Online therapy across the UK and internationally

How I work online

We meet by video, using a secure, encrypted platform, in sessions that run just as they would in my therapy room. We begin with a free 20-minute introductory conversation, so you can get a feel for how I work and we can think together about what you are looking for. After that, sessions are 60 minutes at £90, or, for some EMDR work, 90 minutes at £135, agreed with you in advance.

Online work suits a lot of people. You might live abroad, or be an English-speaking expat who would like to work with a UK therapist. You might be in a rural area, or somewhere without a local specialist in EMDR, IFS or art psychotherapy. Or you might simply prefer the ease and privacy of meeting from your own home. Whatever brings you here, we can talk it through in the free introductory conversation and decide together whether online work feels right for you.

Does online therapy work?

Yes: for most adults, therapy delivered online can be just as helpful as meeting in person, and it is now a well-established way of working. Many people are surprised by how quickly a video session comes to feel natural, and by how much can happen in it.

This is true of EMDR too. In 2021 the EMDR Association UK reported the first published evaluation of EMDR delivered remotely, which found it worked as well as in-person sessions in reducing the effects of anxiety, depression and psychological trauma, regardless of the client’s age or gender. Online therapy is not the right choice for everyone or for every moment, and part of my work is to be honest with you if I think in-person sessions or additional local support would serve you better.

EMDR Association UK, ‘First published evaluation finds online EMDR works’ (2021)

How EMDR, IFS and art psychotherapy adapt to a screen

EMDR relies on bilateral stimulation, the gentle left-right rhythm that helps your brain reprocess a distressing memory, and this adapts well to video. I can guide your eye movements on screen, or invite you to tap gently on your own knees or shoulders in turn (self-tapping), and there are simple on-screen tools and apps that provide the same left-right signal. We find the method that feels most comfortable for you.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) translates naturally to a screen, because so much of the work is inward: noticing the different parts of you and turning towards them with curiosity and warmth. For many people, being in their own familiar space makes that a little easier.

Art psychotherapy works online as well. If you would like to make something during a session, simple materials you already have at home are all you need, such as paper and a pen, pencils, or whatever is to hand. This is always optional, and we go at your pace. The image is a way of noticing and expressing what is hard to put into words, never a test of artistic skill.

Time zones and working across borders

I work in UK time, which is GMT in winter and BST in summer. In practice this means I can usually offer sessions to clients in the UK and Ireland, across Europe, and in the eastern Americas, where the time difference still allows a comfortable appointment in both your day and mine. If you are further afield it is still worth asking, and we can look together at what is realistic.

I am registered in the UK with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and I work to UK professional standards. Regulation of online therapy varies from one country to another, so if you are outside the UK I am glad to discuss whether working together online is appropriate for where you live, as part of the free introductory conversation. I would also want you to have access to local support in an emergency, and we would talk that through too.

What you need, and how payment works

For clients in the UK, sessions are paid by bank transfer in advance, exactly as they are in person. For international clients, I will agree a practical payment method with you during the free introductory conversation, so that paying from abroad is straightforward.

Beyond that, the setup is simple. It helps to have a glass of water, some tissues, and anything that helps you feel settled within reach.

• A private, quiet space where you will not be interrupted
• A laptop, tablet or phone with a working camera and microphone
• A reasonably stable internet connection
• For art psychotherapy, simple materials you already have at home, such as paper and pens or pencils (always optional)

Explore: EMDR therapy · Attachment-informed EMDR · Internal Family Systems (IFS) · Art Psychotherapy · How I integrate these approaches · In-person therapy in Devon