Frequently asked questions.

Psychological therapy is a collaborative process in which you work with a trained therapist to explore and make sense of difficult experiences which may cause distress or limit your wellbeing and/or day-to-day functioning. At Ember Therapy, therapy is not about being told what to think or feel — it is about creating a safe, consistent space in which you can begin to understand yourself more deeply, process what has happened, and find a way to move through life with a little more ease.

Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of safe and effective therapy. Everything you share in our sessions will be kept strictly confidential. There are a few legal and ethical exceptions to this confidentiality. These occur only when there is a serious and credible risk of significant harm to you or another person, or when we are legally required to take action. These situations are rare, and we will always strive to discuss any concerns with you directly before taking any action, provided it is safe to do so.

All clinical records and personal data are securely stored in a practice management system that complies with GDPR requirements. This is in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Your information will never be shared with third parties without your explicit consent, except in the limited circumstances mentioned in the confidentiality section above. You have the right to request access to the information we hold about you at any time; this is known as a Subject Access Request. Additionally, you can request that your information be corrected or, in certain cases, deleted. For full details on how your data is collected, stored, and used, please refer to the Ember Therapy Privacy Policy at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions about how your information is handled, please do not hesitate to contact us.

There is no single answer to this. The length of therapy depends on the nature and complexity of your experience, your goals, and how things unfold as we work together. Some people find a focused course of six sessions helpful; others benefit from longer-term work over twelve or eighteen sessions or beyond. Your therapist will always review your progress together and make decisions about the length of your work collaboratively.

You are always free to end therapy at any time. If you feel that therapy is no longer right for you or that you need a break, we ask that you let your therapist know so they can discuss it with you. Endings are an important part of the therapeutic process, and wherever possible, we would love the opportunity to bring our work to a considered and thoughtful close together. That said, we understand that this is not always possible, and your decision will always be respected without question.

Progress in therapy is not always linear, and it can sometimes feel harder before it feels easier, particularly when working with loss and trauma. Your therapist will review your progress regularly throughout your work together, using validated psychological questionnaire measures alongside open, honest conversation. If at any point therapy does not feel right or helpful, please let your therapist know so we can always adjust our approach.

The 15-minute consultation call is complimentary. A single 60-minute therapy session is £130. An initial psychological assessment is £200 for 90 minutes. Session packages are available in 6, 12, and 18 sessions, each offering a discount on the single-session rate. Full fee details are available on the “Services & Fees” page.

Ember Therapy is dedicated to making specialist psychological therapy accessible to everyone. We understand that the cost of private therapy can be a barrier for some individuals. To address this, we offer a limited number of concession-rate spots to those facing genuine financial hardship, including students, people on low incomes, and those currently unemployed. If you feel a concession rate may apply to your circumstances, please reach out directly via the contact form or email hello@ember-therapy.co.uk.

Ember Therapy is registered with Vitality, WPA, AXA Health and Aviva. If you are insured with one of these providers, please get in touch and we will guide you through the process. It's a good idea to check with your insurer whether psychological therapy for perinatal loss is covered under your policy, and whether you need pre-authorisation before starting.

Psychological therapy is available through the NHS, though waiting times can be lengthy, and specialist perinatal trauma support is not always available in every area. The most common route is through your GP, who can refer you to your local mental health services or to Talking Therapies. For perinatal mental health specifically, many NHS Trusts have dedicated Perinatal Mental Health Teams or a Maternal Mental Health Service which offer specialist support for those experiencing mental health difficulties in the context of pregnancy and the postnatal period. Your GP or midwife can refer you to these services. Additionally, some charities listed in the “Support and Resources” section offer free counselling and support that does not require an NHS referral. If you are unsure where to start, your GP is always a good first point of contact.

At present, all therapy at Ember Therapy is offered online via a secure, confidential video platform. Face-to-face sessions are not currently available; however, we hope to offer them in the near future. If in-person therapy is important to you, please do get in touch, and we will let you know as soon as this becomes available. Many clients find that online therapy is just as effective and often more accessible than in-person therapy.

No, you do not need a GP referral to access therapy at Ember Therapy. You are welcome to self-refer by contacting us through the contact form or by email. However, it may be worth informing your GP that you are accessing private psychological therapy, particularly if you are also receiving other NHS support.

Ember Therapy requires at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling of sessions. If a session is cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice, the full session fee will be charged. We understand that life can be unpredictable and that unforeseen situations may arise. We strive to handle these circumstances with care and flexibility whenever possible.

The free 15-minute consultation is an informal call; a chance for us to briefly connect before you commit to psychological therapy. We will talk about what brought you here and what you are looking for, and we will answer any questions you have about the process or how we work at Ember Therapy. At the end of the call, you are free to take your time before deciding whether to proceed.

The first session is simply a space to begin; to share what has brought you to therapy, in whatever way feels right and at whatever pace feels manageable. There is no agenda, and no pressure to have everything figured out. Your therapist will begin to get to know you and explore what you hope therapy might offer.