Making the decision to come for an initial assessment can be daunting for some people, but it is a very brave first step. Therefore, our aim is to make it as comfortable as possible. At the initial assessment you will meet with me or my associate and you be will asked some questions to better understand the main presenting difficulties. If it seems that we can help, then we will discuss whether you would like to attend for a course of therapy. This would typically mean meeting for a number of sessions of focused psychological therapy aimed at overcoming the difficulties identified. You may also be asked to complete some specialised questionnaires to help us to better understand how you are feeling.
My associates and I believe in a collaborative approach where you are the expert in your own experiences and we have the expertise in the psychological theories and techniques. We believe that this expertise should be brought together in order to enable you to achieve your unique therapeutic goals. After agreeing on therapeutic goals, we will share with you a formulation – a psychological understanding of what we think has influenced the development of your difficulties and what is maintaining them. This formulation will be checked out with you and then it will inform the treatment.
Please see below a brief explanation the type of therapies that are used:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) CBT is a highly effective, clinically proven treatment for a broad range of mental health and psychological difficulties. A collaborative process between you and the therapist, CBT teaches you the skills to ‘remodel’ your thinking and behaviour in order to move past the difficulties you’re experiencing.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) EMDR is a type of therapy used to treat the symptoms of trauma and a wide range of mental health difficulties in adults and children. When we experience traumatic events the thoughts, feelings and memories we have about those events can get stuck. It can be hard to move on from them. The aim of EMDR is to help the brain to process distressing memories. This reduces their influence and allows individuals to develop ways to reclaim their lives. Family Therapy Family Therapy, sometimes referred to as Systemic Therapy, aims to support families or those in close relationships to encourage helpful changes. The focus of sessions is to work on helping the family as a unit, rather than the individual’s difficulties.
Couples Therapy Couples therapy aims to support a couple to improve their communication and make meaningful changes to their relationship. It is not about blaming one person or the other, but finding a joint understanding which helps you move forward together.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytical therapies are based on identifying your unconscious perceptions and thoughts which have developed during your childhood and understanding how these affect current thoughts and behaviour.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) The main aim of CFT is to teach the skills and attributes of compassion. CFT is particularly useful for those who criticise themselves heavily and who have difficulty in feeling warmth toward, and being kind to, themselves or others.
Narrative Therapy Narrative Therapy views people as separate from their problems. This allows you to get some distance from the issue. With this new perspective, you can feel more empowered to make changes in your thought patterns and behaviour and “rewrite” your life story for a future that reflects who you are, what you are capable of, and what your purpose is, separate from your problems.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) The aim of ACT is to help you accept what you can’t change and commit to change what you can. ACT helps you accept the things out of your control and work towards living a meaningful life you value. This includes popular techniques such as Mindfulness.
FEES There is a difference in the cost of online and face-to-face therapy. Please see below for the fee for online sessions and the fee for face-to-face sessions:
An initial assessment or subsequent therapy sessions at 50 minutes online (e.g. via Zoom, Teams, telephone etc.) is £140.00. This would be for either individual sessions, couple sessions, family sessions.
An initial assessment or subsequent therapy sessions at 50 minutes face-to-face is £150.00. This would be for either individual sessions, couples sessions, or family sessions. Our clinics are in Bushey, Stanmore, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, Hertford, Baldock, and Bedford.
The cost of assessment reports and discharge reports are charged at the hourly rate of £140.00.
PAYMENT Payment is made by bank transfer a minimum of 24 hours before each session. It is key that you attend sessions so that you have the greatest opportunity of achieving your goals. In the event of cancelling a session, please do provide at least 24 hours' notice. A payment of the hourly rate of £140.00 (for online session) or £150 (for face-to-face session) will be charged for sessions cancelled within 24 hours of the appointment time and for sessions that were not attended.
