When and how should I pay?

I accept bank transfer and will share my details upon appointment confirmation. Payment is to be made in advance of each session. 

Can I pay through my private medical insurance?

Currently, I am not accepting payment through private medical insurance companies. If this changes in the future, I will update this information.

What is your cancellation policy?

I understand that life can be unpredictable. Therefore, I will do everything I can to accommodate you if you need to re-arrange on the odd occasion. However, if you cancel or postpone your appointment less than 24 hours in advance of its commencement, you may be subject to full charge. I also reserve the right to decline working with people who are unable to commit to agreed sessions.

If I have one or two sessions and then decide I don’t want any more, is that OK? 

Of course. You pay for each session you receive, and it is completely up to you how many sessions you have with me. It may be that one or two sessions is all you need to get back on track.

How regularly should I see you?   

It is again completely up to you. I would recommend, for best results, that you aim to attend sessions either weekly or once every two weeks. If we have been seeing each other for a while, then perhaps you may prefer a less frequent pattern, but we can have this discussion and decide what is best for you.

What happens in a therapy session?    

We simply have a conversation where we take a look at the difficulties you might be experiencing in your life, develop some goals relating to these which are meaningful to you, and come up with a plan to achieve these goals based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). 

And what are these principles of CBT? 

In short, with CBT we aim to focus on what is within our control, namely our attitude(s) and behaviour(s). We cannot remove adversity, challenge or even pain from our life, because it is part of being human, but we can do something about how we respond to it. In CBT we look at the ways in which we are responding to difficulties, how we view ourselves, others and the world around us, and whether these views are helping or hindering us in terms of living the life we want to live. We also look at reframing our relationship with the challenging internal thoughts and/or feelings we might be experiencing, such that these internal experiences play less of a driving role in our lives, and do not stop us from acting in accordance with our values and aspirations.

Is there just one type of CBT? If not, which one do you practice?  

As it happens, CBT is somewhat of an umbrella term to describe a range of therapies which have many similarities and some differences. I am what you might call an ‘integrative’ cognitive behaviour therapist, because I draw on several modalities of CBT depending on the needs of my clients. I am informed by my extensive training in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) - a particularly philosophic and humanistic approach to CBT - as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Therapy (CT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), and Mindfulness.

Will there be homework?

I may suggest a few home tasks to put into practice some of the things we have discussed in session. These will always be agreed in session, and you will not be set anything that you do not understand the reasoning behind. Home practice is always optional - it is your therapy after all - but it is recommended for the best outcomes.

How do I know when/if I no longer need therapy?  

This is obviously a personal decision and entirely your choice, but we will be sure to discuss how you feel about your progress as we work together and come up with a plan for ending therapy at a time that feels right for you. The ultimate goal will always be for me to render myself surplus to requirements, because you have acquired the tools to manage your problems effectively by yourself.

If we stop therapy, but then I want to see you again, is that OK?   

Yes absolutely. There are no hard and fast rules. If we stop our sessions but then down the line you want to pick it up again, then that is not a problem. Just send me an email and we will take it from there!

Are there any problems which you are not able to help with?   

As an ethical practitioner, I will always work within my training, skill set and experience. If, after assessment, I feel that you would be better served by an alternative practitioner with specific expertise, I will inform you of this and will do all I can to help you access this support. I only work with adults (18 and above).

Do you provide crisis support between sessions?

I am not able to provide crisis support between sessions. If you are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges to harm yourself in any way, please call your local doctor or mental health services for help.  

The following services are available and recommended by the NHS:

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/help-for-suicidal-thoughts/

These include The Samaritans (116 123) and the text service Shout (Text "SHOUT" to 85258) who are available 24/7.

I have a question which you have not answered.

No problem. Send me an email on paulyoungpsychology@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer it.