FAQS
HOW LONG DOES EACH THERAPY SESSION TAKE?
Each therapy session is 50 minutes long, unless there is a clinical reason why this may not be suitable. You have the right to end a session early, and you are not obligated to give a reason for this, although you will be charged for the full session.
Usually during treatment I would recommend having a session approximately every two weeks, as this gives enough time to practice skills and complete any home tasks that I have agreed on in previous sessions, while being frequent enough to keep focus and maintain momentum for change.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I CONTACT YOU?
If you decide to contact Casselden Psychology Services, I will email you back to say hello and ask you to have a look at my terms and conditions (see the Privacy policy for more information) before we being work together. I will also ask you to fill in a client information sheet to give me a bit of background information about you and your current difficulties, just so I can make sure that I can offer you an appropriate service. Once you return these to me I will make an appointment with you (currently via zoom but usually face to face in non pandemic times) and send you details for payment. I would ask you to pay at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment. Then just click on the zoom link at the agreed time and I will see you there!
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO HAPPEN DURING THERAPY?
Psychological therapy is a collaborative process where we will work together to make sense of your current difficulties. It can usually be divided into three main areas:
Assessment. This is the information gathering stage where you and your therapist will discuss information which is relevant to your current difficulties, as well as information about your life in general. A core aspect of this stage is getting to know your therapist and developing an environment where you feel safe and comfortable.
Formulation. This is where you and your therapist use psychological models to help make sense of your current difficulties, increasing our understanding of how these have developed over time and what might be keeping them going or making them worse for you right now.
Treatment. Based on the individual formulation which you and your therapist think is most helpful in making sense of your difficulties, you and your therapist will agree a treatment plan for your difficulties and set achievable goals for you to work on. This may tasks such as building new skills and behavioural experiments.
I AM NOT SURE IF THERAPY IS FOR ME, HOW CAN I TELL?
There is no right or wrong time to access therapy, and it can be a valuable tool at any stage. In general, however, people are more able to make long term, meaningful change when other areas of your life are generally stable. If you are in crisis it is unlikely that you will be able to make best use of the sessions and it may be that other services are more appropriate at this stage, and your therapist may signpost you on to relevant services in your area.
Sometimes people worry that their problems are not 'severe' enough to warrant seeing a therapist. Your difficulties are as valid as any one else's and if you are struggling with an issue it can be helpful to discuss this with a professional in a safe environment. Interventions can be brief or long, and you can decide how many sessions you commit to, if any.
CAN I BRING SOMEONE WITH ME?
If you are nervous about coming along to therapy, do not worry - that is totally normal! Most people feel a bit nervous at the start, but your therapist will try to make you feel comfortable. If you would like to bring someone for support that is entirely up to you; however, we would ask that they wait in the waiting area for you rather than coming into the therapy room. This will allow you to talk freely and confidentially to your therapist during your session.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, A PSYCHIATRIST AND A COUNSELLOR?
There are so many titles out there for mental health professionals, it can be difficult to know which is which. A Clinical Psychologist is someone who has, as a minimum, completed an undergraduate psychology degree and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with at least a couple of years of practical clinical experience in between them. Usually this path takes about 8 years or more of studying and working in the field of mental health. Clinical Psychologists are trained in a number of different therapies and can often use their knowledge of different therapies to tailor their treatment for different individuals. They are also the only professionals qualified to carry out neuropsychological assessments. The title of Clinical Psychologist is a protected one, meaning that only people who have these qualifications can call themselves a Clinical Psychologist. All Clinical Psychologists are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council.
A Psychiatrist is someone who has completed their first five years of medical training and then has specialized in Psychiatry. Due to their medical training they are able to prescribe medication. Usually their role is to diagnose disorders, prescribe medication and create a care plan for an individual, coordinating the work of other professionals such as nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists who work with the person. Some psychiatrists, but not all, may be trained in particular therapeutic approaches, but this varies between practitioners. All psychiatrists are regulated by the Royal College of Psychiatry.
Counsellors may have training in person-centred approaches, or a particular therapeutic modality, however this will vary between counsellors. The title of counsellor is not protected and so anyone can use it to describe what they do, and they are not all regulated by one particular body. As such, it is best to check the qualifications of your chosen counsellor before beginning a piece of work together.
WILL I HAVE TO LIE ON A COUCH?
No. At least, not unless you want to! I do not usually have a couch in my therapy room and I would not typically ask you to lie down in your therapy session, however if you would rather do that we can discuss it!