FAQs

There is no simple answer to this question, people go to therapy for a range of very different reasons and may have different expectations from therapy and get different things out of it. You can discuss your reasons and expectations for therapy with your psychologist. There are a variety of different types of psychological therapies and it can be confusing when thinking about what type to go for. Our Counselling Psychologists are trained in using a range of different therapies and therapeutic models. When working with you, they will try to work in a way that is most helpful for your difficulties and your needs. If you wish to access a particular type of therapy, you can discuss this with them.

Some people consider age, gender, culture or other factors when choosing a therapist, ultimately this comes down to personal preference. However, it is likely that your therapist will have experience of working with people from a range of different backgrounds with a variety of experiences and difficulties. All of the practitioners in the Counselling Psychology Group are qualified Counselling Psychologists trained to doctoral level. Counselling Psychologists come from an integrative background, which allows them to use a range of different evidence based theories and approaches in their work.

Once you decide you wish to see a Counseling Psychologist, you will be asked to attend one or more assessment sessions, where you can discuss what has brought you to therapy, your personal circumstances, hopes and expectations. This initial session(s) will provide the space for you and your psychologist to decide whether you wish to continue working together. When making this decision, you may want to think about how you feel being in the room with this person. It is worth keeping in mind that it can be difficult to talk about sensitive matters with a professional that you have just started working with, however this can get easier as you build a therapeutic relationship. If at the end of the assessment, you wish to find a different therapist, you can be honest about this with your therapist and they will understand.

Different people choose to engage in therapy for different amounts of time. Most Counselling Psychologists are able to offer short term and long term therapy. This is something that you can discuss together in the assessment sessions and also throughout therapy. Ultimately you are free to stop therapy whenever you like, although it is often more helpful to agree and plan an end to therapy with your psychologist.

Therapy has many reported benefits, here are a few:

• To gain a better understanding of yourself in relation to others and the world.
• A space to reflect on your values and goals to gain a greater sense of meaning.
• To gain insight and change repetitive patterns of behaviour that could be having a detrimental impact on your life. Consequently, this may help you develop an understanding of how you could improve your relationships.
• A greater sense of assertiveness, self acceptance and personal growth.
• A non-judgemental, warm and empathic therapeutic relationship where you can be heard, respected and validated.
• A greater resilience when faced with worries, stresses and strains of life.
• An understanding of the triggers and traps in life that could be causing you some distress and ways of coping with this.
• Help with working through and accepting unpredictable life situations such as long-term health difficulties and life transitions.
• Realising and working towards your full potential.
• Understanding how past experiences may have shaped your present.

Individuals can face a variety of issues at different points in their lives. As counselling psychologists, we understand and work with a range of difficulties, however, we do not let any mental health label prevent us from seeing our clients as human beings who, like everyone, can struggle at different points in their lives.
Here are some of the issues we work with:

Depression and Low Mood
Anxiety and Panic
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Eating Disorders
Addictions
Trauma
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Personality Issues
Physical and Sexual Abuse
Bullying
Everyday Struggles and Stress
Anger Management
Isolation and Loneliness
Relationship Difficulties
Loss and Bereavement
Sexual Issues
Phobias
Chronic Pain
Post Natal Depression
Self Harm

Each of our psychologists have their own arrangements for fees. You can ask about the details when making contact or you can visit our individual practitioners pages for more information.