For a lot of people, the biggest obstacle to therapy isn't money or nerves. It's the timetable.
The same slot, every week, in the middle of the working day. A commute across London to get there. A cancellation fee if your rota changes. For anyone with an unpredictable job, caring responsibilities or simply a full life, that structure can quietly rule therapy out before it begins.
I don't think it should.
Consistency matters, but rigidity doesn't have to
There's a good reason therapists value regular sessions. A predictable time and place helps build trust, and trust is at the heart of the work.
But consistency and rigidity aren't the same thing. What matters most is that you can keep coming back. If the format makes that impossible, the format needs to change, not you.
Sessions before or after work
Many of the people I work with have demanding jobs and very little room in the day. So alongside evening sessions, I offer early-morning online slots at 7am and 8am, and lunchtime slots at 12pm and 1pm. A session before the day starts can be a very different experience from one squeezed in at the end of it, and for some people it becomes a way of putting themselves first before everyone else gets a piece of them.
For shift workers
If you work shifts, as an NHS worker, in hospitality, as airline crew or in any job where next week's rota is a mystery, a fixed weekly slot can feel impossible. I offer week-by-week booking, so we can find a time once you know your schedule. You still get continuity. You just don't have to pretend your life is more predictable than it is.
In person, online, or a mix
Some people prefer the room. Some prefer the privacy of their own space. Many find that what they need changes over time. You can see me in person in Putney or online, and switch between the two as your needs shift. Sessions can be in English or Italian, too.
Walking side by side
Not everyone finds it easy to talk face to face. For some, sitting opposite someone and being looked at feels exposing. Walking therapy, along the Thames Path in Putney, offers a different way in. Side by side, moving, with something to look at other than each other, many people find the words come more easily.
Therapy that works with your life
None of this changes what therapy is. The relationship, the care and the commitment to your process stay the same. What changes is the shape around it.
You shouldn't have to rearrange your whole life to get support. Support should be able to meet you where you are.
I offer person-centred therapy in Putney, South West London, and online. If you'd like to find a time that works for you, you can book a free 15-minute call at gaiatherapy.uk.
