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RJT Psychology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

 

These FAQ’s contain answers to some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. They are for guideline purposes only and do not form part of any contract or agreement between us.

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It is recommended that you read these FAQ’s prior to engaging in Psychological Therapy. Please contact Dr Rachel Toole at rachel@rjtpsychology.co.uk if you have any further questions.

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What are Psychological Therapies?

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Psychological therapies are sometimes referred to as ‘talking therapies’. They involve exploring psychological problems that are getting in the way of how we would like to feel. These problems can often impact negatively on how we would like to live our lives. You will be offered a confidential, non-judgemental and supportive space to explore your difficulties with the aim of helping you understand your current experiences and for us to consider together how your past may relate to them. Therapy may also be mainly concerned with what is happening for you in your day-to-day life. It can be about one specific problem, or it can be about multiple. Therapy is a collaborative event -  it requires an active role from both the client and the Psychologist for change to occur. By engaging in therapy you will have the opportunity to discuss issues that are important to you, while having a trained objective person help work through not only the current situation but in dealing with similar situations in the future.

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Why do people choose to see a Psychologist?

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Sometimes an event occurs that causes an individual to seek out help, while others may find themselves struggling with a particular issue such as stress and anxiety, depression or low mood, fears and phobias, work-related stress, loss, bereavement, trauma (including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), struggles within their relationship and many, many more issues. Other people seek support to help them work through some issues that they may have been struggling with for years. For them the aim may be to learn more about themselves, consider their past, reflect on the choices they made and why they made them and to work towards a different future. Therapy can help you develop a better understanding of your emotions, equip you with a range of coping skills, gain a sense of control and have the tools to be able to make better decisions or changes in your life.

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Some people worry that their difficulties do not justify attending therapy. There is no objective measure in terms of people's problems. What actually counts is how something makes you feel. If you feel you are struggling, for whatever reason, then that is all that is important.

 

How do I choose the right therapy to meet my needs?

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By engaging in an assessment you will work with your Psychologist to identify together the patterns of thinking and behaviour that are contributing to your difficulties. Often more than one type of therapy may be beneficial for an individual, so do not worry about trying to pick the perfect therapy for you. The options will be discussed with you and a treatment plan tailored to your needs and wishes will be suggested. That said, if you have a specific therapy that you would like to try please feel free to mention this so it can be discussed further with you. Ultimately you will jointly decide which therapeutic approach is best for your needs. Please see www.rjtpsychology.co.uk/therapies for a description of some of the most commonly used therapies offered at RJT Psychology.

 

Who will my therapy be delivered by?

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Your therapy will be delivered by a qualified Clinical Psychologist who has over 20 years experience. Clinical Psychologists have a broad training to a Doctoral level. This includes experience of using different types of therapy under expert supervision and working with different client groups such as children, adults and older people. This, combined with the experience of the psychologist means they are able to draw on all of the approaches outlined here -  www.rjtpsychology.co.uk/therapies to create a therapy plan that suits you. Your Clinical Psychology sessions will therefore be individualised to meet your needs. Your Psychologist is a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council, (HCPC). This body makes sure that ethical and professional standards are met and that members have a high level of academic qualification and professional experience. This is important as it means you can be assured that your psychologist will keep up to date with the latest clinical research and use it to work with you in the way that suits you best and is proven to be most effective. Please visit www.hcpc-uk.co.uk for more information. Your Psychologist is also a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society and has therefore received appropriate training to deliver therapeutic interventions. Additionally, your Psychologist is an Associate Fellow of The British Psychological Society. More information can be found at www.bps.org.uk.

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Your Psychologist has professional indemnity cover.

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Do I need to get a referral from my GP or other health professional to book an appointment?

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RJT Psychology works on a self-referral basis, so if you feel you would benefit from a session, please feel free to get in touch. Referrals are also happily accepted from GP’s or other medical professional.

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Do you offer evening appointments?

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Yes, daytime and evening appointments are offered to fit with individual requirements.

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What will happen during my appointments?

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According to your preference sessions will be facilitated either face-to-face or online. During the first session your Psychologist will ask you what has brought you to therapy at this time, how your life is at the moment and what you are struggling with. You will be asked to discuss the history of your problem and how it is impacting on you presently. You will be facilitated to complete a couple of brief questionnaires – these will be repeated at the end of therapy so pre and post scores can be considered. You will be asked how you would like your life to change and the results you would like to see from attending therapy.  You will also have plenty of opportunity to ask questions about how your Psychologist works. A plan will be jointly developed to help you meet your goals. You may find attending the initial session intimidating and uncomfortable at first, but your Psychologist is very experienced and will try to put you at ease. You will be surprised how quickly the time passes. Some people find it helpful to bring a note of the things they want to talk about, but there really is no need to do any formal preparation.

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During the initial sessions you will also be able to determine whether or not you are comfortable with your Psychologist. It is vital to have a positive working relationship with them so it is recommended that you meet 2-3 times before deciding whether or not the relationship will continue. Your Psychologist will attempt to provide you with alternatives if it is felt that someone else might better be able to work with you. In future sessions, your Psychologist will review any tasks that you’ve been working on since your last session if some have been set. You will then agree together how to spend the session, but it may include some of the following:

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Psychoeducation: Your Psychologist will share information and to enable you to better understand your difficulties and work towards improving your emotional well-being.  

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Formulation: This is a collaborative effort between you and your Psychologist to summarise your difficulties, to understand why they may be happening and to aid your understanding of them. It may include historical difficulties and experiences if they are relevant to your current situation and it will acknowledge your strengths. It also helps your Psychologist consider how to help you and they will use it to guide your psychological intervention.

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Psychological Interventions: These are actions that are used to facilitate change. There are a wide range of interventions and they can be used to address a variety of difficulties. The goal is to alleviate difficulties whilst addressing the root cause of the problems.

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Contact with the present moment exercises: your Psychologist may conduct these with you in session and, with your consent, make a recording of the exercise to email to you after the session. This will allow you to practice at home.

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Goal Setting: during therapy you and your Psychologist will set realistic goals that are based on your values. You will be encouraged to use the strategies learnt in therapy to overcome barriers, moving you towards the life that you want to be living.

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Are there specific considerations for sessions that are held online?

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All types of therapy can be effectively delivered online, including Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR). A secure platform will be used. If you request to engage in online sessions, they are very straightforward to access. You will be emailed a link prior to your appointment. You will need to ensure that both your microphone and camera are working before the session commences and that there is good lighting.

 

Your Psychologist will start the meeting at the agreed time. If we have any difficulties or get cut off your Psychologist will call your mobile number.

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Please ensure that you are in a space where you can talk about difficult experiences in confidence where you will not be disturbed. This will mean being in a room away from family members and ensuring that distractions are minimised. We will not record or allow anyone to listen to any part of a session unless with your explicit consent. You are not permitted to record any part of a psychology session unless explicitly agreed to beforehand, nor are you permitted to let anyone else listen into any part of a session (via phone, or any other technical device, or in person) without prior agreement.

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What if I want to cancel or change a session?

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In the event you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment it is important that you notify your Psychologist by either phone or email as soon as possible. There is no fee payable for cancellation of appointments with more than 48 hours notice. If you do not attend for a session or you cancel with less than 24 hours notice the whole session fee will be due. If you cancel with less than 48 hours notice, half of the session fee will be due.

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If your sessions are funded by a third party (for example, a health insurer or charity), it is important to check their policy in relation to paying fees for cancelled or missed sessions. In the event that they do not fund these, you will be responsible for paying the fee.

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Further information is detailed in the RJT Psychology Terms and Conditions document, a copy of which is available on request.

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How do I pay for my sessions and how much does it cost?

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Sessions last for one hour and are charged at £120. Payment for face-to-face sessions can be made by BACS, cash or cheque. Payment should be made prior to the start of your session time (please allow time for clearance into our bank for BACS transfers) in order for the session to go ahead and we reserve the right to suspend provision of the Services where payment has not been received. Payment must be made directly by you unless alternative arrangements are agreed by us in advance. Third party arrangements will not be made with family members, etc. Receipts for all payments are provided upon request. We may alter our prices on a yearly basis and we will provide you with 28 days’ notice if we do so. If the price of any Services increases between the time when you book an appointment and the date of the appointment, the price increase will not apply to your appointment for those Services on that date.

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Further information is detailed in the RJT Psychology Terms and Conditions document, a copy of which is available on request.

 

Can I use my health insurance policy, a charity or other organisation (Third Party) to fund my sessions?

 

RJT Psychology is registered with several charities, organisations and health insurance providers so if you are covered, you should be able to be offered an appointment. However, it is best to contact your insurance provider (or other third party) in the first instance to check what cover you have and to find out what you need to do. Once your treatment has been approved by your insurance provider, you will be given an authorisation number, which you will need to provide when you book your first session. Please note that it will be your responsibility to pay the full session fee for any completed sessions that are refused by your insurance company or any other third party.

 

Further information is detailed in the RJT Psychology Terms and Conditions document, a copy of which is available on request.

 

How long will therapy last?

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It is very difficult to predict the length of therapy before sessions commence as this will depend on a number of factors such as the nature of your difficulties. The initial time spent together will be used to conduct an assessment which will enable us to develop a plan together. The number of sessions you ultimately have and the frequency of appointments can be led by yourself, however, it is important that you attend regularly.  Please let your Psychologist know if you have a set budget so your therapy can be planned accordingly. It is usually helpful to start with weekly sessions, (but this can be discussed) and  can be spaced out as you progress. Sessions last for one hour unless otherwise negotiated. Your progress will be reviewed regularly, and the ending of therapy will be planned in advance in collaboration with you. There is no limit to how many times you can re-engage in therapy, and many RJT Psychology clients do choose to return when they experience challenging life events. People often report that it is helpful to knowing that they can recommence with the same Psychologist if required in the future.

 

How do you ensure confidentiality?

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We will only use your personal information as set out in our Privacy Notice which can be accessed at - https://www.rjtpsychology.co.uk/about-7.

 

Are there any reasons why therapy may not be suitable for me?

 

During your initial telephone consultation, you will be asked to briefly discuss your difficulties and your goals for therapy. In certain circumstances it may be the case that it is felt RJT Psychology is not able to meet your needs. The Psychologist will be open with you about this and will direct you to where you can locate a more appropriate service.

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Many people worry about 'clamming up' when they first come for therapy. However, in reality it rarely happens. Everyone is different so your Psychologist will try and find a way of doing things that feels OK for you.

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Your Psychologist is unable to see you if you are under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs. If you become aggressive or threatening, your session will be immediately terminated and no further sessions will be offered. Any acts of violence or intimidation will be reported to the police.

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At RJT Psychology we recognise that therapy is an important investment of time, money and personal resources. You progress will continuously be reviewed with you with your Psychologist and you will not be encouraged to continue with therapy if it is not felt that you are benefitting from the experience, or if it is felt that it is not possible to move you towards your goals.

 

What if I need urgent help?

 

Occasionally, people experience a sudden deterioration in their mental health and may require immediate mental health support. This is especially important if you experience thoughts about

wanting to harm yourself or end your life. If this occurs, it is important that you contact your GP (if in working hours) or one of the local NHS Access teams 24/7/365 on:

0808 196 4501 (covering the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin areas)

0808 196 3002 (covering South Staffordshire)

0800 0328 728 (covering North Staffordshire)

Alternatively for non-NHS advice and support you can call:

Samaritans
116123 - 24 hours a day 365 days a year

SANELINE
0845 767 8000 - 12 noon to 02.00 a.m. 365 days a year

The Mental Health Helpline South Staffordshire

0808 800 2234 Operates 7pm-2am Weekdays and 2pm-2am Weekends

Alternatively you can call 999, go to the Accident and Emergency department at your local hospital -

Local Hospitals with Accident and Emergency departments:

• Queen's Hospital, Burton, 01283 566333

• County Hospital, Stafford, 01785 257731 (not 24 hours)

• Princess Royal Hospital, Telford 01952 641222

• Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, 01743 261000

 

It may be helpful for a ‘crisis team’ to become involved in your care, as they can provide immediate support 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, RJT Psychology are unable to offer crisis care, but we will work together with other healthcare providers to provide consistent therapeutic support if you are already engaged with us.

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It is hoped that has helped answer some of your questions and that you can feel more confident about booking a session now. If you want to know more about therapy or to book a session then please use the following contact form -

https://www.rjtpsychology.co.uk/contact