Therapy services

*To find out how to make an appointment please go to the 'referrals' on the next page.

Psychological Assessment

The general aim of an assessment, or initial appointment(s), is to try to understand what the problem or problems are, along with gaining some relevant background information in order to devise a plan of how to improve your quality of life and achieve set goals.

Clinical psychologists have extensive training in assessing a range of psychological difficulties and determining the most appropriate form of help.  Your initial appointment will last for one hour and is an opportunity to gather information from you about what you feel are your current difficulties and how you would like therapy to help you move forward. 

A course of psychological therapy may not always be offered after an assessment. This depends on whether the therapy offered is appropriate and suitable and will be decided between both the patient and the psychologist. 

It may be useful that prior to attending for psychological assessment you visit your GP, this can be helpful to exclude any underlying medical conditions that may be impacting upon your well-being.

Secondly, assessment is an opportunity for both you and us to decide whether therapy within our service is most appropriate in meeting your needs.  It may be that what is required is another therapist or service who has more appropriate training in a particular area. In that case, you would be signposted to an alternative service and make recommendations via your GP, if you so wish.

Assessment Only Service

We offer an assessment only service which is usually requested by individuals looking for "one-off" psychological reports.  We will make sure that any assessment is linked with future recommendations for your psychological well-being, and although you are under no obligation to seek therapeutic input we can signpost you in to the NHS if you do not wish to be treated privately.

 Please be aware that if you require a (non-legal) detailed psychological report following your assessment this is chargeable at an additional rate to the assessment fee.  Please see our fees section for further information.

Therapy

In addition to extensive training in assessing a range of psychological difficulties and expertise in developing a plan to assist in an individual’s distress, Clinical Psychologists are also trained in providing more than one type therapy, including; Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive-Analytic Therapy, Schema Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).  Clinical psychologists also having a great breadth of scientific knowledge about factors that can relate to human growth and development, functioning, including; attachment theory, developmental psychology, cognitive difficulties and personality problems. 

Any intervention offered is based upon individual need and the formulation of an individual's current difficulties.  CBT (cognitive-behaviour therapy) is the main modality of therapy that is offered.

All therapeutic approaches are embedded within research evidence and follow recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines (guidelines that inform the NHS about the current most effective treatments for all physical and mental health problems).