Jane Belinda Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
In Person in Surbiton - Online UK wide
F.A.Q
How do I know whether you’re the right therapist for me? Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and it’s important that you feel comfortable with the person you’re working with. I offer a free 20-minute consultation so we can talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what you’re hoping for and whether I might be the right fit for you. You don’t need to have everything worked out before we speak.
Do I need a diagnosis to work with you? No. You don’t need a diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental health condition to work with me. Many people come to therapy because they recognise that past experiences are affecting how they feel, relate to others or cope with life, even though they have never been formally diagnosed with trauma.
Do I need to know that I’ve experienced trauma? No. You don’t need to identify your experiences as trauma before coming to therapy. Sometimes it’s very clear what has happened; sometimes people simply know that they feel stuck, anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected or unhappy with patterns in their lives. Part of our work can be understanding what may be underneath this.
What happens in the first session? Our first session is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to be different. I’ll ask about your history where it’s relevant, but you won’t be expected to tell me everything straight away. We’ll also talk about how I work and what might be helpful for you. Most importantly, it’s a chance for us to begin getting to know one another and decide together how we’d like to proceed.
Do I have to talk about everything that happened? No. You remain in control of what you share and when. Trauma therapy isn’t about forcing you to revisit experiences before you’re ready. I prioritise safety, stabilisation and pacing, and we work together to decide what feels manageable and appropriate.
How often would we meet? For most people, I recommend weekly sessions, particularly when we’re doing trauma-focused work or EMDR. Regular sessions can provide continuity and enough space to build the therapeutic relationship and make progress.
Is EMDR the same as talking therapy? No. EMDR is a different way of working with distressing experiences and memories, although it is still delivered within a therapeutic relationship. It doesn’t mean we won’t talk. We spend time understanding what you’re experiencing, preparing you for the work and making sure you feel safe and resourced before any processing begins.
Can we work on childhood trauma even if I don’t remember everything? Yes. You don’t need a complete or detailed memory of your childhood to explore how your early experiences may have affected you. We can work with what you do remember, as well as the patterns, emotions, beliefs and responses you’re experiencing in the present. I won’t encourage you to search for or create memories.
What if I’ve had therapy before and it didn’t help? You’re not alone in this. Sometimes previous therapy has provided valuable insight but hasn’t changed the way you feel or respond. Sometimes the approach simply wasn’t the right fit, or the work moved at a pace that wasn’t right for you. We can talk about what you’ve tried before, what was useful and what wasn’t, and use that to think about what might be different this time.
Will I have to talk about my childhood? Only if it’s relevant to the work and only at a pace that feels manageable. Childhood experiences can be important in understanding present-day patterns, but therapy isn’t about going through your entire history.
What if I understand why I feel this way, but I still can’t change it? This is something I hear often. Understanding where our patterns come from can be incredibly valuable, but insight doesn’t always change the way something feels in our body or the way we automatically respond. This is where trauma-focused approaches such as EMDR can be helpful. Rather than only talking about what happened, we can work with the emotional and physiological responses that are still present, helping you develop a different experience in the present.
Professional training and qualifications
- Level 6 Diploma Clinical Integrative Supervision, Level 5 Diploma Therapeutic Integrative Counselling , Level 6 Imago Couples Counselling, Certified training, EMDR Certified and Accredited training, BACP Professional Accreditation
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling, Certificate in Rewind Therapy
- Additional training separate to core qualifications: Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Committment, Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Approach, Neuroscience of Trauma, Somatic and Breath, Sensori-Motor, Dialectical Behaviour