Some Frequently Asked Questions

What is involved and how will it help me?

Counselling and psychotherapy involve confidential professional meetings, usually on a weekly basis at a mutually agreed time, to address the emotional and practical issues which can interrupt and overwhelm daily life. Therapy gives you space and time to think, talk and explore problematic thoughts and behaviour patterns and to gain perspective in troubling situations. Your therapist will listen carefully and help you in a non-judgmental way to identify and understand more clearly what is causing difficulty in your life. By connecting with your feelings and getting to know yourself, you will be better equipped to avoid destructive behaviours and relationships and develop a more satisfying lifestyle.

What’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

Counselling is shorter-term work with a specific focus, where difficulties are discussed and worked through collaboratively to arrive at solutions using strategies that suit each individual.

Psychotherapy tends to be longer-term work, addressing deeper issues, examining the underlying (and often unconscious) reasons for current and past relationship and behavioural difficulties. The most appropriate form and length of intervention will be discussed during your first session and assessment and can be reviewed at any time during our work together.

How long is a session and how many can I have?

We usually meet on a weekly basis on the same day and at the same time; each session lasts 50 minutes.  For firm-funded therapy our contractual arrangement with your firm will allow for a specific number of sessions.  Upon coming to the end of your allocation of sessions, if your therapist feels that additional support would be in your best clinical interests, then they may put forward a case for additional sessions, or, if appropriate, recommend and refer you to appropriate services outside PCP.

For Private Therapy clients, the duration of the therapy is not time-limited.  An appropriate number of sessions will be agreed with you at the initial assessment session and can be reviewed and revised during the course of your therapy according to your needs and circumstances.

What happens if I miss a session?

After the first assessment session, if you decide to continue with counselling, a mutually agreed day and time will be assigned to you and be available only to you.  You will be advised of the Cancellation Policy appropriate to either the firm-funded or Private Therapy service.

For firm-funded therapy, usually you will be allowed two deferrals provided more than 48 hrs notice has been given; any sessions missed or cancelled at short notice will be counted as taken.  For Private Therapy, usually all sessions will be counted as taken and charged for whether you attend or not.  In both services, your therapist will reserve the right, in exceptional circumstances, to defer or reschedule sessions should diaries allow; they will advise you of their leave dates in advance and these will not be counted or charged for.

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

The first session is an assessment with an introduction to see if therapy is the right course of action for you and you feel comfortable with it.  You can decide then if you would like to continue or not and your therapist can answer any questions you may have. For many people therapy and a ‘talking space’ can be a powerful and life-changing experience.