Session Information

Initial Contact: I offer a free 30 minutes consultation where you will call me at a pre-agreed mutual day/time to speak. This is an opportunity to find out how I can help and what you are looking for to achieve from therapy. If after this call you wish to work with me, I will then send you my T&C, a GAD7-PHQ9 inventory of where you are at; together with an email questionnaire to be completed and returned at least two to three days before your initial therapy session. This is to reduce the administrative time in the first session so we can have more time to focus on you when we meet.

The Number of Sessions: You need is dependent on your personal situation and the therapy modality used. I work short and long term from one-off sessions to as long as you need. I usually recommend 6 sessions that will allow you to see how well the therapy is working for you and experience some positive change. Thereafter you can decide how much work you want to do. 

The session lengths are 50 minutes or we can arrange bespoke session times from 50 minutes to 5 hours if your contract allows.

Once your day and time have been agreed, that day/time is reserved for you and this applies to online sessions too.

For Online Sessions: We will agree for you to set up and call me on the primary medium of communication for our sessions either Skype/Zoom/Teams, Phone or Mobile, via audio or video, and a secondary means of communication if the primary medium is unavailable or fails. If our sessions are disrupted and have to end due to technology and we are using your primary method of communication, you will contact me via the secondary mode. If we are unable to set up the meeting for more than 15 minutes due to technical disruptions we may need to reschedule the session. I will ensure that adequate levels of security are in place for the technology I use. My desktop, laptop, phone and Wi-Fi are password protected. All engagement in an audio or video call, nobody will overhear or oversee our communication, or intrude on our work. It would be important for you to do the same as therapy entails discussing some very personal information and often never speaking to anyone else about it. It is important you can talk openly with me and that your right to privacy is protected. Therapy can be challenging and emotional so please consider pre/post preparation and digestion time for yourself before returning to normal activities.

Late Arrivals: If for any reason you arrive late for the session in person or online, the session will continue but will terminate as scheduled, so you will not have a full 50-minutes or as agreed session length.

Communications between Sessions: Communications between sessions are to be kept to a minimum. If psychological support is required between sessions this is to be agreed in advance, otherwise, we will discuss the matter at the next session. In the event you need emergency support, we can arrange if available an earlier appointment or other help for you.

I communicate with clients via email or text message about organising sessions and other administrative matters. On a rare occasion, I may need to call you, but only for urgent matters. You may text me or email me for similar administrative matters.

Ending of Our Work: Therapy comes to an end and sometimes clients decide to end, they wish to do so quickly. However, the leaving period is part of the therapy work and it is usually beneficial for an ending to be mutually agreed upon rather than a sudden or one-sided action especially working with someone for more than four weeks it is important to discuss the importance of stopping the relationship, especially when working with children this is a very important aspect of our work.

It can be invaluable to allow a period of time which to close the therapy, to review what has taken place and complete our work together. I ideally allow one weeks notice for more than three weeks or less and at least four weeks for a year or more of working together.

Reports: If you need reports, letters, or emails to a third party please allow 7 days and in busy periods up to 14 days with the exceptions of holidays from the date the request for a report to complete and return an initial draft for your changes, additions and consent. All reports, letters or emails are charged at the rate of your session fee and prorated to the number of hours taken and rounded to the nearest 15 minutes.

Holidays, Cancellations and Missed Sessions: I take three breaks from my practice each year at Easter, in the Summer and at Christmas. I will give you the exact dates in advance. You are not charged when I am on vacation from my work. Outside of these breaks, reserved sessions which are cancelled/missed by you for holiday/work/other appointments etc for whatever reason this may be for, this requires 72 hours notice or full fee is charged. If you take more than two weeks off, please note it is possible you may not be able to have the same session day/time back.

Bespoke Therapy Sessions

Other than the traditional 50 minutes for counselling and psychotherapy I offer 60 minutes to self paying clients and sessions are available up to an hour and half to 5 hours. For fast results, the uniqueness of my therapy sessions are that I can develop a bespoke plan of therapy for you.  You may require flexible weekly, fortnightly or intense course of treatments than that of weekly sessions.

Half day and full-day sessions can be made available in your plan.  The bespoke therapy sessions are individually tailored and may include traditional medical advice, complementary therapies such as nutrition, massage, acupuncture, financial and fitness advice.

If you want to work on a specific problem, breakthrough sessions are available from 2 to 5 hours in length and can be held in-house or at my practice locations. This may includes lunch, tea and coffee breaks for individual or group sessions.

Emergency and one-off sessions are also available and these are charged at a higher rate.

Insurance

I am a recognised registered health provider for the following insurance companies.

 

Your therapy session fees may be covered by your health insurer. You will need to find out from your insurers if there are any limitations or excess that you may need to pay. All excess or any amount that is not covered by your insurers you will be liable to pay this directly to your therapists.

If your health insurer is not listed, please contact me and  I can register with your insurer to allow therapy costs to be covered for you.

If your insurance company requires a psychiatric referral, or if you wish to discuss the option of medication, I can refer you to an experienced psychiatric colleagues I work with closely.

GP Consent

You will be required to indicate whether you do or do not consent to any communications with your GP or other medical professionals.

For my insurance purposes you GP information is required.  I will not make any contact with your GP without your full written consent.

If you are taking any prescribed medication or having medical treatments, your GP may be required to be informed of your therapy. 

Therapy is not to replace your medical treatments or to stop you from seeking medical advice from your general practitioner or consultant. 

Referral

I offer therapy to individuals, couples and children. You can self-refer or be referred by a medical professional, employer, friend or family member. Full and informed consent is required by all adults having therapy with me and direct contact with the client must be made to arrange the appointments if over the age of 18.

Confidentiality

Your confidentiality is strictly upheld. Your consent will be sought where the law requires it to be broken, or in the event of self-harm, harm to another or to a child is involved. These situations are rare and you would always in advance agree in writing for the information before being passed to a third party.

All sessions are held in a safe and non-judgemental environment.

Please Note: Emails/texts are not 100% confidential and are therefore better for non-confidential communications such as arranging appointments. If you need to convey more confidential information by email a way of making this more secure is to include an attachment with a separetly agreed password.

Online Confidentiality: Has its limitations whilst working online. I will make sure my practice area is a safe confidential space and no one will hear, oversee or intrude in the sessions and it would be important for you too to do the same and feel comfortable and safe to openly talk.

Records: I take notes about the sessions and as part of my professional services, I am required to consult with a clinical supervisor on a regular basis. This is to ensure that your best interest in mind. Your identity and confidentiality is never disclosed and only first names are used.
How soon will you see me?

In most instances you’ll be seen within a week of your initial contact. In an emergency, you can be seen within 48 hours depending on availability. On some occasions, I may operate a waiting list due to high demand. If this is longer than 2 weeks I will let you know.

How do I talk to you?

Therapy is normally face-to-face in person or online, via Phone, Skype, Zoom or Teams. Upon your initial communication we will set up a free 30 minutes consultation before booking a therapy session with me.

Cancellation

Taking on the services from the initial session, a 72 hour weekday notice is required for cancellation or to reschedule your appointment for whatever reason it may be. Otherwise the full fee is charged.

Please text, phone or voice message or email where you are unable to attend, to reschedule or you are running late for your appointment.

Payment

Unless previously agreed or your fees are paid for by your employer or health insurer, payment is to be made at the end of each session.

Online consultations, payment must be received in advance. You can pay by cash, cheque, PAYPAL, or bank transfer/BACS.

If you pay by paypal, or a credit card there may be an additional charge of 3% made by the provider. 

Ethical Framework

As an accredited therapist, I abide by the Ethical Codes of Good Practice of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).  And the Association of Neuro-Linguistic Programming International (ANLP) guidelines as a professional practising practitioner.

For more information, please visit

www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework

www.anlp.org/index.asp?PageID=79

Fees

Fees are dependent on the type of therapy, length of sessions, time of day and location. 

Fees payable via cash, cheques, bank transfers and secure payments can be made with all major credit cards, visa debit and paypal.

Payments can be invoiced to your insurance company, employer or designated payee. 

My fees increase yearly and you would be notified of the changes in advance.
Coaching vs Counselling

The difference between Coaching and Counselling arises frequently. I have attempted to explain and distinguish the differences between coaching and counselling:

 

 

Traditional Therapy or Counselling

Coaching

Primary Life Focus

The focus is on the person’s past. Deals with healing emotional pain or conflict within an individual or in a relationship between two people.Some forms of therapy e.g., Brief Solution Focused and CBT focus on the future.

Focuses on a person’s present, in order to help them create actionable strategies for achieving specific goals in one’s personal and work life and act towards the future. The emphasis in a coaching relationship is on action, accountability. A highly experienced coach will know when to look at the past because it informs the present, as well as in order to help distinguish limiting belief systems. 

Subject Focus

Based on feelings and emotions.

Action and outcomes. Actively un-taps clients potential

Model

Medical or clinical diagnosis of pathology or relationship conflicts.

Learning and developmental, focusing on attainable goals and possibilities.

Nature of Issue

Identifiable dysfunction.

A generally functional client desiring a better situation

Treatment of the Past

Understand and resolve the past.

Understanding the past in the context in which future goals are set.

Questions Asked

WHY?

HOW? WHAT? WHEN? and WHY, a form of seeking insight, is emphasized less than action

Client Goals

Help patients resolve old pain and improve emotional states

Helps clients learn new skills and tools to build a more satisfying successful future; focuses on goals

Accountability for Goals

The goals of therapy are for the person to be accountable for their feelings and emotions and change can be identified internally but not usually measurable unless using a CBT.

Coaching goals, like business goals, usually have to do with one’s external world and behaviour and is measurable.

Relationship

Therapist / Client relationship 
The therapist offers perspectives and helps the clients discover their own answers.

Co-creative equal partnership 
The coach offers perspectives and helps the clients discover their own answers.

Function

The Therapist diagnoses, then provides professional expertise and guidelines to provide a path to healing

The Coach stands with the clients and helps him or her identify the challenges, then partners to turn challenges into victories, holding client accountable to reach desired goals.

Training or Educational Background

Therapists require extensive expertise in the subject matter of the therapy: marital counselling, childhood abuse, etc. A therapist can use coaching skills to support the client.

Coaches, deal in process, do not require subject matter expertise. Coach with work, training and education background enhances and utilises their experience towards greater understanding and knowledge of the clients issues. Coach can utilise counselling and diagnoses to enhance the client towards unlocking past limitations to achieving goals for e.g., bullying at school affecting being experienced at work.

Style

Patient, nurturing, evocative, indirect, parenting, cathartic.

The same, excepting, parenting, but also catalytic, challenging, direct, straight talk, accountability

Rate of Change

Progress is often slow and painful because the issues are often subconscious and fundamental.

Growth and progress are rapid and usually enjoyable.

Responsibility for Outcomes

The therapist is responsible for both the process and the outcome.

The coach is responsible for the process; the client for the results.

Disclosure

Limited, if any, personal disclosure by the therapist

Personal disclosure by the coach used when relevant as an aid to communicating.

Payment

Often covered by health insurance; or through an Employee Assistant programme.  Otherwise self funding or a relative.

Not covered by health insurance.  Employers may pay for coaching of individuals or groups.

Useful Links

Professional bodies

NICE – The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health for healthcare professionals, the NHS, carers and the public

www.nice.org.uk

 

BACP – British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

www.bacp.co.uk

ANLP – Association of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

www.anlp.org

CCC – Counselling Limited

www.counselling.ltd.uk

ICF – International Coach Federation

www.coachfederation.org

BSCH – British Society of Clinical Hypnosis

www.bsch.org.uk

Sexual Dysfunction (SDA)

www.sda.uk.net

British Association of Sexual Relationship Therapy

www.bsart.org.uk

NHS Free Smoking Helpline

www.gosmokerfree.nhs.uk

Mental Health Information

www.mentalhelp.net

Private insurance healthcare providers

Provides Private Healthcare Guidelines

www.privatehealthcareguide.com

Standard Life

www.standardlife.co.uk

CIGNA

www.cigna.co.uk

PRU Health

www.pruhealth.co.uk

WPA

www.wpa.co.uk

Simply Health

www.simplyhealth.co.uk

AVIVA

www.aviva.com

CS Healthcare

www.cshealthcare.co.uk

BUPA

www.bupa.co.uk

Nuffield Health

www.nuffieldhealth.com

Other helpful organisations

CHIS-UK Complementary Healthcare Information Service - UK

www.chisuk.org.uk

BestHost - web hosting and web design

www.besthost.co.uk

Quitza Hypnotherapy Listwww.quitza.com/groups/1082/quitting-smoking-with-hypnosis