FAQs
What happens in a psychotherapy session
There is no typical session, but your therapist will be highly trained in listening, reflecting and helping you to think, providing an environment in which to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.. With most types of therapy you are free to discuss what you wish, from everyday events, dilemmas, feelings, and thoughts, to trauma, regrets, aspirations and memories. Shorter-term forms of therapy like EMDR and VPT can be more structured, solution focused and may focus more closely on thought and assoicated actions.
What models of psychotherapy do you use?
All of our therapists are 'integrative' - in other words we integrate various different methods and theoretical models depending on each case. The main models and methods we integrate are: psychodynamic, systemic (family systems), CBT, EMDR, and the VPT.
How long is each session?
Our first assessment appointment usually lasts for 90 minutes. Most sessions following that last for 45 minutes. Generally appointments are offered fortightly or weekly depending on the case, and ocassionally we suggest having a longer appointment less regularly - this is most usually the case when we work with families.
Do you offer remote therapy?
Yes. We offer remote therapy. You will need to have an assessment to see if this will suit you but almost all of our parents, children and adolescents can work online if they prefer. Sometimes we use a combination of clinic work and online work as this can help with scheduling especially for busy parents and children. During the pandemic, we worked almost online, in gardens, in parks and in schools.
Do you work in schools?
Yes. We actually prefer to work with children in their school for many reasons. Often it is containing for the child to stay in their school environment, it can help with them not having to come out of school for their therapy sessions, it means that they do not have to come after school which often makes the day too long for stressed children and young people. It also gives us a greater opportunity to work as a team with your child's school. Most schools will find a private space for a 45 minute session once a week if they understand the reason why this is indicated.
How many sessions will I need?
It is impossible to say exactly how many sessions you will need until we have done an assessment. Then we will tell you if we think you or your child /family will be offered short, medium or long term psychotherapy and we will explain why. Short term sessions usually vary between 1 and 12 sessions. Medium term therapy will vary between 12 and 24 sessions. We consider long term therapy to be more than 24 weeks.
There is no typical session, but your therapist will be highly trained in listening, reflecting and helping you to think, providing an environment in which to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.. With most types of therapy you are free to discuss what you wish, from everyday events, dilemmas, feelings, and thoughts, to trauma, regrets, aspirations and memories. Shorter-term forms of therapy like EMDR and VPT can be more structured, solution focused and may focus more closely on thought and assoicated actions.
What models of psychotherapy do you use?
All of our therapists are 'integrative' - in other words we integrate various different methods and theoretical models depending on each case. The main models and methods we integrate are: psychodynamic, systemic (family systems), CBT, EMDR, and the VPT.
How long is each session?
Our first assessment appointment usually lasts for 90 minutes. Most sessions following that last for 45 minutes. Generally appointments are offered fortightly or weekly depending on the case, and ocassionally we suggest having a longer appointment less regularly - this is most usually the case when we work with families.
Do you offer remote therapy?
Yes. We offer remote therapy. You will need to have an assessment to see if this will suit you but almost all of our parents, children and adolescents can work online if they prefer. Sometimes we use a combination of clinic work and online work as this can help with scheduling especially for busy parents and children. During the pandemic, we worked almost online, in gardens, in parks and in schools.
Do you work in schools?
Yes. We actually prefer to work with children in their school for many reasons. Often it is containing for the child to stay in their school environment, it can help with them not having to come out of school for their therapy sessions, it means that they do not have to come after school which often makes the day too long for stressed children and young people. It also gives us a greater opportunity to work as a team with your child's school. Most schools will find a private space for a 45 minute session once a week if they understand the reason why this is indicated.
How many sessions will I need?
It is impossible to say exactly how many sessions you will need until we have done an assessment. Then we will tell you if we think you or your child /family will be offered short, medium or long term psychotherapy and we will explain why. Short term sessions usually vary between 1 and 12 sessions. Medium term therapy will vary between 12 and 24 sessions. We consider long term therapy to be more than 24 weeks.
Does long term therapy mean I will be in therapy for years and years?
Not necessarily. Our aim is to make ourselves redundant as soon as possible and even in long term therapy we remain focused on this. Sometimes long term therapy can last for several years but we will not offer this without a solid rationale
If my child or adolescent has a therapist, will I be kept informed of what is going on the sessions?
We generally like to involve parents and carers in some way in our therapeutic process with chiuldren and young people. Click here to see how we work with children, young people and their parents and carers. In short, we will do regular reviews to let you know how your child is doing but we will hold confidentiality unless we have safeguarding concerns.
Why do you have to hold confidentiality?
We do that so your child or adolescent feels as safe as possible to speak openly with us about their feelings. If you do tell us any new information that your child has not told us we will let them know that we know now this information. It is therefore a good idea to tell your child that you are going to tell us something you think is important.
Does my GP need to refer me?
No you can refer yourself although we often get referrals from GPs and psychiatrists. We will however, need to let your GP know that you are having therapy with our practice. We will do this once you have attended your first assessment appointment.
Why do you need to let me GP know that I am attending therapy?
Therapists request GP details for the unlikely event you had a medical emergency while attending therapy. In the case of a psychological or emotional emergency, your therapist would seek your permission to contact your GP in the interests of your safety and/or wellbeing.
What kinds of people can seek therapy?
There is no barrier to who we can offer therapy. We welcome you, regardless of your culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, where you work and live, your age, or anything else about you. We see individual adults, couples, children, adolescents and families.
Why don't you show your charges on your website?
Because our charges vary depending on the complexity of the case. We do have a small charitable fund that is set aside for those who genuinely have financial difficulties. These spaces get very booked up so if you require financial support you are likely to be plced on a waiting list. We can let you know more if you contact us.
How do I start?
Contact us on hello@parentchildclinic.com and give us some basic information about your name, where you live and what you would like us to help you with.
What will happen next?
We will get back to you and make a plan to have a pre- assessment appointment so that we can decide whether we can help. Currently those appointments are held remotely (via Zoom or Teams). Following that appointment we will send you details of what we suggest would be best for you. We will give you information about where you can see us (in person or online), the next appointment date and importantly for most people, we will let you know what the costs will be for each therapy session and an indication of the number of sessions we think you will need. At the beginning of the process this will be a guide - we will let you know if at any time we suggest a change in plan.
This might include: one to one therapy, parent-child therapy, child or adolescent therapy, EMDR / CBT, family therapy or we may let you know that we will need to refer you elsewhere. Sometimes we suggest both referral to other professionals as well as therapeutic work with our service. This might include referrals for: psychiatry, cognitive assessment, SEN assessment, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, your GP, other medical assessments such as paediatrics.
Where are your clinics?
Please click here to see where we are.
All all of your therapists qualified?
All of our regular therapists are fully qualified and registered with either UKCP, BACP or BPS. We sometimes have trainees working with us but they are fully supervised by qualified supervisor. Trainees must be on a recognised training course which must end in registration with UKCP, BACP or BPS. Trainees are fully screened by their training institution and by us before they can begin working with us. We will let you know if you or your child will be working with a trainee.
Will my information be shared?
Therapists are committed to your privacy, so sharing your personal information is a rare occurrence.
There are two exceptions. The first is if your therapist were to become aware that you are an imminent danger to yourself or others, or that someone else is a danger to you. You would first be encouraged to seek necessary support, and if you were unable or unwilling to do so your therapist has a duty of care to seek this support on your behalf. The second exception is if your therapist were to become aware that you intended to commit a major crime of any sort. In such a case they have a legal obligation to disclose such information to the relevant authorities.
*Note that for the purposes of therapy, personal drug use or addictions are not considered to be criminal activities (unless they involve anyone underage). They are seen only as areas to be addressed in therapy.