SELF-DIRECTED VS MUTUAL COLLABORATION
Graham likes to talk, so his work falls in to the latter category. In self-directed therapy, such as psychoanalysis, the therapist says very little. He/she will make the odd comment or interpretation, but for the most part the client is left to sort through their thoughts and comments on their own. The therapist is used as an object of transference and through the therapist’s benign, non-judgemental posture the client 
eventually comes to re-experience the authority figure in a more validating light. Some people think this process can take a long time, which it can. Others are not so comfortable with the lack of response and at times the ensuing silences. But for those who are comfortable with this high degree of self-reflection, the process can be very effective.
Others prefer more input. In mutual collaboration the process looks more like a typical conversation in which the client shares the experience he/she is struggling with and the therapist gives thoughts and comments. The therapist is still in the position of authority, but the client’s feedback to the therapist’s insight is all part of an ongoing dialogue. Together they work toward developing a new understanding and in turn a new approach to addressing the concern presented.
It is important to understand this distinction so you are not surprised and/or upset by the process you experience with your therapist. Graham’s approach is Mutually Collaborative.
SHORT-TERM VS LONG-TERM WORK
To a certain extent this depends on the nature and severity of the problem. However, Graham likes to distinguish between work that is focused on crisis or problem solving and work focused on personal growth. The former tends to be shorter term and the latter longer term. There are also circumstances where the one can morph into the other. Initial crisis work can become about personal growth and those focused on personal growth can run into crisis.
This distinction is important so the client can understand the nature of the work and insure they get the therapy they desire. Granted, this is often sorted out as the process unfolds, but for those that are looking to resolve something specific you don’t want to end up in a long term process in which you are not clear about the purpose. Likewise, if your objective is less defined and more about developing a better general approach to living your life you don’t want a therapist pushing you to define specific goals.
Graham does both short and long term work. As part of the initial process he will clarify your intent and will continue to check with you along the way to insure the process stays on track. If the process changes he will discuss this with you and establish a new plan.
Didactic vs Experiential Learning
At times people will approach therapy thinking that because they already have insight and understanding into their issues that therapy isn’t necessary or won’t be helpful. While cognition is part of a transformation process, insight on its own does not lead to change. Change requires an overt act. The action creates a different experience which allows the knowledge you possess to become internalized. In the literature this is referred to as a ‘corrective emotional experience’.
Understanding this distinction can also help to understand the limits of the self help which is fundamentally didactic in nature. While potentially beneficial, self help is limited. Einstein said “you don’t solve a problem with the same thinking that created it”. Work with Graham does involve developing insight but goes beyond this in helping to create opportunities for experiential learning. This happens as a result of work done directly in the therapeutic process and within the therapy session or outside the therapy session as result of strategies developed within the therapy sessions.