Online psychotherapy for adult individuals
Psychologist & Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist
Irene Bakopoulou, BSc., MA., Cert.
Sessions last 50 minutes. The frequency of sessions can be discussed based on client need, but for a long term therapeutic journey, sessions should be at a minimum once a week. Hence, a regular and steady weekly slot is agreed.
The first introductory session is free. Beyond this, my full fee is €100/session if you are paying out of pocket, and €120 if you are paying with insurance. I also operate a sliding scale depending on client financial circumstances, the minimum fee being €80. If necessary, please tell me about this in the first session.
Psychotherapy is a journey into your internal world that we take together and so it takes time. To give you an idea of the duration of therapy, and hence the necessary budget, it usually takes about ten sessions for you to get a good sense of the process of therapy, whether it’s suitable to you and whether you benefit from it, and to see if you are happy with your psychotherapist. As a general rule, therapy can last from a few months to a few years.
Online sessions are paid in advance via bank transfer or Paypal, whichever works best. Client will be responsible for paying the transfer of funds and any change of currency fees. Payments are made monthly at the start of each month. Under special circumstances payment can be made per session, in which case it must be visible in my account 2 days before the session.
Should the client wish to end the therapy before the pre-paid for sessions are completed, the funds that remain will always be refunded, no questions asked.
Cancellations will not be possible, except for when the client is on annual leave, in which case, at least one week’s notice will be required. Since sessions will be on the same day and time weekly, this will be considered as the client’s slot and will be automatically reserved weekly. Unless the client is ending the therapy, they will be expected to cover the cost of reserved sessions, attended or not.
Although sessions may not be cancelled, they may be rescheduled within a week’s time of the regular slot with one week’s notice, or with 48 hours notice if due to serious unexpected circumstances. Unless I am fully booked, I will do my best to find an alternative time to meet, though this may or may not be a suitable time.
Psychotherapy is a process, a goal that you set for yourself, which can only be effective if you view it as a personal commitment to yourself. It requires your attention and energy, your punctuality, and an effort from both of us to maintain a steady frequency that provides you with a sense of continuity and safety. Given that some sessions will likely be missed due to holidays, illness, or other unforeseen circumstances, it’s important to avoid further losses to the therapeutic process.
I take holidays each year, usually 2 weeks over and around Christmas, 2 weeks over and around Easter and 5-6 weeks sometime around mid-July. I may take some time off during the rest of the year for training purposes. Reasonable notice will always be given ahead of time.
Sessions take place on Zoom Pro, as it is the most secure platform, and if necessary due to technical reasons, they may alternatively take place on WhatsApp or FaceTime. You will not need a paid subscription on Zoom.
For our sessions you will need an internet connection preferably higher than 20Mbps, a set of headphones with a microphone (like your phone headset) and a computer camera. It’s useful for you to be using a good camera (usually external cameras for computers have better resolution), as the better quality of the picture and sound will also make for a better emotional connection between us and generally a more satisfying therapeutic experience.
You will also need to be in a room where you are comfortable and alone, so that you feel safe to speak openly without being overheard or intruded upon by others.
