What to Expect | Redland Psychology

Initial Assessment

At the initial assessment stage of therapy, we will talk through your current situation and what you are hoping to work on. I will ask questions to help us both understand how the difficulties came about and why they are continuing. I will ask you about your thoughts, feelings, and current coping strategies.

I will also ask about other areas of your life to help understand your difficulties in the wider context of your life. Sometimes it is helpful to talk about life events in your past. This is always your choice and I will only ask if I think it is relevant to understand the current issue we will work on.

The assessment session(s) are also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the therapy.

We can discuss the different therapy approaches I offer, and which would be a good fit for you.

During therapy

As therapy goes on, we usually start the sessions by discussing any changes since we last met, and then continuing with the main themes we are working on. Your feedback is important– let me know what is helpful or not as we go along.

Home tasks

An essential aspect of all treatments are the tasks that will be agreed in session for you to work on in between treatment sessions. These may include questionnaires, recording thoughts/feelings or trying things out differently in terms of your behaviour.

Just one more thing....

It is not just the therapy session that helps towards your recovery, it’s the work that you put into it in between sessions too. Remember, it is often the case that the more you put into something; the more you get out of it in return!

How long will I need to come for?

All the therapy I offer is goal focused. Often people come for 6 sessions initially, which can be enough to discuss a current life problem and develop healthy habits for good mental health. For depression or anxiety that has been around a while then 12 – 20 sessions are usually needed.

Longer term work can be helpful when a person is starting to build trust in relationships, when we may work together up to around one year or more. We will discuss your needs at the first session and review regularly (e.g. every 6 sessions). The frequency of sessions will reduce as you progress through treatment. When you are ready to finish, it is best if we plan this together in advance. We can then reduce the sessions over a planned period if this is felt to be helpful for you.

Confidentiality

It is crucial to the process of therapy, that you feel safe & secure in discussing personal and sometimes extremely sensitive issues. It is also important that you can be as open and honest as you can about the issues that you choose to discuss.

All that you discuss in therapy will remain confidential and will not be shared with anyone without your prior knowledge and consent. The only exception to this will be if you disclose information that indicates you or someone else is at risk. If this happens, it will be discussed, and your therapist will share with you an appropriate course of action.

I have regular supervision with senior psychologists who specialise in the therapies I provide to make sure our work is on track and to benefit from another perspective.

If needed I write a brief letter to insurers to request more sessions, or to your GP when therapy is ending. This includes the number of sessions attended, the main problem worked on and the outcome.

Your safety and well-being are my priority. If, during our conversations, I feel concerned about the immediate safety of you, or anyone else, I will discuss this with you and it may be that we need the support of one of your friends, a family member or another professional. Very rarely I might not be able to discuss this with you first, for example if this would delay getting help.

For crisis support outside of sessions, please call your GP or go to the local Accident and Emergency Service which will be open 24/7.