Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy

I work with adults and young people aged 11–18. People come to me with difficulties including anxiety, overthinking, low mood, relationship patterns, separation, bereavement, low self-esteem and life changes. I also support people experiencing ADHD-related overwhelm or exploring how neurodiversity affects their lives.

You do not need a diagnosis or a clearly defined problem to begin. Sometimes the starting point is simply feeling stuck, overwhelmed or unlike yourself.

I offer in-person psychotherapy from my private therapy room in Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent. I also offer online sessions for adults across the UK. Online sessions for young people can be considered where appropriate. We can discuss the options during an initial conversation.

I am a UKCP-registered psychotherapist with psychodynamic training. My approach is relational and integrative: we consider how your experiences and relationships may have shaped the ways you feel, respond and relate to others today.

Alongside exploring what is happening now, we may notice patterns that once helped you cope but have become difficult or restrictive. We work at your pace, with the aim of developing understanding, self-compassion and greater choice.

My fee is £75 per 50-minute session. I offer a free initial 20-minute telephone consultation so you can ask questions, tell me a little about what brings you to therapy and consider whether working together feels right.

The call is an opportunity for us to get to know a little about each other. We can discuss what you would like support with, how I work and practical details such as availability.

You do not need to prepare anything or tell me your whole story. There is no obligation to book a session afterwards.

You can use the contact form, email me at collette.lambert@bearstedtherapy.co.uk to arrange a free 20-minute introductory telephone consultation. Just let me know the best days/times to contact you back.

A brief message is enough and you do not need to explain everything in your first enquiry. We can take the next step together.

The first session gives us time to explore what has brought you to therapy, what you hope might change and any questions or concerns you have.

We will also discuss practical arrangements and confidentiality. You can share as much or as little as feels manageable. There is no expectation that you will know where to begin or explain everything straight away.

Sessions usually take place weekly and last 50 minutes. A regular appointment provides continuity and time set aside for you.

I offer both short-term and open-ended therapy. The length of our work depends on your needs and what you would like to explore. We can discuss this together and review how the therapy is feeling as we go.

I offer therapy for young people aged 11–18 who may be experiencing anxiety, low mood, school pressures, friendship difficulties, family changes or questions about identity.

I usually begin with a conversation with parents or carers, followed by an opportunity to meet the young person. We consider together whether therapy feels appropriate and how to proceed.

I balance the young person’s need for a private space with appropriate parental involvement, agreeing how communication will work from the outset.

Yes. You do not need a formal diagnosis to explore your experiences in therapy. You may be wondering about ADHD or other neurodiverse traits, awaiting an assessment or trying to understand longstanding feelings of overwhelm, emotional intensity or difficulty meeting everyday expectations.

We can explore how these experiences affect your relationships, self-esteem and daily life, without assuming that ADHD/Autism explains everything. My role is to offer psychotherapy rather than a diagnostic assessment. If you would like to pursue an assessment, we can discuss seeking this separately.

Yes. Many people I work with manage work, family life and responsibilities while privately feeling anxious, exhausted, self-critical or disconnected from themselves. You do not have to reach a crisis or stop functioning to deserve support.

Therapy offers space to explore what it takes to keep everything going, understand the pressures and patterns behind your overwhelm, and consider your own needs. We can work towards helping you feel more grounded and less caught in expectations of how you “should” be.

Confidentiality is central to my work. I explain how it works, including its limits, before we begin. These include circumstances involving serious concerns about safety, safeguarding or legal obligations. I also discuss my work in professional supervision while protecting clients’ identities.

For young people, I explain what remains private and when information may need to be shared with parents, carers or other professionals. Wherever possible, I discuss any necessary sharing with the young person first.