The Process
Clients
I treat adults, 18+, presenting with a range of psychological issues and from many referral pathways.
Presenting Problems
Common psychological conditions presenting include anxiety conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessional compulsive disorder (OCD) and phobias, as well as depression, mixed anxiety and depression, and more complex conditions. Such disorders are very common and can affect many people, sometimes being exacerbated by periods of change or life-stage and sometimes when change is elusive.
Assessment
Typically, an initial meeting is arranged to take the full history of the problem. The meeting is concluded with recommendations for the most appropriate way forward which may include a recommendation for treatment or a variety of appropriate onward referral pathways.
Referrals
Private, self-referrals are welcomed but some personal details will be required, including the name of your general practitioner. Many referrals are via private medical insurance companies, sometimes after a GP referral and sometimes directly from the insurer. Other referrals come by way of psychiatrists or rehabilitation agencies. Whatever the referral pathway, I will always recommend the most clinically appropriate action, whether offering treatment or making an onward referral.
Brief Interventions
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is an evidenced-based approach which can be used to address many common psychological problems. A collaborative approach is developed allowing client and therapist to tackle problems together. A typical therapeutic contract lasts between 8-12 sessions.
However, there are many psychological approaches that work more effectively with different presentations and people and the most appropriate modality will be honed for each individual or an onward recommendation will be advised to allow each client to access whatever treatment would work best for them.