Frequently Asked Questions
What are Third Culture Kids?
Third Culture Kids (TCKs) is a term first used by sociologist Ruth Hill Useem, to describe children who spend a significant part of their childhood in places that are not their parents homeland. Often these kids move more than once, and differently from immigrants, do not expect to stay indefinitely in the new country.
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is a term used to describe the differences in behavior and brain functions as part of the natural variety of human diversity, rather than as something deficient. There is no “right”, or “wrong” way for our brains to work. The differences in how we interact with the world are part of the richness of humanity, to be embraced and accepted. This term often applies to people who are on the autism spectrum, who have ADHD, dyslexia or are gifted, amongst others.
What happens after I get in touch for the first time?
We start at the beginning. First, we’ll set up a free, 20 minute consultation for you to see if I am a good fit for you. After that, should we decide to move ahead, we can schedule sessions as you need. In the beginning, I recommend regular, weekly sessions, though this is flexible and some clients later decide they prefer every other week.
What can I expect in our first session?
In our first couple of sessions together, you can expect an assessment that helps me get to know you and your needs better. I will ask you questions about your personal and medical history, and what brings you to therapy, as well as what has and hasn’t worked for your mental health in the past.
How do I know you are the right therapist for me?
For most people, it takes 2-3 sessions to start to feel comfortable and establish a relationship. Most importantly, you need to feel safe and heard by your therapist. It is a personal relationship, and it is important that you feel that the fit is right.
What about confidentiality?
Your privacy is very important to me. Everything you tell me in our sessions will remain confidentinal. These are the situations in which I would share your information:
There is something you would like me to share with someone & you give me permission to share it
If you were to pose a danger to yourself, or another person
In the case of suspected abuse of a child or vulernable adult
By order of a court of law
How much does it cost?
A single, pay-as-you-go, 50 minute session is €70.
For those who know they are undertaking longer term therapy, I offer a reduced fee of €60/session if you pay for 3 sessions ahead of time, for a total of €180.
As I do not work with insurance, I do offer a reduced fee of €50 for those who are in financial need, such as students. If you think this is your situation, please ask about a reduced fee.
When will I hear back from you?
I try and respond as quickly as possible: usually within 24 hours on weekdays. If you haven’t heard back from me in 48 hours, please check your junk folder or try again, in case I missed your first message.
What about Minors? How do you do therapy with adolescents?
I work with adolescents in the same way that I work with adults, respecting their confidentiality. However, in the case of minors I do require parental consent, an intial parental intake session (1-2 sessions) and throughout therapy, the occasional parental “check-in” session. This is to ensure the saftey of the minor, as well as to encourage their parent(s) remain as supportive and engaged as possible. Sometimes minors choose to participate in these sessions, other times, I only speak with the parent(s): in either case, I only disclose information that is relevant and that the adolescent has given their consent to disclose (*with the exception of any disclosed danger or harm to self or others, see above).
How long will therapy take?
Therapy relies on building a trusting therapeutic relationship, and each person arrives at this process from a different starting point. Ultimately, the number of sessions you will have will depend on you and your unique circumstances. Both your internal factors, such as your history and the issues you bring to therapy, and ongoing, external factors such as time constraints and financial considerations, can play a role in determining how long therapy lasts.
For some, a brief intervention of 3-12 sessions is sufficient.
Many others will benefit from longer-term work, up to a year or longer.
There is absolutely no commitment to a certain number of sessions with me once you begin: the only commitment I ask you make is to yourself.
How to best prepare for my online therapy appointment?
You will need a stable internet connection, and a smartphone/tablet/computer to be able to join the video call.
It is important that you choose a quiet, safe location where you can speak privately and freely. If there are others around you, let them know that you will be engaged in a meeting and that you should not be interrupted during that time.
Who is this not suitable for?
I am not trained to offer psychopathological diagnosis, medical advice, nor can I prescribe medications. If you are actively suicidal, suffer from diagnosed long-term complex mental health conditions, or have an ongoing addiction, this form of counselling may not be suitable for you. I would suggest you seek help from an in-person mental health specialist or psychiatrist near you. In an emergency, call 112 (EU).