Who comes for therapy?

People often come for therapy when they want to understand themselves better, perhaps feeling there is something missing in their lives, even if they don’t know what it is. Some feel that their friends and families aren’t helpful, or they don’t want to burden them, or feel ashamed of their problems. Others come having tried different types of therapy that haven’t helped them sufficiently or haven’t worked for them in the long term.

I am experienced in working with individuals who are experiencing many types of problem such as:
• Relationship difficulties, both at home or work
• Depressive feelings
• Feelings of anxiety and an inability to manage stressful situations
• Complicated feelings to do with bereavement or an experience of having got ‘stuck’ after the death of a loved one
• Eating disorders
• Traumatic life events
• Physical symptoms
• Feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness.
• Significant life changes such as pregnancy, retirement, children leaving home, divorce or redundancy
• Blocks in creativity, work or studying

I am trained to work with both adults and adolescents, 16 years plus.

How long will it take? How often will I need to come?

Psychotherapy can be brief with a specific focus, or over a lengthy period of time on a weekly or more frequent basis. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is unstructured, in that there is no set agenda or fixed targets. It is usual that change can take time.

How to proceed if you think you would like psychotherapy.

If you think psychotherapy might be what you are looking for, please get in touch with me by email or phone. Leave me a message with your contact details as well as some idea of times when you might be free to talk.
I will then arrange a suitable time to speak with you in confidence about your situation and if I think I can help, we can fix an initial consultation time.

What happens in the initial consultation?

An initial assessment consultation is an opportunity to discuss what has brought you to seek help . It aims to reach a formulation of your concerns and find out whether psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the most appropriate treatment for you at this point in time. The first meeting frequently lasts up to one and a half hours. Sometimes it may be necessary to meet more than once before reaching a decision. If psychoanalytic psychotherapy is not the most appropriate treatment I will try to recommend another service.

How much will it cost?

The initial consultation is £120 and this is payable on the day.

The fee for ongoing psychotherapy is £90 each fifty minute session and is payable monthly.

Once regular ongoing psychotherapy times are agreed, missed or cancelled sessions will need to be paid for at the full fee so that this time can be guaranteed for you.

I am registered with Bupa: http://finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultant/view/222501/ms_julia_harris

Aviva and AXA PPP

What hours are available?

I work in the daytime on most days of the week. I am unavailable in the evenings or at weekends. 

What about confidentiality?

I abide by the British Psychoanalytic Council’s [BPC] code on ethics and confidentiality ensuring that appropriate standards of professional conduct are maintained.