Frequently Asked Questions Fareham & Portsmouth

No. Most people do not, and working that out is our job rather than yours. Tell us what is going on in your own words and we will suggest the approach and the therapist most likely to help.

You tell us a little about what is going on and what you would like to change. We answer your questions, explain your options and, if you would like to go ahead, match you with the right therapist. There is no obligation to book anything.

No. You can contact us directly. Many people come to us without speaking to their GP first.

We match you on the free call, based on what you need, your preferences and when you are free. If it does not feel right after a session or two, you can change therapist, with no awkwardness.

Counselling starts from £72 a session. Hypnotherapy, CBT and couples counselling start from £90, and EMDR is £126 a session. Online and in-person sessions cost the same. See all our prices.

Yes. What you say stays between you and your therapist. The only exceptions are if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or a legal duty to share. Your therapist will explain this at the start.

Our rooms are at Arena Office, Lancaster Court, 8 Barnes Wallis Road, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 5TU, easy to reach from Portsmouth, Southampton and Gosport. Directions and parking.

Yes. Every therapy we offer is available by secure video, anywhere in the UK, at the same price as in person. You can also mix online and in-person sessions. About online therapy.

Counselling is a talking therapy. You talk about your thoughts and feelings with a trained counsellor, who helps you make sense of them, notice patterns and find your own way forward, in a confidential space.

Almost anything that is weighing on you, including anxiety and stress, low mood, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, trauma, low self-esteem, anger and big life changes. See everything we work with.

It depends on you. Some people find 6 to 12 sessions is enough, while others prefer longer to explore things in more depth. You can review it with your counsellor as you go.

You talk about whatever feels most important that day, while your counsellor listens, asks questions and helps you explore what is going on. You set the pace, and you never have to talk about anything you are not ready to.

Only if you want to. Your counsellor may explore the past if it is affecting how you feel now, but the focus is always on what is most helpful for you.

Many people feel some relief simply from being heard. Counselling can also feel hard at times, as you work through difficult feelings, and change usually builds gradually over several sessions.

A counsellor is trained, neutral and outside your everyday life, so you can say things you might hold back with people close to you, without worrying about how they will react.

CBT, or cognitive behavioural therapy, looks at how your thoughts, feelings and actions affect each other. You learn to spot unhelpful patterns and try new ways of thinking and responding, so the pattern loosens its grip.

CBT is recommended by NICE for many common difficulties, including anxiety, panic, depression, OCD, phobias, health anxiety and sleep problems.

Most people have between 6 and 12 sessions of 50 minutes, and some notice progress within the first few. Your therapist will talk this through with you at the start.

Usually, yes. Small tasks between sessions help you practise new skills in everyday life, which is a big part of why CBT works. They are always agreed with you.

CBT focuses on what is happening now. Your therapist may look at the past if it helps explain a current pattern, but the emphasis stays on the here and now.

It can feel uncomfortable at times as you face things you have been avoiding, but your therapist works at a pace that feels manageable, and most people find it gets easier quickly.

CBT helps many people, but not everyone. If it is not the right fit, your therapist will talk with you about other approaches, such as counselling or EMDR.

EMDR helps your mind process distressing memories that feel stuck. While you briefly bring a memory to mind, your therapist guides your attention from side to side, and the memory gradually loses its emotional charge.

No. EMDR does not rely on retelling the whole story. You bring the memory briefly to mind, and your therapist guides the rest.

A single distressing memory often takes 3 to 6 sessions. More complex experiences can take longer, and your therapist will review this with you.

Most people find it calmer than they expect. Feelings can come up, but you stay in control, you can pause at any time, and your therapist makes sure you feel settled before each session ends.

Yes. EMDR is recommended by NICE and the World Health Organization for post-traumatic stress.

Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to reach a calm state, often called hypnosis. In that state, your hypnotherapist helps you change automatic habits, fears and responses.

No. You stay aware and in control throughout. You can speak, open your eyes whenever you like, and you cannot be made to say or do anything against your will.

Yes. Hypnosis is a natural state of focused relaxation, a little like being absorbed in a good book or film.

Most people remember everything. Hypnosis is a state of focused awareness, not sleep or unconsciousness.

It depends on what you want to change. Stopping smoking is usually one 2 hour session, and phobias and habits often take a few sessions. Your hypnotherapist will talk this through with you.

Most people can, as long as they are willing to give it a go. You do not need to believe in it, just be open to trying.

Yes. Hypnotherapy can work well alongside counselling or CBT, and some of our therapists combine approaches, for example Hypno-CBT.