Catrin Thorp Jungian Analytical Psychotherapist

Working Together

Thinking about embarking on a journey of psychotherapy can feel very daunting. It might be the first time for deep internal thoughts and feelings to be shared with another and being in the ‘spotlight’ can feel very intimidating. In response to this, I would say that psychotherapy is a ‘leap of faith’ for many but when the ‘right’ therapist is found, it can also feel like a relief once the work gets underway. I would also say that although there is a spotlight to some degree (the focus is very much on the needs of the patient and not of the therapist), it is also a very collaborative process.

For that reason, it is important to sense the potential of a good working alliance in the initial sessions and to ask the questions: do I feel comfortable in this room? Do I sense that I can begin to talk with this person? Are they well qualified and registered? Do I trust this?

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Therapy Sessions

I am able to work with patients at different frequencies. The minimum requirement is to meet for one session per week but it is not uncommon for me to see patients more regularly. This depends on a number of factors which are discussed in the initial consultation and reviewed frequently throughout the treatment.

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What To Expect

Initial Consultation

After initial contact is made by email and/or phone, an initial consultation will be offered. Clear instructions are given as to where my consulting room is, how to access the building, where to park and the nearest bus routes. The first meeting will often be a little longer than the usual 50-minute format of ongoing therapy sessions so that there is plenty of time to speak, listen, ask questions and have a ‘taster’ of what ongoing therapy with me might be like.

Further Sessions
In some cases, a joint decision can be made after the first consultation to begin ongoing work together. However, it is also possible to have more than one exploratory session at the beginning especially if there is some uncertainty (from the perspective of the patient, therapist or both) as to whether working together is the ‘right’ way forward.

If an agreement is made to commence work, sessions will begin as soon as a regular day and time can be found, and no end date will be set.

I work Monday-Friday from 8am until mid/late afternoon.

A Note About Collecting Data
For any ongoing patient, I request a contact address, phone number and email address. I also ask for the name and address of the GP that a patient is registered with.
FAQs

Clinical Supervision

I am an approved clinical supervisor and I enjoy supervising counselling and psychotherapy colleagues as well as trainees. I also have considerable experience of working with people who have roles in church contexts (parish priests, senior church leaders, lay workers) and I can offer supervision in this context which is more ‘pastoral’, rather than clinical, in its approach.

Supervision sessions can be held weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on my availability.

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Areas of Expertise

I am able to work with a number of psychological difficulties such as anxiety, depression, grief, eating disorders, childhood trauma, addictions and others, as well as difficulties related to specific issues such as infertility, domestic abuse, relationship breakdowns, sexuality and work stress.

I have considerable experience of working with people of faith and those for whom a sense of spirituality is integral to a sense of self. I also have experience of working with people who have a background in the creative arts – music, art, drama, writing.
I enjoy working carefully and creatively, with compassion as well as rigour. I believe that psychotherapy should be worth the investment of time and money that patients make.
Despite outlining above some of the issues I am able to work with, as well as the professional backgrounds that some of my patients may have, I believe it is important to say that I don’t have a particular ‘speciality’ or ‘typical’ patient. In other words, my main area of expertise is to be open to working carefully with anyone who is suffering from psychological distress and to commit to exploring how the distress may have come about, however long that process may take, so that understanding and transformation can occur.
About Me

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.”
C.G. Jung

Frequently Asked Questions

Some common questions are answered below.
If your question isn’t amongst them, please do get in touch.

I am interested. What should I do next?

Please contact me to arrange an initial consultation.

What happens in the initial consultation?
The first meeting is an opportunity for me to begin to hear about why you think psychotherapy might be suitable for you. It is also about you meeting me and seeing whether I might be someone you feel comfortable working with. An agreement to commence working together might emerge from our first meeting; sometimes it can take a little longer to reach a decision.
How long is each session?

The initial consultation can last up to 1hr 15 minutes. After that, each session lasts 50 minutes and will take place at the same time each week.

Is it one session per week?
Sessions might begin at a frequency of one per week but it is common to meet more frequently if that is found to be helpful. I regularly see patients twice and three times each week.
How much does it cost?

I have a standard fee which I review annually. Please contact me for more details.

I am happy to hear from anyone who is very keen to engage in long-term psychotherapy, even those with financial constraints.

How is ‘Psychotherapy’ different to ‘Counselling’?

Very broadly speaking, counselling tends to focus on issues which are at the forefront of your mind without attempting to understand too fully where those issues may have come from, and will usually be short-term work. Psychotherapy is an open-ended process which offers you the opportunity to explore yourself in more depth; to take your time so that you are able to notice whether there are patterns within you that may have been repeating throughout your life, from your childhood onwards, without you really knowing it. Whether you need counselling or psychotherapy is never a black-and-white issue and it is possible to move from one approach to the other depending on your circumstances.

How much therapy will I need?
This is not something that can be known for certain at the beginning of treatment. Therapy can last for six-twelve months, especially if there is a specific issue to be worked through but, equally, it can continue for a number of years.
Is it confidential?
Yes. It is of utmost importance that the work adheres to clear boundaries and ethical guidelines.
I have had some counselling/therapy before. Does that matter?
Not at all. It will be interesting to hear of any previous experiences you have had and to think about how they have impacted on your decision to explore further therapy.
Am I too old to start??!
Absolutely not! People often find themselves in therapy at whatever time is ‘right’ for them. It is never too late to explore your life and to think about ways of living in a fuller and more satisfying way.
‘Analysis’ sounds a bit scary. Will I be pulled apart?!? 
A common misunderstanding of ‘analysis’ is that the therapist’s role is to scrutinise the patient to such an extent that the patient feels totally demoralised. This is absolutely not the intention of Analytical Psychotherapy. Whilst being in therapy can be challenging, it might be more helpful to think of analysis as putting together the pieces of a jigsaw, painting a picture or making connections between past and present, inner and outer.
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