Reasons People Seek Therapy

People seek therapy for many different reasons, including:• Stress, anxiety or pressure related to work, family or daily life;
• Difficulties in relationships, past or present;
• Coping with loss, change, trauma or other significant life events;
• Feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, anger, sadness or hopelessness;
• A desire to better understand yourself and your patterns;
• Seeking greater fulfilment, balance or direction in life;
• Feeling stuck, lost or sensing that something isn't quite right.

Psychotherapy offers a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space to explore difficulties, gain greater self-awareness and find new ways of coping with life's challenges. Some people come to therapy seeking support through a specific issue, while others wish to better understand themselves, their relationships or recurring patterns in their lives.I work with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, addiction, relationship difficulties, bereavement, identity, sexuality and significant life changes. My approach is primarily Gestalt Psychotherapy, which focuses on self-awareness, the present moment and understanding ourselves through our relationships with others. I believe that meaningful change comes through the quality of the therapeutic relationship and I aim to provide a supportive, respectful and non-judgemental space in which this can develop.I welcome people from all backgrounds and strive to honour the diversity of human experience, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, culture, religion, disability, social background or political beliefs.I have completed four consecutive years of training on a Postgraduate Diploma (Masters Level) in Gestalt Psychotherapy.
I have a background in television & theatre production, writing and lecturing.We would usually meet weekly for an initial period before reviewing how things are progressing together.
If you would like to arrange an initial session, please get in touch via the contact form.

FAQ

What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a talking therapy which helps you to understand and change any conditions that are causing distress or difficulty in your life. It can be beneficial for people with a recognised mental health condition as well as anyone interested in gaining greater self-awareness in order to fulfill their potential. Psychotherapy involves exploring feelings, beliefs, thoughts and relevant events, sometimes from childhood and personal history, in a structured way with someone who is trained to help you do it safely and effectively.What are the possible benefits of Psychotherapy?
• You’ll learn more about yourself: Therapists listen to your story, bring patterns of thought & response into awareness and help you to make connections. They might offer guidance or recommendations if you feel lost, but they don’t tell you what to do. Therapy can empower you to take action on your own.• Therapy can help you achieve your goals: If you aren’t sure of what your goals are, therapy can help you clarify them and set realistic steps to meet them.• Therapy can help you have more fulfilling relationships: Whether you’re single or in a relationship, therapy can help you address difficulties with relating to others, such as insecurity in relationships or difficulty trusting your partners.• You’re more likely to have better health: research supports a link between mind and body wellness. Untreated mental health issues can impact physical wellness. On the other hand, people in good emotional health may be more able to deal with physical health issues that arise.• Therapy can lead to improvement in all areas of life: If you feel like something is holding you back from living life as you envisage it, therapy can help you address this. When you aren’t sure what’s keeping you from making changes, therapy can help you discover the answers.How do I know if this therapy is right for me?
Research shows that successful therapy is highly dependent on the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. If at the end of our first session you feel we will not be able to work well together, there is no obligation to continue.How long do therapy sessions last?
Each therapy session lasts approximately 50 minutes and all our work and arrangements are included in this time. I can offer longer sessions on request. We would normally commit initially to meet on a weekly basis for 8 sessions and then make a plan, based on what we have explored together and then review progress on a rolling basis. Regular attendance, especially at the commencement of therapy, is very important to progress.Are sessions confidential?
The content of our sessions is confidential to you and me. The only time when this would not apply is in exceptional circumstances where there is a legal reason to break confidentiality if there is a risk to yourself or to others. Even in this situation, I would try to involve you in any decision to break confidentiality. We will fully discuss this during our first session together.How much do sessions cost?
£50 per session. I have some concessionary places at further reduced rates for students in full-time education or those in positions of financial hardship. We can discuss this at the initial meeting. At present, these places are taken and a waiting list is in operation.How is your work supervised?
I receive regular clinical supervision from a senior clinical supervisor, who is responsible for reviewing my professional practice.Do you comply with any recognised standards?
I abide by the Code of Ethics in Professional Practice which is consistent with the standards set by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).Can I bring my dog to therapy sessions?
Absolutely - dogs welcomed, puppies encouraged. My one rule is that you're clearing up any accidents!

Privacy Policy & Data Protection
As a psychotherapist, confidentiality concerning your personal data and sensitive information is of the utmost importance to me. I am legally bound by the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and by the requirements of my professional indemnity insurance. The information you provide on the contact form of this website is stored securely in order that I can contact you via the method (telephone numbers and/or email address) you have provided regarding appointments or to answer any query you have submitted. I do not share this information with any third party, in any way, at any time. This website does not use cookies to collect any personal information about you.

Social Media Disclaimer
A psychotherapy social media page is not psychotherapy, a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or a substitute for mental health care. A social media presence as a psychotherapy professional is not seeking an endorsement, request, or rating from past or current clients. No social media posts should be considered professional advice. The information contained in posts is general information for educational purposes only. In order to honour professional boundaries, ethical nuances, and not engage in and prevent any potential form of dual-relationship, I will not follow or 'friend' past or current clients on any social media platforms. The intention for using social media for psychotherapists is for marketing, education, advocacy, thought-leadership and to provide content in a technologically changing field. We want to do this while making clients aware of the risks and benefits of engagement on social media where psychotherapists are present. A therapeutic relationship is a professional relationship and in today's technological climate, a social media presence or following your therapist on social media is not to be confused with a relationship outside of therapy. Ethical, professional and therapeutic boundaries will be followed and honoured at all times. Nothing found on any of my social media pages is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, a decision made, or action taken in reliance upon information contained in this website or any other internet sites linked to it in any way.
Damian George Psychotherapy does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of my social media pages including but not limited to, content on Instagram & Facebook.

CONTRACT OF EXPECTATIONS

Thank you for following the link, as discussed in our first session.On this page you will find our therapeutic contract of expectations and a contact details form. Please read through carefully - if there is anything you're unsure of or not happy with, please discuss it with me at our next session, otherwise please click the 'Agreement' button at the bottom of the form, once you've filled in your details. By clicking the 'Agreement' button and submitting your details, you are agreeing to the terms & conditions of the contract of expectations.

Aim of Psychotherapy:
It is my aim to provide you with a meaningful opportunity to explore your personal and relational issues in a safe environment. I aim to facilitate, support and guide you without judgement or prejudice. If at any time I feel I can no longer help you, I will offer to refer you to someone else. I will support any desire on your part to seek an alternative therapist and will assist you through this process.Confidentiality:
To ensure open exploration of the concerns which have brought you to therapy, I maintain confidentiality in accordance with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Ethical Principles and Code of Professional Conduct. Under the same UKCP Code of Ethics, I will keep client records which will be in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. I receive regular supervision in accordance with the UKCP Code of Ethics and my supervisors abide by the same standards, which covers any information I may need to share. Your identity will not be revealed unless this is required as outlined in the Exceptions to Confidentiality below.Exceptions to Confidentiality:
If at any time I feel that you or anyone else is in danger / at risk of harm, I will endeavour to discuss my decision for breaking confidentiality with you. There may be occasions when I will have to pass on information to the relevant authorities in cases where human safety is concerned including the following instances:1. If you threaten to cause harm to another person;
2. If I/we believe a child or vulnerable/protected adult is at risk of harm or abuse;
3. If the courts or authorities instruct me to give information;
4. If you share information about a proposed act of terrorism or other illegal act or crime
- either past, current or proposed.I retain the right to break confidentiality without prior consultation with you, should I consider that the urgency of the situation requires me to act immediately in order to safeguard the physical safety of yourself and/or others. In certain cases, you, the client, may request that I, the therapist, share information concerning you. In these cases, I require written permission from you before I can carry out your request.Recording Sessions:
As discussed when we first met, all our sessions are recorded in lieu of physical notes. All recordings are securely stored at home, on an external, password protected hard-drive which is not connected to the internet. As well as giving me your verbal consent during the session, by submitting this form you are agreeing to the recording of our sessions.Sessions / Missed Sessions:
Sessions last approximately 50 minutes and are expected to begin at the agreed time. Any session that begins after this time, due to late client arrival, cannot be extended beyond the agreed end-time. If you do not arrive or contact me within 15 minutes of the start of a booked session this will be considered a missed session and I will not be available for the remainder of the hour. The missed session will be charged at full rate.Advance Cancellations:
If for any reason you need to cancel a booked session in advance, please give me at least 48 hours notice, as discussed in our session. In instances where you give no or insufficient notice, the full fee will be charged for the missed session. In the event of a serious accident or emergency, please put your wellbeing first and notify me at your earliest convenience, or I will follow up with you within 24 to 48 hours of your missed appointment. If for any reason I have to cancel a booked session, I will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours’ notice, and you will not be charged for the session. Where possible, I will try to offer you an alternative date & timeContact between Sessions:
If you need to contact me between sessions, I am generally available for contact between 9am and 7pm from Tuesday to Saturday. I will not always be able to respond immediately but all messages will be responded to, as time permits between sessions, within these hours.I am not a 24hr crisis or emergency service. If you need to speak to someone urgently, or outside of my hours, please contact your GP, NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.Holidays:
I will give you a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice of any planned holiday dates when I will be unavailable. I require (where possible) at least 2 weeks’ notice from you in respect of any holidays you are taking where you will be unavailable for sessions.Number of Sessions:
I ask that you to commit to 8 sessions before realistically evaluating the effectiveness of therapy. After this, the contract can be reviewed & renewed. General reviews will occur as we proceed with therapy and these may include changes in dates and times or frequency of sessions. I fully understand that your life circumstances may suddenly change for reasons beyond your control. You may want or need to discontinue therapy with me. Whatever the reason, I respect your decision but ask that you give two weeks’ notice (where possible) so that we are able to discuss your decision and bring your therapeutic journey to a planned, safe & meaningful conclusion.Session Fees:
£50 per session (Rates are correct as at 1st April 2025). Any changes apply only to new or renewed contracts and will be clearly communicated to you in advance.Methods of Payment:
Payment is to be made by cash or BACS transfer at the beginning of each session. Alternatively, sessions can be prepaid via BACS transfer.

YOUR DETAILS

Thank you for your message

Taking the first step can often be the hardest part and I appreciate you taking the time to make contact. I will respond to your message as soon as I can. In the meantime, please know that your enquiry has been received and that I look forward to connecting with you soon.