Therapy Services
I have worked as a therapist for over 25 years, across a range of different settings (NHS Primary Care Mental Health, Higher Educational settings, and privately), and with a range of adult clients, of all ages, different cultural backgrounds, and gender identities. To find out more detail about me and my professional experiences, see the About Me section on my website.
My belief is that everyone is different, which supports my stance on being open to each client’s story, beliefs, and values. Over the years, I have worked with a great many clients who have benefitted from therapy given the right sort of support. It is also true to say that, when my approach has not proved effective, I am committed to helping clients find the right type of support for them.
Rather than produce a list of issues that I am experienced in working with, I would encourage you to contact me and share your concerns. We can discuss your expectations of therapy, and I can share with you what is available to address your issues, what I can offer you, and how all those options may help.
If you are interested in finding out more about therapy with me, then do contact me and we can arrange a free 15-minute online consultation in the first instance before booking a first session. I see people online using Microsoft Teams.
My fee for therapy is £85 for each session, payable in advance, using a bank transfer, the details of which I will share prior to our first session.
Please note, I have limited availability for private therapy. If I do not have space when you contact me, I will help you find another therapist or, if you prefer, I hold a short waiting list for people specifically wanting to work with me.
I work in accordance with the data protection legislation and relevant regulations and am registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). I will discuss the details of how I manage any personal data before we commence any work together.
My Online Services
01.
I have found that some people are unsure about entering into a professional therapeutic relationship. Often, people are aware of their emotional distress and are seeking knowledge, insight, and options. My offer of a one session consultation aims to fulfil these three points. We will spend up to an hour together online, discussing what you are experiencing, and how that might be affecting your mental health, and/or wellbeing. Our goal would be to identify what may have given rise to and may be maintaining your issue. I could list several common factors that have a negative effect on people, such as work, relationships, trauma etc., but I am reluctant jump to conclusions about people and their experiences. I prefer to work with you and your own explanations of your lived experiences, collaborating to find the words to describe issues that affect you, and understand how they currently affect your life, and then to explore options to improve.
I try to make this consultation down to earth and explorative; time is limited in this session, and we should focus on getting to the nub of your problems. When we can agree a working theory, I will help you to understand what is available to address those issues, and crucially, what is available and how it might help you to improve or resolve those issues. That could result in you choosing to work with another therapist, or to approach another service such as one that specialises issues such as trauma, abuse, addictions etc., or the NHS services available. You may choose not to take any action at the time. If you choose to continue working with me, we will agree how we are to approach your issues, how often we meet, how many sessions we plan to undertake, and what you can expect in terms of an outcome. Helping you to develop personal insight will start with this consultation and will serve to help your decision making going forward. Knowledge and insight are the key goals of the consultation, but I hope that you will find it therapeutic too.
Charges for One Session Consultations are £85 per session, payable before the session takes place. If a session is cancelled or rearranged, I ask for at least 24 hours' notice. This enables me to make changes to my diary and utilise my time effectively. I may charge £35 for a cancellation within the 24 hours period. I cannot accommodate regular or repeated cancellations or rearranged appointments. If this is an issue, we will discuss the value of therapy at that time in your life.
02.
Following the one session consultation you may choose to work with me in addressing your problem. We will have agreed upon an approach to our work together and will have an expectation of an outcome. Psychological therapies, despite what some might suggest, do not provide an absolute assurance of a successful outcome, I do not set expectations around cures, and recovery. I pragmatically accept that life will challenge us all at varying times and that it is how we respond to those challenges that define the quality of our wellbeing and mental health.
Our work will often be grouped into four session blocks, reviewing progress and outcome along the way but committing to a focused review on each fourth session. In this way, I hope to empower you to use the knowledge and insight you gain, in order that you have agency and can consider your options as circumstances change, making choice about how you wish to progress. That may mean that you choose to take a break from therapy, move to another therapist, or that you have achieved the outcome you looked for. Our work together can be over the short, medium, or long terms. It is a working collaboration between two adults and in that sense, we can discuss your aspirations and how best to move forward.
Charges for Individual Therapy are £85 per session, payable before the session takes place. If a session is cancelled or rearranged, I ask for at least 24 hours' notice. This enables me to make changes to my diary and utilise my time effectively. I may charge £35 for a cancellation within the 24 hours period. I cannot accommodate regular or repeated cancellations or rearranged appointments. If this is an issue, we will discuss the value of therapy at that time in your life.
03.
I am a European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) Accredited Global Senior Practitioner in Coaching. When asked what that means, I reply quite simply 'You know when people say they are living their best lives, well, I am a psychological therapist and personal development coach. I coach people who are ready to live their best lives. Identifying and dealing with any issues that may be obstructing their career, business, or personal aspirations'.
EMCC define coaching as;
'... partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential'
Personal Development Coaching is a process by which a client can enter a professional relationship with a coach. The purpose of the relationship is for the client to explore and develop personal qualities and skills, examples of which would be
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Better self-awareness and self-reflection
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Increased individual performance
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Higher motivation and commitment
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Better leadership skills
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Personal growth
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Higher quality of life/work balance
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Clarity in purpose and meaning
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Better management of change processes
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Improved communication and relationships
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Efficient implementation of acquired skills
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Sustainable form of personal development
I do not provide coaching to any person who is under the age of 18. If this applies to you, I can help with information on referral to other agencies or coaches providing coaching services which is specifically directed to a younger age group.
If you are interested in exploring what coaching has to offer you personally or professionally, please consider reaching out to me on richard@masontherapy.co.uk and we could arrange to meet up over a Teams video call for that conversation. There will be no charge for that conversation (I feel sure that just the call itself will be worthwhile) and if you decide to follow up and start a coaching relationship, I am pricing my coaching services at £150 per hour. Coaching sessions last for between 90 minutes and 2 hours.
04.
I supply Online Clinical Supervision for BACP Registered and/or Accredited Counsellors and Psychological Therapists. If you are interested in working with me as a supervisor, please email me to arrange to meet up and discuss you needs and preferences. Charges for Clinical Supervision are £80 per hour, payable before the session takes place. If a session is cancelled or rearranged, I ask for at least 24 hours' notice. This enables me to make changes to my diary and utilise my time effectively. I may charge £35 for a cancellation within the 24 hours period.