What happens in therapy?

The first appointment...

It is usually helpful to start with a brief initial phone conversation, so that I can find out a bit more about your difficulties and whether I will be able to provide the support that you are looking for. If appropriate, we can then arrange a mutually convenient time to meet for the initial assessment appointment. It is sometimes helpful to ask you to complete some questionnaires prior to the initial assessment appointment.

The initial assessment appointment enables us to have a more in-depth discussion about your concerns and to agree on some goals to work on in our sessions together. We will also plan how many sessions of therapy that you are likely to need; this is usually between 6-12 sessions, but is flexible and the exact length of therapy will be tailored to suit your individual circumstances.

Online Therapy sessions...

Since the pandemic, many of us have continued to work remotely, as online sessions offer increased flexibility, whilst being safe and effective. I am currently only offering therapy sessions via zoom; Each session last for 50 minutes and is usually at the same time on a weekly or fortnightly basis. A person-centered approach is used to tailor therapy according to your individual circumstances, drawing on a range of approaches including, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Therapy works best when it is a collaborative process; Whilst the psychologist brings their therapeutic knowledge and skills to the conversation, the individual is always the 'expert' about their life experiences and difficulties. This collaborative approach often involves setting goals to complete and practising strategies in between therapy sessions.

Confidentiality

The content of all of our conversations via zoom, over the phone and by email, will be confidential, with the following exception: If I believe that you are at serious risk of harming yourself or others, I would be obliged to inform the appropriate services, such as your GP, mental health services or your next of kin. Wherever possible, this would be discussed with you first.

To maintain professional standards and provide the best practice, Clinical Psychologists are required to receive regular clinical supervision. Please be reassured that confidentiality is protected by anonymising all personal information. Furthermore, 'case notes' that I write during therapy sessions are anonymised and stored in a locked filing cabinet.