Medication and counselling can be used together. Where helpful I can liaise with your doctor or psychiatrist.

I will be asking what your diagnosis means to you and how it has helped. I will not assume you are identical with your diagnosis (everyone experiences a given disorder differently). Where helpful I can liaise with your doctor or psychiatrist.

When you want someone else to change. When you are using psychotropic drugs a lot. When you are having a psychotic episode.