Robert Cox
PGDip MBACP
Integrative Psychotherapist
When you are with a therapist that feels safe, that values you, and makes you feel heard, change tends to follow.
​
As an Integrative therapist, I blend many models of therapy to match how you like to work, making each session feel intuitive and productive.
​
Research shows a tailored approach like this is more effective and twice as many people complete therapy successfully.
​
With more ways to approach therapy, there are more opportunities to find change.
Taking the first step
Starting therapy can be full of 'what ifs', particularly 'what if we don't click?' or 'what if their approach doesn't work for me?'
​
To make it easier, I offer a free 20-minute consultation so you can get to know me a bit and we can address any worries before you decide.
If this service is not for you, that's fine! I can help you find somewhere that is.
Available by telephone or in-person in my Lancaster Counselling room.
Testimonials
I thought constant anxiety was just how life is. It's so relieving to have my life back.
I can finally be myself around people, not feeling tense all the time.
I’m more in control of my emotions, they don’t overwhelm me anymore.
I used to think there was something wrong with me, but I discovered it's how I learned to respond to the world as a child. Working through the emotions was like releasing all the pressure I'd carried for so long. The approach felt good - I never felt overwhelmed, but just gradually worked through things.
I'm more aware of what I was doing in my relationships and have discovered better ways to get what I need. It's completely changed things between me and others.
Change is possible
FAQs
Do you offer online therapy / video counselling? Yes. I offer both online video therapy sessions or face to face psychotherapy and counselling in Lancaster UK. They are both the same price.
What if I'm not sure if I need therapy? There is no criteria you have to meet to have therapy - it's up to you if you want therapy. It can help you overcome specific issues, reach certain goals, or just help you understand yourself or your situation more. You don't have to know what to talk about before you start therapy, you might just have a feeling that something's up or you just want to see what therapy can offer. Once we start, we can very quickly understand what you might want to get from therapy, or if something else might help instead.
Does psychotherapy really work? Yes. In addition to countless testimonies by people worldwide, there is a very large amount of scientific research supporting the effectiveness of psychotherapy. It is effective addressing a large variety of issues including addiction, trauma, self esteem, depression, anxiety, personality issues, emotional difficulties and many more. Research shows it is at least (if not more) effective than medication. Unlike medication, the benefits you get from psychotherapy are longer lasting and your issues are less likely to return after therapy ends.
Is therapy confidential? Yes, both online therapy and in person therapy in Lancaster are kept strictly confidential. The Lancaster counselling and psychotherapy room feels very safe and secure, and conversations cannot be heard from outside. There are certain situations where confidentiality does not apply. These include situations where there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, or major crimes, for example a risk of suicide, a risk of domestic abuse, drug trafficking, child abuse, acts of terrorism etc. Where possible, I will always try to keep you informed if I need to break confidentiality, but in cases such as the above examples it may not always be appropriate for me to inform you. I attend regular supervision sessions where I may refer to our work, although all details are made anonymous and unidentifiable. My supervisor is also a qualified and registered therapist, and abides by the same confidentiality and ethical rules as I do.
Where is your therapy office? I have a room for psychotherapy and counselling in Lancaster UK, a minute's walk from Lancaster train station. Visit my contact page to get the address and directions. I also provide online therapy / video counselling, so you can have therapy from home.
How many sessions of therapy will I need? It depends on your goals and the intensity of your issue. Some research suggests that the average amount of sessions people need to fully resolve their issue is 15. This means that some may need more but others may need less. We will regularly review sessions to make sure you are getting what you need from therapy and staying on track to completing your goals. I can use various measures and assessments if you would find it helpful to see your progress that way. It is up to you to decide when you feel you have had enough therapy. In my experience, people generally finish therapy for some of the following reasons: they feel relieved of overwhelming emotions; their issue has become less frequent or less intense; they understand their issue enough to feel in control; a difficult decision has been made or a stressful event has passed; their life has generally started to feel better; the issue remains, but they have built enough resilience or found a deeper meaning so that it doesn't affect them anymore.
How long and how frequent are therapy sessions? I find people get the best results when they take weekly sessions. The consistency of weekly sessions allows people to keep on track of their therapy goals and not spend sessions remembering where they got up to last session. I find 50 minutes is a good length for each session. However, if your circumstances require otherwise, I can consider working in a different way. I am open to discuss this to meet your needs in a way that works best for you.
How do I know if we'll click? This is one of the most common concerns people have when looking for a therapist. The relationship between you and your therapist is one of the key factors in therapy, so it makes sense if this is a difficult process for you. It is tricky to judge a therapist when looking online at their picture and reading their profile. Most therapists offer a free initial consultation, which is the best way to see if you will work well with them. I offer a free consultation for this reason - I want to make sure I'm the right person for you before we start and can answer any queries you have. If you don't choose me, I have recommendations of other services if you would find that helpful. If you aren't ready to book an initial session yet, the best advice I can give would be to trust your feelings. If you get a good feeling about someone and they seem to be saying the right things, then there's a good chance you are on the same page. Some other important factors to consider are if the therapist is registered with a professional organisation (such as BACP, UKCP, BABCP etc.) to ensure they are sufficiently qualified, following best ethical practices, and can be held accountable.
What's the best therapy approach? Although it seems to make sense to choose a therapist based on the model of therapy they use, there is decades of research that suggests that all models of therapy are equally effective and the relationship between you and your therapist is the most important factor. It is important that you feel positive about the approach and it makes sense to you, explaining your issue in a way that gives you more options to explore. Overall, there is no approach that is objectively better - the most effective approach is just what feels right for you. I offer integrative therapy for this reason, so we can adapt the therapy approach to fit how you like to work. Most of the time though, my clients don't know or care about what approach I'm using, which I think is a good sign - I can figure all of that out for you, so you can stay focused on what's important.