Home | Issues and problems | Who will you see | Conditions treated | How we work | Fees and Terms | Contact us How we work The first one to four appointments are assessment sessions What is an assessment?  Due to the personal and private nature of emotional problems, many people feel anxious about talking about their problem.  Your therapist is well aware of this and will help you.  Through talking and listening, you and your therapist explore the problem from a variety of angles before deciding on a course of action which suits you.  The type of person you are, psychological factors and many other issues can all contribute to maintaining or solving a problem so assessments can take more than one session. How long will the treatment continue? Some people find that 4 to 6 sessions are enough to find a thoughtful and considered solution to their difficulties.  However, most people need more time to explore their problems from different angles.  They can then experiment with doing things in different ways before finding a new way which works for them in their particular circumstances.  Some people need some information and to discuss ways of dealing with their problem. What will the therapist do? Since 1984 we have been providing people with the space and opportunity to find a thoughtful and considered solution to their difficulties.  We will listen, and talk in a way which aims to help you to overcome or adjust to your problem in the best way.  Through sympathetic listening and skilful sensitive questioning, we undertake a joint effort to go back to the beginning of the problem, to help you to gain clarity and insight, to plan and to try out changes which will help you to make changes in yourself.  In addition we are trained in particular techniques aimed at specific, hard-to-shift problems or patterns. What will you be expected to do? Therapy is a lot like learning.  The main thing is to speak as openly as you can about yourself and your difficulties and be willing to try some new ideas or ways of behaving when that time in the therapy comes.  Often you will be asked to do a small amount of reading.  You may be asked to do some exercises (or “homework”) at home.   Copyright @ 2009 Ferga Robinson.  All rights reserved.