Treatment

Importance of Perspective, Insight & Personal Empowerment
I work on a one-to-one basis. This, however, does not mean that we are working in isolation as there is high regard to the people and environments around each person. My approach is human-centered rather than based on a ‘disease model’, i.e., I believe it is about helping each person problem-solve and find solutions to their current emotional discomfort. This involves developing perspective taking in terms of individual roles and future life goals. To achieve this, I place emphasis on developing each person’s insight into their own situation in order to promote personal empowerment and self-efficacy to take control of their life.

Formulation & the importance of extracting ‘Personal Meaning’ to Life Events
As a clinical psychologist my work is formulation-based which means that during my assessment and therapy I consistently summarise and integrate the knowledge provided by each person to clarify and provide and explanation of the symptoms experienced. I, together with each person, will form theories with regards to the nature and origin of the symptoms as well as exploring the factors maintaining their symptoms. We will continue to assess, test and re-test our theories together in order to produce a functional solution that is realistic and satisfactory for each person. As a psychologist I stress the importance of distinguishing between life events and the personal meaning these have for each individual - this is an important distinction as we are all exposed to adverse life experiences, but it is how we interpret these that is important in terms of resolution.

Bridging the various Causes to Mental Health Symptoms.
With my neuropsychological background and my special interest in biochemical factors in mental health I stress the importance of having an awareness of the highly interactive nature of psychological and physical mechanisms influential in mental health. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, anger, etc can only be understood and resolved by considering the interactive roles of biological, social and psychological factors. Most importantly however is considerations to how each individual interprets the often unavoidable stressors or events falling on their path and in turn how they cope with these.

Support, Empathy & Respect
Achieving a satisfactory outcome however can only be achieved through an environment that is supportive, empathic and respectful. This is a priority within my service enabling each person to feel safe, supported and able to face their problems.

Terms and conditions

(in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation GDPR 25.5.18).
This form contains information about Privacy Policy, Professional Services, Business Policy, Attendance and Fees, Contact Details and Consent. Once you sign it, this document will represent an agreement between us.

PRIVACY DETAILS POLICY
In my role as a therapist, it is a contractual necessity that I reference my role as a Healthcare Professional working with safeguards (recognised by National Accreditation bodies within my profession i.e. BPS and HCPC) in order to provide cover for holding and using sensitive data. This means you have the following rights regarding the information I hold about you and are there to protect you. These rights are: access; rectification; erasure; restrict processing; data portability; objection to automated decision making and profiling.

I adhere to the following principles: All information is processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner; collected for legitimate purpose; only to collect necessary information; keeping information accurate and up to date; retaining information only for as long as necessary (usually 6 years according to Statute of Limitations and if under 18 from current age until 18 and then a further 6 years); and that information is processed and kept securely.

Grounds for consent: This means you have been given clear consent for a specific purpose(s) of the use of your information, which can be revoked at any time by you. To give consent to the fact that your information is necessary for the performance of the contract you have entered into. That the consent is freely given by you - is explicit/specific, informed and unambiguous.

The only people I will be sharing information with are insurance companies, who already hold information about you i.e. name and address, date of birth, insurance membership number and presenting diagnosis and upon request any potential update on your treatment.

Sessions are highly confidential and information would only be shared with third parties with your permission. You may want your GP or other a person who has referred you to be kept informed about your treatment. However all of this will be discussed with you and your wishes respected. The only exception to sharing details about your treatment would be if I believe that you may be a risk either to yourself or another person, where, as a psychologist, I would have the duty of care to make the necessary disclosures. You would however where possible be informed of this.

I keep any records of your treatments secure in a handwritten note format. Any requests, usually by yourself, for sharing of information electronically, if indicated, are encrypted, so that you cannot be identified. For anyone under consent age, this is made clear to parents/caregivers. I, as a practise, do not use electronic means of communication, except from arranging appointments (emails, SMS) - and if that is the case, these are immediately deleted once appointments have been agreed. To reiterate, you have the right to withdraw your consent to the information in this document at any time.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
The number of sessions required are highly individual and can range from anything between 6 to 12 sessions or even longer depending on individual circumstances. The sessions will normally be either once a week or once every two weeks - again dependent on individual needs, with a possible one or two follow-up sessions. I use a number of always up to date scientific psychological approaches in order to provide a highly professional service with high regard to each individual receiving my service and is monitored from accredited professional bodies in terms of continued professional development. As part of your treatment I will ask you to fill in a few questionnaires regarding your mental and physical health. I may also ask you to keep a personal ‘lifestyle book’ - which is a record of your sensations, feelings, thoughts & behaviours and individual goals - this is entirely personal to you. This is a measure so that you do not find yourself in a passive listening position when you are in therapy and also serves to jog your and my memories between sessions. Everything is kept highly confidential. The only situations, which is rare, where I would have to seek others’ involvement (e.g. GP, close family members/parents) are in situations where yours or others’s wellbeing would be at risk.

BUSINESS POLICY
I am required to keep appropriate treatment records of my services. These will be brief and kept secure and confidential. The records will mainly consist of information regarding your reasons for seeking treatment, treatment goals and progress and invoicing details. You have the right to a copy of your details, except in the unusual circumstances that involve danger to yourself. Because these are professional records, they may be misinterpreted and/or be upsetting to untrained readers. For this reason, I recommend that you initially review them with me and/or other mental health professionals before sharing them with other people. Also by signing this agreement you allow me to contact your GP should I have any concerns about your and/ or others safety in accordance with the Privacy Details policy above.

SESSIONS
I will ask you to agree to give at least 24 hours notice if you are unable to attend a session. A small fee is payable for nonattendance to cover clinic space hire fee, administration and transport. Each session lasts approximately 50-55 minutes.

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