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), attachment, 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 circumstances, 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 do 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/home visits 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 and we found that places other than the classic clinic can be helpful. We will discuss this with you at your first appointment.
Do you work in schools?
Yes. We actually prefer to work with children in their school for a variety of reasons. Often it is much more containing for the child to stay in their school environment even if (and sometime especially if) they are struggling with going to school. Often when children and young people are stuggling to go to school we combine work in school with wokring at your home. Working in school can also help by the child or young person not having to come out of school for their therapy sessions. In particular, it can mean 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 or my child need?
It is impossible to say exactly how many sessions you will need until we have done an assessment. An assessment is likely to last for between 2 and 6 sessions, usually depending on complexity. Following assessment, we will discuss whether we think we can help, how we think we can help and whether this will be short, medium or long term psychotherapy and 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), attachment, 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 circumstances, 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 do 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/home visits 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 and we found that places other than the classic clinic can be helpful. We will discuss this with you at your first appointment.
Do you work in schools?
Yes. We actually prefer to work with children in their school for a variety of reasons. Often it is much more containing for the child to stay in their school environment even if (and sometime especially if) they are struggling with going to school. Often when children and young people are stuggling to go to school we combine work in school with wokring at your home. Working in school can also help by the child or young person not having to come out of school for their therapy sessions. In particular, it can mean 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 or my child need?
It is impossible to say exactly how many sessions you will need until we have done an assessment. An assessment is likely to last for between 2 and 6 sessions, usually depending on complexity. Following assessment, we will discuss whether we think we can help, how we think we can help and whether this will be short, medium or long term psychotherapy and 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. We udnerstand how hard it can be for someone else to be talking about important things with your child and although we do hold confidentiality as a default position, we also (especially over time) do support your child to speak with you more and more about about the things that are difficult for them; in the long run, we want you to be the person they come to if they need support. Sometimes a young person may not need or want to disclose private things to their parents and then we will hold that confidentiality indefiniately unless there are serious safeguarding concerns eithe rto the child/young peson or indeed anyone else.
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 or psychological emergency that requires urgent medical treatment while attending therapy. In the case of a psychological or emotional emergency, your therapist would try to seek your permission to contact your GP, but there may be circumstances in which it is in your / your child's interests to talk to your GP, another professional or your next of kin without pre-warning you.
What kinds of people can seek therapy?
There is no barrier to whom 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.
What will happen if I contact the PCC?
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 dates (the assessment period) 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 or whether we think you will need to plan for long term therapy. At the beginning of the process this will be a guide - we will let you know following assessment what our advice is for planning treatment.
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?
We have clinics in Radlett, Hertfordshire; Oxford, London WC1 and an art-therapy studio in London N10.
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 senior trainees working with us - we will advise you if your therapist is a senior trainee. Trainees are fully supervised by the PCC clinical lead in all of their work and all have more than 100 clinical hours of previous experience. You do not have to work with a trainee if you do not wish to do so.
Will my information be shared?
Therapists are committed to your privacy and take confidentiality very seriously.
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 serious crime of any sort. In such a case they have a legal and ethical obligation to disclose such information to the relevant authorities.
*Note that for the purposes of therapy, personal drug use and addictions are not considered to be criminal activities unless there are safegurding concerns linked to a child/ren or vulnerable person/people.