FAQs

How do I know if I need therapy?

Much like you might be prescribed a course of antibiotics by your GP if you had a throat infection, seeing a mental health professional for a course of psychological therapy for your emotional wellbeing is no different. We believe that everyone can benefit from talking therapy and that you do not need a diagnosis in order to see a mental health professional. Therapy can help you gain insight into a particular issue you are having or it may help you to change unhelpful patterns in your life. Some people may seek therapy after difficult life events or following a crisis. Others may simply wish to talk to someone impartial to gain clarity on things. Whatever the reason that drives you to reach out, we’re here to listen.

What is the difference between a psychologist, a psychiatrist and/or a psychotherapist?

Good question! Broadly speaking, a psychiatrist is a medically trained and registered doctor who is able to diagnose mental illness and prescribe medication. Psychologists and other psychotherapists offer talking therapy and would not routinely provide diagnoses of mental illness or medication although they may have a good understanding of both. Where indicated, a psychologist and psychiatrist may work jointly with you to best support your needs.

What are the different therapies and how do I know which therapy I need?

We are integrative therapists, which means that we are trained in and combine several established therapeutic approaches to best match your issues. These include cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), schema-focused therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion focused therapy (CFT). You’ll notice that the field of psychology loves an acronym! If you already know what you’re looking for, great! But don’t worry if you don’t. Your first appointment will be an assessment where you can discuss your main concerns and together, we decide on which type of therapy might help you best.

How long does each session last?

Sessions typically last either 50 minutes or an hour depending on the therapy you choose. Some therapies, such as EMDR may require longer sessions (up to 90 minutes).

How many sessions will I need?

The length of your treatment will vary depending on your needs and on the type of therapy you choose. Our clinical practice is guided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for evidence-based practice - these guidelines make recommendations for care for people with a specific condition or need such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. For example, up to 14 sessions of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) are recommended for social anxiety.

Within this framework, we will often agree to six sessions and review after that so we continue to monitor progress over time to ensure that therapy remains as helpful to you as possible.   

How regularly will I meet with my therapist?

The standard format is weekly sessions. This helps to make gradual and steady progress. However, there can be a degree of flexibility within this. We can discuss the frequency of sessions that would work best for you.

What happens in a typical session?

This broadly depends on the type of therapy you choose. The space should feel like a safe environment in which you can explore your issues. Some shorter-term therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) are more proactive and structured, providing practical exercises to be completed in between sessions (for “homework”) to help bring about change. Other therapies are less structured and you are free to bring whatever is on your mind to the sessions. 

What is involved in a specialised assessment?

A specialist assessment varies according to the nature of the assessment but usually involves talking about your difficulties, how they impact you, and your background. You may be given questionnaires to complete. Please get in touch with us where we can provide further information on what is specifically involved.

Will my sessions be confidential?

Yes, our sessions are confidential. The only exception to this would be if you were to pose a risk to yourself or others, in which case information to relevant parties would need to be shared. We would include you in discussions around the need for information sharing where possible.

Can I use my health insurance to pay for the sessions?

This depends on your insurance provider and the nature of your policy. Check with your provider to see if the cost of therapy is covered and if so, how many sessions can be included. We are registered with a few major health insurance providers including AXA, Vitality Health and Aviva so if you do wish to proceed down the insurance route, please check your cover carefully otherwise you will be responsible for any charges.

I’m worried about someone else. What can I do to help?

We are so sorry to hear this. It can be really hard to support someone who is struggling. It can be very worrying. Let us reassure you, help is available and the Samaritans (call 116 123, www.samaritans.org) or the Mind website (www.mind.org.uk) is a good place to start, both for you and for the person you are worried about. Here are a couple of things to bear in mind whilst you are supporting them:

Normalise their feelings. Tell them it’s ok that they’re feeling this way. Tell them it’s ok not to be ok.

Validate their experience and encourage them to seek help in different ways.

Try not to be too cheery or uplifting for them; it may make it worse.

Try not to take full responsibility for their wellbeing. The weight of this should not fall solely on your shoulders.

Be sure to look after yourself too and get support if you need it. Carer stress and burnout is common; your needs are equally as important so take care.   

Will my therapist be available if I’m in a crisis?

We are available to you at your scheduled appointment time only. In the case of an emergency you will need to seek out other resources. Contact your GP, the Samaritans (call 116 123, www.samaritans.org) or if necessary, emergency services.