Question 1

What is a Clinical Psychologist?

Accepted Answer

Clinical Psychologists are doctors of psychology (not medicine). They have completed a minimum of 6 years of formal training, including a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Clinical Psychologists are trained in multiple therapeutic approaches, and will often draw on a combination of these according to the needs of the client. Clinical Psychologists have completed training placements with individuals experiencing a range of difficulties across the life-span. Clinical Psychologists will usually support individuals to work towards specific goals.

All practising Clinical Psychologists are registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and work within their code of conduct and ethics. Clinical Psychologists undergo regular CPD (Continuing Professional Development), e.g. training, and have professional indemnity insurance.

Question 2

What happens once I have made contact?

Accepted Answer

Once you have made contact via the contact form or email, I will arrange a short telephone conversation with you to find out a little bit more information. We will then book in our first appointment during this call (if you would like to go ahead with therapy).

Question 3

What happens after I have booked my first therapy appointment?

Accepted Answer

You will be sent an email confirmation of your appointment along with a payment link and a link to my client intake form.

Payment is required within 24 hours to secure the booking. The payment link will expire after 24 hours, and the booking will not have been made. If you would like to rebook, please make contact via email.

The personal data I request via my client intake form includes GP and emergency contact details, and three questionnaires.  These questionnaires ask you to state whether and how often you are experiencing certain symptoms (pertaining to mood, anxiety and wellbeing). Your personal experiences and story are what matters most to me. However, such questionnaires do enable me to quickly understand specific symptoms for us to explore in further detail. Completing the questionnaires regularly also enables us to see a shift in symptoms, which can often feel motivating and helpful, or a worsening of symptoms, which can help guide treatment. If you have any queries, please do let me know and we can discuss these during your appointment. Unfortunately, if this form is not completed within 48 hours of your booking being made then your appointment will be cancelled and you will be provided with a full refund (less a £5 administration fee).

Question 4

What will happen at the first appointment?

Accepted Answer

At least the first session will be an assessment. I will ask you to tell me about your experiences and what you would like help with. Together we will work to make sense of the problem you are experiencing and possible therapeutic approaches we could use. Please do not worry about knowing exact answers; therapy is a place of exploration and working things out together. It is natural to feel nervous at first, but these feelings usually reduce as the assessment progress. If you have any questions about the assessment or therapy sessions please do ask.

Question 5

When will my appointments be?

Accepted Answer

Appointments are currently held on a Friday. You will be able to select from the slots I have available at the time of booking. Your appointment time will remain the same each week (unless you request to switch to a different time-slot). I will do my best to accommodate requests to change appointment times. However, I hold limited availability so cannot guarantee this will be an option. Appointments will be weekly or fortnightly, depending on our treatment plan, your wishes and my availability. This will be discussed during our first appointment.

Question 6

Can I bring my baby to sessions?

Accepted Answer

I understand that for very young babies it may not be possible to arrange childcare, and I would not want this to stop you from utilising my service. Therefore, if you do not have any other options, please do bring your baby to sessions. If you need to feed or change your baby this is absolutely fine. We will just structure our sessions to accommodate you and your baby's needs. However, please be aware that our therapeutic progress may be slower with your baby present.

Please be aware that as your baby gets older, more awake and more mobile it is likely to be difficult for you to simultaneously look after them and concentrate during the session. There is likely to come a point where you will need to find suitable childcare.

Question 7

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

At least the first session will be considered an assessment for us to understand the difficulties you are currently experiencing and for us to make a treatment plan. We will discuss how many sessions might be helpful to you. Often this amount will range from 4 to 24 sessions and beyond, depending upon the problems you are experiencing and your therapy goals. If you have a set number of sessions you wish to fund, we will discuss how we can fit our treatment plan into this. Long-term therapy is not essential; it is possible to feel better after a small number of sessions (depending upon the specific difficulties you would like help with).

Question 8

How often do I have to attend?

Accepted Answer

I usually see clients weekly or fortnightly. This will depend upon our treatment plan, your preference and my availability. Commitment to regular therapy is important to see improvements in how you are feeling. You may wish to go on holiday or might not be able to make a week due to another commitment. Please give at least 2 weeks notice for sessions you are not able to attend. Please be aware that too many missed weeks is unlikely to result in improvement for you, and I will not be able to hold your therapy slot. It could be that now is not the right time for you to commit to therapy. I will always endeavour to have a discussion with you about this before discharging you.

Question 9

What is the cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

To cancel an appointment please email: harriet@thelactationpsychologist.com.

If you cancel at least 48 hours before the appointment you can either have the full amount refunded (less a £5 administration fee) or use this payment for your next appointment (the following week or fortnight). I will make contact with you via email to find out what you would like to do.

Appointments cancelled less than 48 hours before the appointment are liable for the full charge and you will not be refunded. I will make contact with you via email to find out whether you would like to book any further appointments.

Too many cancelled appointments may result in no further appointments being booked, and therefore discharge from the service.

Question 10

What happens if I do not turn up to an appointment?

Accepted Answer

If you do not turn up to an appointment without making contact, I have a duty of care to you to make sure you are okay. I will therefore make contact with you via telephone. If you do not answer, I will follow this up with an email stating when I will call you again. If you do not respond or answer the telephone, I will need to make contact with your emergency contact. If your emergency contact does not answer then I will make contact with your GP via letter or email. If I believe you to be at serious risk of harm then I would call the police.

Please be aware you are entitled to stop coming to appointments (for whatever reason) but I do have a duty of care to you to make sure you are okay. Therefore, please do make contact, even to just say you are okay but want no further appointments.

Question 11

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

When you book your first appointment a payment link will be emailed to you. Your appointment will be held for 24 hours, after which the payment link will expire and the booking will be cancelled.

For subsequent appointments, you will be sent a payment link at the time of booking. Payment will be due at least 48 hours before the appointment. Failure to pay will result in your booking being cancelled. If you wish to cancel your appointment for any reason you must do this at least 48 hours before the appointment. A full refund will then be given, less a £5 administration fee.

Question 12

Do you provide write reports and support letters?

Accepted Answer

I do not routinely provide reports or supporting letters. However, if one is required please discuss this with me. Reports and letters will be charged at an hourly rate of £135. A price range estimate will be given and agreed upon before the work is completed, and the work will need to be paid for in advance. If the work does not take as long as anticipated you will be refunded the excess.

Question 13

Do you liaise with other professionals?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes it can be relevant to your current difficulties for me to liaise with other professionals. However, I will only do this with your consent. Depending on the extent required, there may be an extra charge for this. However, this will be discussed with you in advance.

Question 14

Do you work face-to-face?

Accepted Answer

At the moment I only work online. However, if you are in the Essex area and would be like to attend face-to-face, please do make contact, because if I have enough interest then I will consider opening a face-to-face clinic.

Question 15

Can I stop coming?

Accepted Answer

You are free to stop attending whenever you like. However, if you would like to cease sessions before you are on the way to achieving your therapy goals it might be helpful for us to explore this together. Sometimes people find themselves wanting to stop sessions when things start to feel difficult, and perhaps a desire to avoid this might be contributing to your wish to stop. This is something we might be able to work through together. Alternatively, there might be a practical reason you wish to stop, such as the appointment time no longer suits you. Please do discuss such issues with me, and I will do what I can to accommodate.

Question 16

What days do you work?

Accepted Answer

At the moment I provide appointments on a Friday throughout the day, only. This may change in the future.

Question 17

Will you tell anyone about what we have discussed?

Accepted Answer

Your confidentiality is extremely important to me. As an HCPC registered psychologist I am bound by confidentiality, which means I will not tell anyone what we have discussed.

There are two exception to this:
1. It is a requirement of my profession to have a clinical supervisor to reflect and discuss cases with, this supports me to support you. However, my clinical supervisor is also bound by the same confidentiality. 
2. Should I become concerned about the safety of yourself or anyone else, then there may be certain circumstances where I would need to share information with social care, the police or your GP. Where possible, you would always be informed of this first. Please feel free to discuss any concerns about this with me.

Question 18

I have a complaint, what can I do?

Accepted Answer

I am sorry that you have experienced a service that is not up to standard. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you directly to see what can be done. Please do make contact with me via email and we will arrange a time to discuss your concerns (harriet@thelactationpsychologist.com)(mailto:harriet@thelactationpsychologist.com).

If you do not find my response satisfactory, you can make a complaint to the HCPC (the regulatory body of Clinical Psychology). If you have a complaint regarding your data, please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Please ask as many questions as you like. It is important that you feel comfortable during this process and have any queries answered. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please get in touch.

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The Lactation Psychologist is not a crisis service. If you are in a life threatening situation and cannot keep yourself safe please go to A&E. If you cannot get there safely call 999.

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