FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
Psychological therapy is often considered as talking therapy; it requires a conversation between two people with the aim of using the expertise of one and the experience of the other to help improve health and wellbeing, and realise potential .
Change phrasing copied from mind works website
The first appointment is an initial conversation and an opportunity for us to begin to put together an impression of how things are for you, why and/or what you would like to be different. We don't need to know everything about you to be of help. You can choose what you want to reveal or answer and you don't need to answer or reveal anything that you don't want to.
If we agree that therapy would be helpful, then we will arrange further dates and times for you to attend further sessions of therapy. We typically meet with people weekly or fortnightly. If we believe that you do not require therapy or that we are not able or best placed to help you, we will discuss this with you and advise you of the alternatives as appropriate.
This varies from person to person; our aim is to skill people with the resources and knowledge to become their own therapist and fulfil their goal for psychological wellbeing. We can offer regular reviews during treatment to evaluate our progress.
Yes, what we discuss in our therapy sessions is confidential. We may take written notes and keep records about the people we see. These are kept secure and are only accessed by your therapist, in line with national information legislation. We will discuss confidentiality at your first session and the legal limitations to confidentiality.
We have different fees for different services;
HOW DO I PAY?
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If you are paying for therapy yourself or for someone else, payment for the initial session is due in advance of the appointment to secure the slot. All subsequent appointments can be paid for by cash or bank transfer 48 hours before the appointment to secure the slots.
If a private medical insurance will cover the fees, you will need to check that you are covered for psychological treatment and to let us know the details for invoicing. We are registered with most of the major private health insurance companies, including AXA PPP, BUPA, CIGNA, PruHealth, AVIVA, and Simplyhealth.
We accept referrals from you directly, or from a friend or family member, from your GP or psychiatrist or from your health insurance provider. If you telephone, email or contact us through our website, we will respond promptly with a suggested appointment time.
Due to current circumstances related to COVID-19 we are offering all services online via Zoom and Microsoft Teams
You do not need to bring anything to your appointment. Some people wish to bring a notepad and pen to record key ideas for use both in and between our meetings but this is a personal preference.
We understand that there can be unexpected changes to your schedule or plans and sometimes you will need to change an appointment time. Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know if you would like to cancel or rearrange an appointment. We will try to be as flexible as possible and we will not charge for cancellations made up to 48 hours before the appointment time. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours notice before the appointment or non-attended appointments without any prior notice will be charged at the full price. In the unlikely event that we would need to change or cancel an appointment, we too will provide you with as much notice as possible.
Our aim is to help people to access high quality psychological treatment in accordance with ethical guidelines and current professional standards. If you have any concern about any aspect of the help we're providing, then please let us know straight away and let us sort it out. Please email [insert email address hyperlink] or call us on [insert phone number hyperlink].
THE GIFT OF THERAPY
If you are considering therapy for someone, you can be reassured that we are both professional and compassionate in our approach to helping people. If you think that our practice would be a good mtach for someone you care about we'd be delighted to offer them therapy. Most people are unsure about what to expect when they meet with a psychologist, so please feel free to give us a call first