Referrals are received from various sources including: GPs, other health-care professionals, private insurance companies, rehabilitation organisations, and self-referrals. I am recognised by most major health insurance companies.
If you are self-referring, it is often helpful to have an initial free-of-charge consultation on the phone first before booking an appointment for assessment. This provides an opportunity to know a little about why help is being sought and for any questions to be asked before deciding if an appointment for psychological assessment would be beneficial.
Following this initial telephone consultation, an appointment can be arranged for an assessment. Appointments are usually offered within 2 working weeks of enquiry, depending on availability. An appointment letter will then be sent by post or e-mail with details of the clinic location and appointment time. Sometimes questionnaires are sent with the appointment letter to be completed and brought to the appointment.
An individualised assessment will be undertaken of your presenting issues to help you gain a better understanding of your difficulties.
Assessment appointments last for about one hour, although sometimes a further appointment is necessary to conclude the assessment process and make recommendations. The assessment focuses on getting an overview of the problems you are experiencing, how they are impacting upon your life and your relationships, your background history including any previous difficulties, and how you have coped with them. The focus is on identifying what you would like to change and developing some meaningful goals to work on.
Following the assessment, you will then have an opportunity to discuss whether therapy would be helpful for you and which approach would best suit your needs. Sessions of therapy can then be offered if indicated.
An assessment letter or report can be written for you, or for your referrer as appropriate, detailing a summary of the assessment and any recommendations for therapy.
It may be considered that an alternative approach or service would be more beneficial and, if so, this can be discussed including any onwards signposting.
If it is felt that some sessions of individual therapy would be helpful for you, this can be arranged following the assessment. The number of sessions that people require can vary greatly depending on the nature of their difficulties and what they would like to get from therapy. This can be discussed at the assessment. Often people decide on an agreed number of sessions, and then review this before planning if they would like any more.
Confidentiality of information shared during the therapy will be respected. However, should there be concerns that either yourself or someone else may be at risk of harm, or should there be other significant concerns about your well-being, then this may need to be discussed outside of the therapy, for example with your GP or other health professionals involved in your care.
It is often helpful, although not necessary, to liaise with your GP regarding your attendance at therapy and your prior consent will be sought for any correspondence or communication to be shared with your GP.
My treatment approach involves working collaboratively with you to help you develop a better understanding of yourself and your difficulties. Therapy sessions can then be tailored to your individual needs, choosing and drawing upon a broad range of evidence based approaches to help you move forwards to create meaningful change in your life.
Therapeutic approaches used include:
I also provide private clinical supervision to Clinical and Counselling Psychologists and Cognitive Behaviour Therapists.
Please contact me by e-mailing louise@consultingminds.co.uk or telephoning 07940 442982.