Welcome
Photocredit: Ben White, unsplash
Who I help
​I’m Dr Liz Forbat, a registered family and couple psychotherapist. I specialise in online therapy for individuals, couples, and families navigating life-limiting illnesses and caregiving challenges. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling with relationship strain, I offer confidential, flexible support tailored to your needs.
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I work with people living with cancer, dementia, multiple sclerosis and other life-limiting or serious health conditions.
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People often look around for a therapist when they feel stuck, or deeply affected when they or a relative or friend is affected by cancer, or other serious health conditions. Usually by the time someone is searching for a therapist they have exhausted all their other ideas and attempts to find solutions. That is where I can help.
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For people living with serious health conditions a new diagnosis or worsening of symptoms can trigger a referral. Sometimes families want a therapist because their relationship is under strain, or because of worries about the impact on their parents, partner, children or grandchildren.
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Other people want to talk about care giving, worries about dying, managing symptoms, intimacy, or just as a safe space to talk to someone about their whole experience.
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Therapy will manage a focus both on the individual with the condition, but also the wider ramifications and influences on other members of the friend and family system.
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Therapy can give you space to talk about your feelings and find ways of coping and feeling better.
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As well as individual, couple and family work, I also conduct systemic consultations with organisations, such as palliative care services. These consultations can be helpful if the team is finding communication difficult or stuck, or if there is a need for an external facilitator to support change within the organisation.
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What to expect
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How long are sessions?
Sessions last 50 minutes. We’ll discuss your goals and needs to decide on the ideal number of sessions—often in the range of five to six, but adaptable.
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What happens in our first meeting?
We’ll get acquainted, discuss your goals, boundaries, and our approach—active, collaborative, and adaptable to your situation,
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My approach is very active (lots of questions to help you talk about your experiences, asking you to do things, experiment with new ideas, and discussion) and collaborative (we'll work together to help you find your way through the complexities you're living with).
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How often will we meet?
Typically every 2–3 weeks, though we can adjust frequency—as needed—especially if you’re managing medical appointments.​
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What's the cost?
Standard rate: £80/session. If this rate is higher than you can manage, clients are welcome to propose what they can afford. Please contact me to discuss consultancy rates for organisations.
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My qualifications and background
I hold a PhD in caregiving relationships and an MSc family psychotherapy (I trained in
London and Glasgow). My undergraduate degree was in psychology, and I'm a
graduate member of the British Psychological Society.
I’m registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy and Association for Family and
Systemic Psychotherapy (AFSP).
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I’m also a Professor at the University of Stirling with extensive research in caregiving,
cancer, dementia, and end-of-life care.
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Photo above is of Liz Forbat (taken November 2022)
Families
Couples
Individuals
Who comes to therapy?
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I am happy to meet with individuals, couples, parent+child, or your whole family.
We can decide together what will suit you and your circumstances best about who comes to therapy. Sometimes, the decision about who comes will change session by session. Sometimes, parents might want a session or two by themselves, and some other sessions with children, or partners. We will decide this together, to suit you and your needs.
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How will we meet?
I am only offering online therapy (using googlemeets). All therapy session appointments are password protected to maintain your confidentiality. Meeting online also means if you are having treatment and feeling unwell there's no travel and it is easy to do it from the comfort of your own home.
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Media, resources and insights
If you're interested in hearing a bit more about the family therapy approach you can watch a video
I made with Elder in 2020 with another family therapist. It is focused more on older age groups, but will
give you a bit of insight into some of the principles.
Click here to watch the video (opens in a separate window)
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You can read some of my more accessible publications via The Conversation.
1. Impact of the Death of a Friend is accessible here.
2. Caring for someone at end of life is here.
3, Disagreements and conflict between families and health care professionals is here.
A list of my academic publications is available via University of Stirling.
In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit.
Marge Kennedy
Testimonials
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You wont find testimonials on this website. This is because members of the UKCP are advised not to post client accounts on their websites.
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It is important to choose the right therapist though, so the first session is a way of you checking out whether you think we could work together. You'll be the best judge of that, rather than the testimonial of someone else.
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cancer dementia palliative dying parkinson's illness health
Start your therapy journey
Better Communication. Clearer Relationships. True Support.
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Complete the form or email: lizforbat@gmail.com
I typically reply within 2 working days
