Frequently Asked Questions

What do you do?

As Clinical and Counselling Psychologists, we are trained to use a range of therapies. The main one we use is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). However, therapy is not limited to this approach and we are able to draw on a wider range of training and experience.

How do I arrange to see one of you?

You can refer yourself or your doctor can refer you. You can telephone or email one us or complete the contact form on this website.

What happens next?

If we agree that therapy might be helpful, then you will attend for a number of appointments which will be arranged with you, usually weekly or fortnightly at first. The number of appointments varies - from one or two for clarification of an issue to longer therapeutic work.

Will what I say be confidential?

Sessions are private and normally confidential unless something you say causes us to be concerned for your safety or that of someone else. In this case, in line with our professional and legal duty, we would need to disclose this information but, where possible, we would discuss this with you before taking action.

It can be useful to share information, for example with your G.P. We will discuss this with you at your first appointment.

We all have regular supervision with a qualified Psychologist to ensure that we are maintaining good standards of practice. We might discuss your case as part of our supervision but, if so, all the details that could identify you will be anonymised.

We keep records, written and computerised, about people we see. These are kept securely, in line with national guidelines and legislation, and are only accessed by the psychologist you see.

What if I am not sure about coming to see you?

We are happy for you to contact us by phone or email with any queries you have. We usually find that a brief discussion can be helpful to answer any questions or concerns and to help you decide whether to come and see us.

Where can I see you?

We can see you at our base in Weybridge or in Camberley. We also have an office in Hampshire, near to Winchester.

What will happen when I come to see you?

Most people are unsure about what will happen when they go to see a psychologist or counsellor and base their ideas on what they have seen on the television or in films. These are often inaccurate – we will not ask you to lie on a couch!

Psychological therapy and counselling are often referred to as ‘talking therapy’ because they are based on a conversation between two people with the aim of using the expertise of one of them to help the other. They are collaborative and, through a focused discussion, we help you identify how you are feeling, what your difficulties are and how you are coping. We then work with you to develop strategies to make changes.

If we are not able to help you or it becomes clear that you do not require therapy, we will tell you and advise you of alternative sources of help if necessary.

What will happen at the first appointment?

The first appointment will be an assessment - this is an opportunity for us to start to get to know you and understand the difficulties you are experiencing. We will ask about things like how long the problem has been going on; how it affects your life; how often it occurs; what you have tried before; and about your thoughts and feelings about it. We may ask you to complete some questionnaires to help our understanding. To complete the picture, we usually ask about other things in your life such as work and family and the impact your problem is having on these. We will then discuss with you our understanding of your problem and possible treatment approaches.

What are your fees?

£100.00 - £130.00

Lower rates may apply for trainees and for supervision.

How do I pay?

If you are paying for therapy yourself, payment is due at the time of each appointment by cheque or cash.

If you have private medical insurance cover, you will need to check that you are covered for psychological treatment and to let us know the details for invoicing. We are registered with most of the major private health insurance companies, for example Bupa, Axa/PPP, Aviva, WPA and so on.