QUESTIONS ABOUT THERAPY
Frequently asked questions
If you’re considering therapy, these are some of the questions people often have before getting in touch.
Yes. You don’t need a diagnosis, a crisis or even a clear explanation of what’s wrong before coming to therapy. Some people come because something specific has happened; others simply know they’ve been feeling anxious, low, stuck or unlike themselves for a while. We can start with what you do know and work out together what feels important and what you’d like to be different.
You don’t need to prepare a story or arrive knowing where to begin. We can start with whatever feels most present — something that happened recently, a feeling you keep coming back to, or simply the sense that things are not quite right. If you go blank or find it difficult to put something into words, that is something we can work with together rather than something you need to fix before you come.
That is completely okay. Therapy is not something you have to perform correctly. People sometimes become emotional, lose their train of thought or find that words are difficult to access. We can slow down, notice what is happening and take the session at a pace that feels manageable. You do not need to apologise for having a reaction in the room.
You do not need to be in crisis or have a diagnosis to come to therapy. Some people arrive with a very clear difficulty; others simply know that they are tired of feeling the way they do or responding in the same patterns. We can use the first sessions to get clearer about what is happening and what you would like to be different. My private practice is not an emergency or crisis service.
Being able to explain a pattern and being able to respond differently aren’t always the same thing. Sometimes a reaction is an old way of protecting yourself that still takes over when something feels important. I think of it like a brick in a house that never quite sat right: the house was built around it, so the strain shows up elsewhere. Therapy can help us find that “brick”, understand what it was trying to do, and help it sit more comfortably within the whole — so you have more choice in how you respond now.
There isn’t a set format you have to follow. You might bring something that happened during the week, a relationship that’s difficult, a feeling you can’t quite shake or something you’ve been thinking about for a long time. I’ll listen, but I won’t expect you to do all the work while I sit silently. I’ll ask questions, share what I’m noticing and bring in ideas or practical strategies when I think they might be useful.
I am active in sessions, but I am not there to tell you how to live your life. I will ask questions, share what I notice and offer gentle challenge. Sometimes we might use practical strategies, imagery, metaphor or more creative ways of exploring something if talking alone is not quite enough. We can think together about what fits you rather than assuming there is one “right” answer. If something does not feel useful, we can say so and try a different approach.
Integrative therapy means I don’t expect every person to fit one particular way of working. Transactional Analysis is the main framework I use, alongside person-centred, relational and psychodynamic ideas. Depending on what feels useful, we might talk things through, look at patterns or earlier experiences, use practical strategies, or work with imagery, metaphor and other creative ways of exploring something.
Not necessarily. We’ll start with what is happening for you now. Sometimes earlier experiences become relevant because they can help explain why something feels particularly difficult or why the same reaction keeps appearing. If that happens, we can explore it together, but I don’t believe in going back into the past simply for the sake of it.
Sessions are usually weekly and, where possible, at a regular time. Meeting consistently can help the work keep its momentum and give us enough continuity to build on what we’ve been talking about. If your circumstances change or a different frequency seems more appropriate, we can talk about that together.
There isn’t a fixed length of time that suits everyone. Some people come with something fairly specific they want to work on, while others find the work develops over a longer period. We’ll keep checking in on what is changing, what still feels difficult and whether therapy is still useful. I don’t want it to become something you keep doing simply because you started.
What you tell me in therapy is treated confidentially, and I’ll explain the limits of confidentiality clearly before we begin. There are some circumstances where I may need to share information — for example, where there are serious safeguarding concerns or where I’m legally required to do so. If that ever became relevant, I would normally aim to talk with you about it first.
I offer face-to-face therapy at Oldgate Therapy Centre in Morpeth and Bab’yama Wellness Hub in Berwick-upon-Tweed. I also work online with adults across the UK. You can choose the option that works best for you, subject to availability.
Sessions are £60 and last 50 minutes. If you need to cancel or rearrange, please give at least 48 hours’ notice. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice are charged at the full session fee.
The introductory call lasts around 15 minutes and isn’t a therapy session. It gives you a chance to tell me a little about what has brought you to therapy, ask any questions and get a sense of how I work. I can also explain practical things such as availability and where we could meet. Afterwards, you can decide whether you’d like to arrange a first session — there’s no pressure to continue.
Have a question I haven’t covered?
If there’s something you’d like to know before getting in touch, feel free to email me at info@owenshielstherapy.com and I’ll be happy to answer it.