Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which therapy approach is right for me?
That depends on your needs and goals. If you’re looking to address challenges within family relationships or recurring relational patterns, systemic therapy may be most suitable. If you're dealing with the effects of trauma, anxiety, or disturbing memories, EMDR might be a good option. In many cases, elements of both approaches can be integrated. During an initial consultation, we can explore this together and find the best fit.
When can family and systemic psychotherapy help?
Family and systemic therapy can be particularly helpful during times of crisis, as well as when individuals or families are facing long-standing challenges. This approach not only supports individuals, couples and families in navigating difficulties, but also plays a preventative role — helping to reduce issues such as behavioural difficulties in children and young people, and enhancing parenting skills and communication.
Families, couples or individuals may benefit from systemic and family therapy in a wide range of situations, including:
Improving parenting skills and communication within the family.
Relationship difficulties.
Health challenges, including chronic physical conditions and infertility.
Psychosomatic concerns.
Child and adolescent mental health issues including depression, anxiety and self-harm.
Adult mental health concerns including depression and anxiety.
Psychosexual difficulties.
Alcohol and substance misuse.
Anxiety and depression.
Low self-esteem.
Marital or couple issues, including communication breakdown, separation or divorce.
Foster care and adoption-related concerns.
Life transitions and changes in the family life cycle (an empty nest syndrome, loss, etc.)
School-related difficulties including bullying and truanting.
Work-related stress or challenges.
Trauma, loss, and bereavement.
Disruptions to family life due to social, political, or religious conflict.
This collaborative and holistic approach considers the wider context of a person’s life, relationships, and environment, helping families to find new ways of understanding and addressing the issues they face.
How long will it take before I see any benefits?
Talking through your concerns with a therapist can be an important first step in managing the pressures you may be facing. Many people find that simply being heard and understood brings a sense of relief, sometimes even after the first session.
Sessions are typically spaced one to two weeks apart at the beginning, depending on the specific concerns and needs of each person. These arrangements are agreed collaboratively and we always endeavour to find a mutually convenient set up.
While the length of therapy can vary significantly, systemic psychotherapy with individuals, couples and families usually involves between 6 and 20 sessions on average.
How long each therapy session take?
An individual therapy session usually lasts for 50 minutes and a couple and family session for 75 minutes.
Do you offer sliding scale rates?
At The London Therapy Clinic, we do not provide sliding scale rates; however, a limited number of sessions each month are available at a discounted rate.
The different rates available on the website indicate that both in-person and remote therapy sessions are offered. This allows clients to choose the option that best suits their preferences and needs, whether they prefer face-to-face contact at the clinic or the convenience of remote sessions from their own home.
If you are interested in booking therapy sessions, we recommend enquiring about the current availability of discounted sessions. This can provide a more affordable option while still receiving high-quality care. Please contact our reception team for further details on current offers and eligibility.
Can children and young people benefit from Systemic Psychotherapy and EMDR?
Yes. Both systemic therapy and EMDR are suitable for children and young people. Systemic therapy can support family dynamics, communication, and parenting, while EMDR can help younger clients safely process trauma or distressing events, using developmentally appropriate techniques.
Do you work with children?
Yes. At The London Therapy Clinic we work with children from the age of 14, either individually or jointly with their parents and carers.
Are all sessions confidential?
Yes, all sessions are confidential. Information shared in sessions is treated with care and respect. There are some legal and ethical limits to confidentiality — for example, if there is risk of serious harm to you or others — and these will be fully explained during your initial appointment.
Do you offer online sessions?
At The London Therapy Clinic, we do not provide sliding scale rates; however, a limited number of sessions each month are available at a discounted rate.
Yes, we offer online therapy via Zoom video platforms for individuals, couples, and families. This can be especially helpful for clients who are geographically distant, have limited mobility, or prefer the convenience of meeting from home.
How do I get started?
You can start by getting in touch via the contact form, phone, or email. We will arrange an initial consultation where we can discuss what brings you to therapy, what you're hoping for, and how we might work together. There's no obligation to continue — it's a chance to see if it's the right fit for you.
Do you accept insurance, and is my therapy covered by my provider?
At The London Therapy Clinic we work with most major insurance providers.
Most private health insurance providers do cover individual psychotherapy, including systemic therapy and EMDR. Coverage can vary depending on your policy, the type of therapy, and whether a referral is required from your GP.
We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to confirm what type of psychotherapy you are covered for. If needed, we are happy to provide invoices or documentation to support your claim.