Frequently Asked Questions

Therapy is a confidential, professional relationship in which a trained therapist supports you to explore and understand your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It provides a safe space to talk about difficulties, gain insight, and work towards positive change. Therapy can take many forms — from short-term, goal-focused counselling to longer-term, exploratory psychotherapy — and can be adapted to your individual needs and circumstances.

Counselling typically refers to shorter-term, more focused work that addresses specific difficulties or life events. Psychotherapy is generally a longer-term, more exploratory process that seeks to understand the deeper roots of difficulties and bring about more fundamental change. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably, and the distinction is less important than finding the right therapist and approach for you.

If you are struggling with your mental health, relationships, or sense of self — or if you simply feel that something is not right and you would like to understand yourself better — therapy may be helpful. You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people find it valuable as a space for reflection and personal growth, as well as for addressing specific difficulties.

The first session is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy and what you are hoping to get from it. The therapist will ask some questions to understand your situation and may explain a little about how they work. It is also a chance for you to get a sense of whether working with this therapist feels right. There is no obligation to continue after the first session.

The length of therapy depends on what you are working on and the approach you and your therapist agree on. Some people find that a short course of 6–12 sessions is sufficient. Others benefit from longer-term work over months or years. This is something you will discuss with your therapist at the outset and review as you go.

Yes. Everything you discuss in therapy is confidential. There are a small number of exceptions — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, or if a court orders disclosure. Your therapist will explain the limits of confidentiality at the start of your work together.

Once you decide upon a therapist, you can contact them directly via their contact details on their profile page to potentially speak without cost, obligation or pressure ahead of potentially arranging an appointment but the process of speaking before committing to an appointment may vary between therapists.

At the time of writing, Common Ground Therapy does not have its own premises – our therapists work in different locations. In the mean time, once you decide upon a therapist, check their profile page or ask them about their place/s of work.

Once you decide upon a therapist, ask them about their specific payment process since they can vary a lot between therapists and may be negotiable depending on personal preference. Some requiring payment before a session and others potentially invoicing you after the month’s work has ended.

Once you decide upon a therapist, ask them about whether they are a provider for any private health insurance companies since this status varies between therapists.

Local NHS doctor’s surgeries may provide free counselling or therapy services, albeit with a waiting list. Local mental health charities may also provide free counselling or therapy services and more information about these options will be updated here. Colleges and universities may provide free counselling or therapy services for students. Beyond contacting your GP or, if out of hours, calling 111, you should contact the following free services if you do not feel you can keep yourself or your family safe: The Samaritans on 116 123 or 08457 909090. This service has trained listeners available to speak with 24 hours a day. PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide on 0800 068 4141 or text ‘HOPE’ to 88247. This phone line is dedicated to the prevention of suicide in young people and provides confidential suicide prevention support to them and their concerned others and professionals. NHS ambulance service on 999 if you feel it is a life-threatening emergency.

A worker cooperative is a business that is owned and democratically controlled by its workers. Every member of the co-op has an equal share of ownership and an equal vote in major decisions. Profits are shared among members rather than extracted by external shareholders. Common Ground Therapy is registered as a Worker Cooperative with Co-operatives UK and Workers.Coop.

We believe that the way a therapy practice is organised affects the quality of therapy it provides. Therapists who are empowered, fairly compensated, and free from exploitation are better placed to offer high-quality, ethical therapy. The co-op model also means that our profits stay in the local community rather than being extracted by external investors.

Collectively shared marketing / advertising – when we all invest together, we can get more out of our investment in terms of increased visibility, prestige and reputation. No one can take a cut from your therapy work – no one is profiting from your therapy work. No one is profiting from your need for therapy referrals – your client base is yours to build and maintain. Mutual support and supervision – we can save on supervision costs by collectively providing it to one another (association and registration guidelines permitting) along with reflective practice and peer support.

As a worker cooperative, our primary purpose is not to generate profit for external shareholders. Any surplus generated by the practice is re-invested in the business — for example, to reduce fees, improve our premises, fund training, or support community initiatives. Our therapists are fairly paid for their work, but no one can get rich off anyone else’s labour.

Yes — we are actively recruiting qualified therapists to join us as member-directors. Please visit our Join page for more information about what we are looking for and how the process works.