FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST?
A Clinical Psychologist is someone who has completed both an undergraduate degree in Psychology, as well as a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Clinical Psychologists are certified as Practitioner Psychologists with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is the Psychology profession’s regulatory body. You can search for and check the credentials of any Clinical Psychologist you are considering as your therapist at https://www.hcpc-uk.org/public/be-sure-check-the-register/
I HAVEN'T HAD THERAPY BEFORE AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT...
Starting therapy can feel daunting. I offer a warm, compassionate, non-judgemental approach, collaboratively working alongside you to identify the best approach to address your difficulties.
It can be helpful for us to begin with an initial free 15 minute phone call, to discuss your needs and for us to think about whether I am the right person to work with you.
Before starting therapy, it will be important for us to talk in more depth about your needs and your hopes for therapy, and to jointly begin to develop a ‘formulation’, or shared understanding, of your difficulties. This initial assessment will help to inform our plan for therapy, and will usually take place over 1-2 sessions.
We will agree a provisional plan for the number of therapy sessions that we will meet for (although this can be reviewed as we progress). During therapy, I will never ask you to talk about or work on things that you do not want to work on. I will regularly ask you for feedback to check that you are happy that we are addressing your difficulties in a way that feels helpful.
HOW LONG/OFTEN ARE SESSIONS?
Assessment and therapy sessions are typically 1 hour long, although some therapy interventions are more appropriately delivered in longer sessions (eg. EMDR sessions are usually up to 90 mins). It is usually preferable to meet on a weekly basis in order for you to get the most benefit from therapy, but fortnightly sessions can be arranged if needed.
HOW MUCH DO SESSIONS COST?
The fee for assessment and therapy is £100 per 60-minute session, for self-funding clients.
I am an approved provider for WPA and Bupa private health insurance. If you have cover with WPA or Bupa and would like your sessions funded through your policy, please contact your provider to request authorisation, and check whether you have any excess to pay.
WHERE DO THERAPY SESSIONS TAKE PLACE?
I currently primarily offer therapy sessions via video call (Zoom), and have some limited capacity to offer in-person sessions in Taunton.
WHAT APPOINTMENT TIMES DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE?
I have daytime appointments available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.