FAQs
If you have any questions that we have not answered here, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will gladly answer them for you.
Do you offer an initial free session?
We firmly believe that finding the right therapist for you is really important, and often recommend people chat to a few therapists before deciding on one. We offer a free 20 minute session which gives you the opportunity to experience what therapy would feel like with your therapist, and to ensure that your therapist has the right expertise to help you.
What is the difference between a counselor, psychotherapist and psychologist?
These different titles largely reflect the level of training and expertise a practitioner has. Counselors and psychotherapists often work with one paradigm, and are well suited to working with difficulties that are fairly straight forward. Psychologists train in a number of different approaches and are equipped to work with slightly more complex difficulties.
Our Psychologists are all registered with the HCPC and highly trained to work effectively and efficiently with a host of problems. They are particularly good at getting into the nuances of problems, and we believe that no two problems are exactly the same.
How does the process work?
We like to start with an initial free chat. This gives the therapist a chance to assess whether they are the best suited therapist to work with your difficulties. It also gives you a chance to feel the therapeutic fit, and it is vitally important to get this right.
Once you decide you’d like to work with a therapist, you have two options. You can either find a regular time and the therapist will block that out for you each week, so nobody else can book that slot. The other option is to be more flexible, and you can use the online booking system to book sessions as and when suited to your schedule. We do suggest, if you use this option, that you book as early in advance as possible to ensure you get a slot. As some weeks are busier than others, there may be weeks where your therapist is fully booked if you do not book early enough.
We offer regular reviews of where the process is at, and will discuss your progress, revisit you goals, and talk about when it feels right to start working towards an ending.
We like to be as accommodating as possible, so if there is anything you are unsure of, or anything you need, do not hesitate to discuss this with your Psychologist.
What approaches do you use?
We use an integrative approach meaning we draw on a number of theories to create a bespoke intervention for each individual. The main approaches we draw on include CBT, ACT, systemic, narrative, solutions focused, person-centred, and interpersonal therapy. We also have therapists who are more specialised in CAT, brain based techniques, and relationship therapies.
What do I do in an emergency?
Unfortunately we are unable to offer an emergency service. If you have an urgent need, please ring 111 to the Samaritans, or go to your local A&E.
Samaritans - 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours every day)
How many sessions will I need?
This varies significantly from person to person. In the initial session we will go through what you are struggling with, some history, and what you would like to achieve from therapy. Some people benefit from very few sessions, whilst others prefer to work over the longer term. We work as flexibly as possible in order to accommodate what each individual needs.
