Getting Started
What to Expect from Therapy with Genovieve
Starting therapy can feel uncertain, especially if you have never done it before or you are worried about having to explain difficult experiences.
You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what to say. You do not need to choose the right therapy yourself. And you do not have to tell me everything in the first session. We begin with where you are now and what you would like help with.
Professional Accreditations & Practice Standards
BACP Registered
CNHC Registered
2,000+
Fully Insured
Before Your First Session
You can start with a simple conversation
You may already know that you want therapy. You may also be unsure whether therapy is right for you, which type you need or whether you are ready to begin. That is why the first step can be a short conversation. You can tell me briefly:
- What has brought you here
- What feels difficult at the moment
- What you would like help with
- Any questions you have
- Anything that makes you nervous about starting therapy
You do not need to give me your full history.
Your First Steps
From first call to first session
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Step 1: The initial conversation
A short first call gives you a chance to speak with me before deciding whether you would like to begin therapy. We may talk about what you are looking for, what is affecting you now, whether my approach may be appropriate, fees, availability and location or online options. It is not a full therapy session. It is a first conversation.
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Step 2: No detailed preparation
You do not need to write everything down beforehand, rehearse what you are going to say or have a diagnosis. If it helps, think about one question: what would I most like help with right now? That is enough to begin.
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Step 3: Your first therapy session
The first session is usually focused on understanding you and what you would like from therapy: what is happening now, what brought you to therapy, your goals, relevant background and what currently helps. You are not expected to tell your entire life story.
Do I Have to Talk About Everything?
No. You decide what you share and when.
This is particularly important in trauma therapy. There may be experiences you do not feel ready to describe. You can tell me that. You may also want to talk around something before talking directly about it. That is okay. My role is not to push you into disclosure before you feel able to work with it.
What If I Do Not Know Where to Begin?
You do not need the perfect words
Sometimes people know that something is wrong but find it difficult to explain exactly what. You might say:
- “I keep feeling anxious.”
- “I do not understand why I react like this.”
- “Something from the past is still affecting me.”
- “My relationships keep following the same pattern.”
- “I think I need help, but I do not know what kind.”
We can begin there.
Building Safety Before Difficult Work
Trauma therapy does not have to start with the hardest memory
Before working directly with difficult experiences, we may spend time understanding what helps you feel steady enough for therapy. This may involve:
- Understanding triggers
- Recognising emotional responses
- Grounding
- Identifying support
- Learning ways to manage distress
- Understanding patterns
- Building trust in the therapeutic relationship
There is no need to rush this stage.
How Is the Pace Decided?
We work at a pace that is manageable for you
Therapy is collaborative. I may suggest an approach, ask questions or explain why something could be useful. You can also say:
- “Can we slow down?”
- “I do not want to talk about that today.”
- “I need a break.”
- “I do not understand.”
- “That does not feel helpful.”
- “Can we come back to this another time?”
Your feedback is part of the therapy.
What If I Become Upset?
Difficult emotions can be talked about without forcing the process
Therapy may sometimes involve difficult feelings. That does not mean you are expected to continue regardless of how you feel. If something becomes too much, we can pause, slow down or change focus. You do not need to prove that you can tolerate distress in order to “do therapy properly”.
If We Use EMDR
Do we begin EMDR straight away?
Not necessarily. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is one approach I may use within trauma therapy. Before any processing work, we first consider your current situation, what you want help with and whether EMDR appears appropriate.
What happens before processing
Preparation is part of the work. Before working directly with a difficult memory, we may explore what you want to work on, how the issue affects you now, what happens when you become distressed, what helps you feel grounded, whether the timing feels appropriate and any questions you have.
What happens during EMDR
During parts of EMDR, you may be asked to bring an aspect of a difficult experience to mind while engaging in bilateral stimulation, which may include guided eye movements. You are not expected to give a detailed spoken account of every part of the experience. The work is monitored as it develops, and you can ask to pause at any time.
If EMDR does not feel right
EMDR is not the only approach I use. Depending on what you need, I may also draw from somatic psychotherapy, CBT, DBT-informed skills, hypnotherapy and counselling and psychotherapy. We do not need to force one approach simply because it was discussed at the beginning.
Between Sessions
Do I have homework?
Not always. Depending on the therapy, you may sometimes be invited to notice patterns, reflect on something we discussed or practise a strategy between sessions. You should understand why something is being suggested. Therapy should not become a long list of tasks you are expected to complete perfectly.
If something comes up between sessions, such as a thought, a feeling, a dream, a trigger, a body sensation, a relationship pattern or a situation you want to discuss, you can make a short note and bring it to the next session if you want to.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
There is no fixed answer
People come to therapy with different experiences, needs and goals. Some difficulties are more focused. Others may have developed over a longer period or involve several areas of life. For that reason, I do not promise a particular number of sessions. We can review the work together as therapy develops.
Confidentiality
Is what I say confidential?
Confidentiality is an important part of therapy. Before therapy begins, you should understand how your information is handled, how records are stored, who may have access to them, how long information is retained and the professional limits of confidentiality. There are circumstances where confidentiality may have limits. Those circumstances should be explained clearly rather than hidden in small print.
Fees
What does therapy cost?
Trauma / EMDR Psychotherapy
£100 per session
Hypnotherapy
£100 per session
Couples / Family Therapy
£95 per session
Home Visit Therapy
£120 per session + travel
Where available.
Low-Income Therapy Place
£75 per session
Please ask when you enquire if you would like to know whether this may apply.
Cancellations
What if I need to change my appointment?
The practice policy asks for 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. Appointments changed with less notice may still be charged, and missed appointments are also chargeable. If something changes, contact me as soon as you can.
What If Therapy Is Not Right for Me?
You are allowed to say so
You may decide you want a different approach, the timing is not right, you want to pause, you want to end therapy or you would prefer another therapist. You can talk about that with me. Therapy is a professional relationship, and it is important that you can raise concerns about the work.
Ending Therapy
How does therapy end?
You can choose to end therapy. Where possible, it can be useful to talk about ending before the final session. This gives us an opportunity to:
- Review the work
- Notice what has changed
- Discuss anything unfinished
- Talk about how you want to move forward
- Bring the therapeutic relationship to a considered close
There is no requirement to remain in therapy indefinitely. If circumstances change, such as work, family, health or finances, and you are considering a break, we can talk about what that means and what feels appropriate.
First Session Checklist
You do not need much
Before your first session:
Know the appointment time
Check your confirmation email or booking information.
Know where you are going
Confirm the clinic location or online arrangements.
Give yourself some space afterwards
You may want a little time before immediately returning to other commitments, if possible.
Bring your questions
You can ask about the process at any point.
Remember that you can slow down
You do not have to tell everything in one meeting.
Not ready to speak with a therapist yet?
You may prefer to begin with something small. I have created a short Grounding Guide with practical ideas you can explore at your own pace. You do not need to book therapy to receive it. It is not therapy, a diagnosis or emergency support.
Where I Work
Where sessions take place
I work with clients across Buckinghamshire and Kent, and online.
Buckinghamshire
Sessions around High Wycombe, Marlow, Bourne End, Stokenchurch, Lane End and Cressex.
Online
Confidential video sessions from the comfort of your own home.
Common Questions
Starting therapy FAQs
Ready to Have the First Conversation?
You do not need to have everything figured out.
You can arrive uncertain. You can ask questions. You can take your time. And you can decide what you are ready to talk about. The first step is simply a conversation.