Your questions answered

You may have questions about what to expect when beginning therapy.

Below are our answers to some common questions. If you can’t find the answer you need, please contact us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Definitely. Therapists don’t just listen. They are highly trained to talk with you in a way that gets to the bottom of whatever is on your mind. Since 2006, we have helped thousands of people resolve all kinds of emotional, psychological and personal problems. Therapy is a good experience for most people.

Definitely. Therapists don’t just listen. They are highly trained to talk with you in a way that gets to the bottom of whatever is on your mind. Since 2006, we have helped thousands of people resolve all kinds of emotional, psychological and personal problems. Therapy is a good experience for most people.

At your first appointment we will ask a few questions, discuss some of the circumstances that have brought you to therapy and look at how therapy might be useful to you. At this first meeting we will also determine which of our therapists is the best match for you. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you have about counselling or psychotherapy.

At the end of this initial consultation, you will be able to decide whether you would like to continue with further appointments.

All kinds of people find counselling useful and our clients are of all ages and come from all walks of life. Personal life events can cause anyone problems or distress and time spent with a therapist can be invaluable in sorting these issues out.

In most cases, clients choose to continue with the therapist they meet at their initial consultation. However, it’s absolutely fine to ask for a different therapist, either at the initial consultation or by contacting info@onetherapy.london afterwards.

Also, if the therapist you first meet thinks someone else would be a better fit for you, they will suggest another therapist so that you continue with the best person to meet your needs.

Our therapists provide a private, confidential space in which you might make sense of your individual circumstances

  • identify and resolve issues that are bothering you
  • experience a uniquely understanding and non-judgmental relationship
  • develop greater self-awareness – learn who you are
  • increase your understanding of of your past
  • increase your ability to cope with the future.

We have male, female and non-binary therapists, gay, bi and straight therapists, relationship specialists, psychosexual therapists and therapists from different cultural backgrounds.

Our therapists are all fully qualified and registered members of the British Association for Counselling  and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). We select only the most passionate, empathic and professional therapists, all of whom are London-based and UK trained.

Our Senior therapists have at least 10 years’ experience seeing clients and have been with One Therapy for five years or more. Many of our Senior therapists have over 20 years’ experience working  with their clients.

Weekly therapy is the only kind of therapy that is effective for making long-term personal changes. It takes consistent, weekly appointments to make real progress in therapy. Changing yourself or your personal circumstances takes commitment and patience.

Speak to your therapist if you can only do occasional or ad-hoc sessions. There are different ways your therapist can support you.

We understand that nobody likes paying for sessions they cannot attend. Your appointment time and your therapist will be reserved for you every week. No other person can use your appointment time. This is our commitment to you.

If you give your therapist notice that you can’t attend your appointment, they will offer you any alternative times they have available that week. If you are unable to make those times, payment for your missed appointment will be due. This is your commitment to your therapist.

Unfortunately, we only see clients who are 18 or over. If you are under 18, you may want to look for a therapist who specialises in adolescent or child therapy.

We do not judge behaviour or personal life experiences and we respect each client for their individual choices. We do not discriminate on any grounds, including age, race, gender, sexuality, religion, criminal background, health status, disability or ethnicity.

There are various approaches in therapy, including psychodynamic, integrative and humanistic. If you know you want a particular approach, take a look at our therapists’ profiles to choose someone who works in that way.

If you don’t have a particular approach in mind, don’t worry! Feeling comfortable with your therapist is much more important. Most of our therapists have worked with all kinds of personal issues.

You may be undecided whether to have therapy in person, online or by telephone. We offer all of these and you may choose to come in person some weeks and have online sessions when you’re travelling, for example. We are happy to work in whatever way is best for you.

For more information about online or telephone counselling, please continue here.

Sometimes, depending on the issues and emotions that need addressing. We support our clients through many challenging emotions and help build their resilience, so difficult emotions feel more manageable. Therapy can also be exciting, enlightening and life-changing.

Yes. Everything you discuss in therapy is confidential. There are certain legal exceptions to this, which we explain at your first ongoing appointment.

Yes. You may end your sessions whenever you feel necessary, just by letting your therapist know. You don’t have to explain or give any notice. Or you may wish to take a counselling break and resume therapy, when you are ready, at a later date.

Please let us know. Trust your instinct because your relationship with your therapist is at the heart of the work. If you let us know, we can easily set you up with another therapist who might suit you better.

All feedback will be received in confidence. We appreciate comments on our services. Email feedback to Dwayne Jackson at jackson@onetherapy.london or telephone 0333 207 9330.

No, sorry. A person cannot be sent for counselling. They must choose to use our services and make the first approach themselves.

Everyone’s needs in therapy are different and people progress in therapy at different rates, so predicting how many sessions you will need is difficult. Once you and your therapist have had a few sessions together, a conversation with them may help you to establish realistic expectations.

Therapy is not going to work if your partner really doesn’t want to be there. However, what’s more often the case is that people have mixed feelings – hopes as well as fears.

If a partner can be encouraged to come for the initial consultation, with no obligation to continue, the therapist can help to explore their hopes and fears. Hopefully the partner will arrive at a point where their fears are lessened and couples counselling feels like a more positive choice.

You could ask yourselves if the problems you’re having arise because of how the two of you relate to each other (in which case couples counselling would be good) or would they still be problematic if you were single (in which case individual counselling would be helpful).

At the initial consultation, the two of you can get the therapist’s help with your decision. It’s simpler to transfer from couples counselling to individual therapy than the other way round.

Yes. The only limitation is that it shouldn’t be with the same therapist. It can be within the same practice though. We have strict procedures in place to ensure that nothing is passed between the therapists involved, so all sessions remain confidential.

About us

Appointments available

Mondays to Fridays
7.30 am until 8.30 pm
Saturdays and Sundays
8.00 am until 6.00 pm

Call to book a first appointment
0333 207 9330

Connect with Us

What to expect in counselling

When I trained as a psychotherapist, me and my fellow students were given the assignment of doing something we’d never done before. The course tutors wanted us to get in touch with how scary it can be to do something new, to feel the fear of the unknown. I chose to …

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What to expect in couples counselling

I’m often struck by the anxiety that I see on the faces of clients when they come to their first couples counselling appointment. They are invariably wondering what’s going to happen. Will they have to reveal things they don’t want to say in front of their partner? Will their…

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Counselling for individuals

Personal counselling can be about anything that is on your mind.

Read more

Couples counselling

Couples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find solutions.

Read more

Our therapists

We have over 30 qualified and experienced therapists to choose from.

Read more

One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Nina Jacobson - Therapist
Nina Jacobson

Nina is an integrative psychotherapist who creates a safe, non-judgmental space in which clients feel comfortable to explore their thoughts, feelings and patterns of behaviour Nina recognises that it can be useful to talk to someone outside your circle of friends and family to gain an understanding of your challenges and emotions She helps clients think about their...

Oxford Circus

Damla Ciftcioglu - Therapist
Berrak Damla Çiftcioğlu

Damla offers psychodynamic psychotherapy in a supportive and confidential environment where you can explore the emotions, behaviours and challenges shaping your life Her approach focuses on understanding the deeper, often unconscious factors influencing your thoughts and experiences Whether you’re navigating a specific situation or grappling with long-standing personal...

Oxford Circus

Gregory Hamlin - Therapist
Gregory Hamlin

Gregory is a psychodynamic therapist offering both short-term and long -term therapy to individuals He appreciates how difficult it can be to seek help and therefore places great importance on creating a warm, empathic and safe space for clients to explore whatever is on their minds Gregory helps individuals uncover and understand the underlying patterns that shape...

Oxford Circus

Lara Vasey

Lara is an integrative therapist who offers short- and longer-term therapy to individuals Starting therapy can feel daunting, but Lara’s warm demeanour helps her clients feel more comfortable She creates a confidential and non-judgemental environment, which enables her clients to open up about their thoughts, feelings and experiences With empathy and curiosity, her...

Kensington / Notting Hill

Therapist Antonella Bonetti
Antonella Bonetti

Antonella is a psychodynamic therapist offering short- and long-term therapy to adults She also sees couples facing issues within their relationship Since obtaining her Master’s degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy, Antonella has worked in different organisational settings (charities, NHS and university counselling services) helping people from...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Michelle Taylor
Michelle Taylor

Michelle is an accredited psychodynamic therapist providing a calm and confidential space to allow her clients to unravel their deepest anxieties whilst feeling understood Michelle has particular experience working with adults experiencing bereavement and loss, anxiety, and depression Michelle also works with clients with work related issues, relationship issues and those...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Tom Deitch
Tom Deitch

Tom is a popular and approachable psychotherapist who has extensive experience working with people from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds He brings a wealth of life experience, training and understanding to his work, offering help with depression, trauma, anxiety, abuse, sexual problems, addiction, relationship difficulties and many of the other obstacles life...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Shelly Klein
Shelley Klein

As a psychodynamic therapist Shelley brings a wealth of experience to her work and supports her patients to talk about those aspects of their lives they are finding painful, upsetting or difficult to deal with, in a confidential, non-judgmental and peaceful setting Shelley is particularly interested in working with those who are experiencing depression, bereavement, high...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Stamatia Lorentzou
Stamatia Lorentzou

A senior therapist, Stamatia has been with One Therapy London for many years She holds a doctorate in counselling psychology and is a registered psychotherapist Stamatia knows it can be difficult to understand or cope with the strong feelings that life’s experiences can sometimes bring Talking with an experienced therapist is a way of thinking things through and...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Asma Gharbi
Asma Gharbi

Asma offers psychodynamic, humanistic and integrative therapies to individuals and couples She tailors her approach to meet the needs and preferences of her clients She offers short and long term therapy Asma provides a non-judgemental space for her clients, where they can feel safe to explore their feelings, make sense of their experiences and forge deep lasting...

Oxford Circus

Kensington / Notting Hill