Frequently asked questions

We both work psychodynamically, so the core approach is the same. The main differences are practical. Luke offers individual and couples therapy from Croydon, with online sessions also available. Claire offers individual counselling in person at Worcester Park, drawing on over ten years of clinical experience including NHS work. What matters most is finding someone you feel comfortable with. Have a look at our profiles, and if you are still unsure, contact either of us. We are happy to point you towards the other if that feels like a better fit.

Psychodynamic therapy works on the basis that many of our feelings, behaviours, and relationship patterns are shaped by earlier experiences, some of which we may not be fully aware of. In sessions, we explore those patterns together so that you can understand them more clearly and begin to relate differently to them. This is not about quick fixes or symptom management. It is about getting to the root of what keeps you stuck.

CBT is structured and goal-oriented. It focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns, often over a shorter number of sessions. Psychodynamic therapy is more interested in why those patterns exist in the first place. Neither approach is better in absolute terms. CBT can be very effective for specific difficulties. Psychodynamic work tends to produce changes that last because they come from deeper self-understanding rather than techniques you have to keep practising.

It varies. Some people work with us for a few months on a specific issue. Others stay for a year or longer because they want to explore things more thoroughly. Longstanding patterns rarely shift in just a handful of sessions. We will check in with you along the way, and the decision about when to finish is always a collaborative one.

Luke offers both in-person sessions in Croydon and online sessions via video call. Claire works in person only, seeing clients at Manor Drive Medical Centre in Worcester Park. If flexibility of format matters to you, that is worth considering when deciding who to contact.

The first session is a chance to meet your therapist and talk about what has brought you to therapy. You can share as much or as little as feels right. Your therapist will explain how they work, and you will both get a sense of whether the fit feels comfortable. It is completely normal to feel nervous. You do not need to prepare anything. Just showing up is enough.

Yes. What you share in your sessions is confidential. The only exception is if your therapist believes there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, and even then they would aim to discuss it with you first. We both work within the BACP Ethical Framework and attend regular clinical supervision, where our work is reflected on in confidence.

Each of us manages our own enquiries. To contact Luke, visit talktoluke.com or email hello@talktoluke.com. To contact Claire, visit counsellingwithclaire.uk or email help@counsellingwithclaire.uk. You do not need to have everything figured out. A short message saying you are interested in starting therapy is all it takes. If you are not sure which of us to contact, reach out to either one and we will help you from there.