As a practising psychologist I hear many of these questions on a regular basis.  I hope the answers I provide here help to address some of your queries and concerns.

 

 

What kinds of problems can you help with?

 

All kinds but I specialise in alcohol problems.  I’ve helped people with severe depression and anxiety disorders, as well as people who feel discouraged, disconnected or stuck in their relationships, work, or life in general.  Often, when people start therapy, they know they’re seeking change but they’re unsure how to achieve it.  If this sounds like you, rest assured it’s very common.  Come in and we’ll figure it out together.

 

How long will my therapy take?

 

We can’t know until we’ve had a chance to talk and come to a fuller understanding of your concerns.  I’ve helped some clients in a few sessions, while some have chosen to work with me for much longer.  Sometimes clients resolve the problem they initially came in for but decide to work on another area of their life.  What I can tell you is that my goal is to make every session as helpful as possible.   Statistically speaking, however, a course of treatment is usually between 12 and 20 sessions.

 

How much do you charge?

 

I charge £90for a 50-minute therapy session.   Sessions are usually once a week but can be more frequent depending on your needs and preferences.   For psychological testing, a comprehensive battery is £2500 and a briefer more focused battery is £750, based on the hours I spend preparing a report and feedback for you or maybe your employer.  For both therapy and testing, you can pay with cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer.

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What about private health insurance?

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Currently,  I can accept referrals from clients with private health insurance from Aviva and Vitality Health.

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Do you prescribe medication?

 

No, in the UK medication is prescribed only by psychiatrists, certain nurses and other medical doctors.   As a psychologist, I focus on helping my clients through therapy and testing.  However, I’m happy to discuss all of your treatment options and help you understand whether your symptoms or other struggles would be helped by medication.  If you’re interested in medication, I can help facilitate a referral to a number of excellent psychiatrists. .  If you’re currently on medication or start medication while we’re working together, I’ll work closely with your psychiatrist to coordinate the different treatments we are offering.

 

Do you give advice?

 

Sometimes, but not often.  Advice is overrated, and usually doesn’t help very much.  I think what therapy has to offer in terms of seeing yourself and your thoughts more clearly and realistically is much more valuable.   When my clients start getting to that point, they often become less interested advice and more curious about other types of solutions.