1. How quickly will you reply?
2. The difference between counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.
3. Do you offer CBT?
4. How do I know when to finish counselling?
5. Can I refer myself directly?
6. What if I have to cancel an appointment?
7. What happens in a session?
8. What happens at the first appointment?
9. Do you work with clients who have medical insurance?
10. What are your fees?
11. How long is each session?
12. What are your qualifications?
13. Do you receive supervision?
14. Do you do early morning, evening or weekend appointments?
15. What about confidentiality?
16. Do you work with couples?
17. Do you work with gay, transgender or bisexual clients?
18. Do you work on skype or phone?
How quickly will you reply to my enquiry?
Email enquiries normally receive a reply within 24 hours. Emails sent between you and Mindtalk have the same security level as normal emails.
You may prefer calling us. We respond to voicemessages as soon as possible.
Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Psychiatrist ....? Which do I need?
The range of titles out there can be very confusing. We offer Counselling and Psychotherapy. Below we outline the differences between these different professional titles and what they actually do. If you remain in doubt we will be happy to meet with you to discuss and explore the options and what might be right for you.
Do you offer CBT or other approaches?
Each of our therapists has evolved their own way of working based on their professional experience. We offer person-centred counselling and psychotherapy; CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy); psychodynamic approaches; hypnotherapy; relational psychotherapy; EMDR; Compassion-Focussed Therapy. We use creative approaches when it feels comfortable and appropriate - for example imaginative visualisation or drawing, narrative or story telling, gestalt, mindfulness and body/breath work. You can read more about the various forms of counselling and psychotherapy offered at Mindtalk here
How do I know when to finish counselling?
If a set number of counselling sessions have been agreed, the contract comes to an end when they are completed, although the number of sessions may be extended beyond the number first proposed, by mutual agreement.
Notice of two to four weeks should normally be given before ending therapy, so that we can review our work together and make an appropriate ending.
Can I 'refer' myself directly?
Yes you can come directly to us. Sometimes people are referred by their family doctor, their Employee Assistance Programme or by a friend, or they can refer themselves.
Sometimes a check-up with your GP is a good idea to see if a problem, such as depression or anxiety, has an underlying medical cause.
What happens if I have to cancel an appointment?
If you are unable to make an appointment for any reason please inform your therapist in good time and they will make every effort to reschedule within the same week.
An appointment missed or cancelled with less than 5 working days notice, and/or if you have not called to find an alternative space in the same calendar week will be charged in full.
If you miss 2 sessions without contacting us, your contract may be terminated and all charges applied.
You will not be charged for sessions if your therapist is away or forced to cancel.
What happens in a session?
The normal format is that of a conversation sitting face to face, in which you are free to speak about whatever you wish, in complete confidence.
We respond in a constructive and non-judgemental way.
Sometimes the conversation will flow; sometimes it may move into silence.
Occasionally we may suggest working in a non-verbal way, with pens and paper, for example, or by focusing attention on what you are feeling in your body.
It is difficult to be more specific than that, because so much depends on the issues you bring, the goals we set for our work together and the ways in which our personalities interact.
What happens at the first appointment?
Our first session together is an assessment:
• to put you at your ease about the whole process of therapy
• to allow you to describe the issue you would like to explore
• to allow us to discover something of your personal history
• for both of us to see if we can work together.
If you are unsure whether or not to continue with therapy, you are under no obligation to continue beyond a first appointment, although the usual fee will be charged for it.
If we do agree to work together, we will offer you an informal contract, which explains the timings of sessions and what happens in the event of cancellations or missed sessions.
Do you work with clients who have medical insurance?
Some of us are registered Service Providers with BUPA and Aviva, Simply Health and other health insurers. Ask your therapist directly about this.
Please obtain a valid Pre-Authorisation Number from your healthcare provider before scheduling a first appointment with your therapist.
What are your Fees?
With a senior therapist our fees are £60 per 50 minute session of individual counselling or psychotherapy. Our other therapists charge £50 per session.
With a therapist associate who is qualified but waiting for accreditation the fees are £35 per 50 minute session.
A session with a couple or family group may require a longer session, so the fees charged may be higher accordingly. As your therapist directly.
Professional Supervision fees vary according to therapist, please ask directly.
Fees are payable per session by cash, cheque or BACS, or may be paid a month in advance.
How long do sessions last?
An individual session is 50 minutes long and begins at the time booked. Couples sessions may be 90 minutes, and Supervision normally 90 minutes.
If you arrive after the start time, the time you have lost will not be made up at the end of the session.
Sessions are normally arranged on a weekly basis, at the same time and at the same place, but we offer some flexibility for those whose patterns of work are subject to change.
What are your Qualifications?
See our individual profiles under the Our Therapists section, to read about our qualifications.
In addition throughout each year we take part in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) across a range of psychological approaches.
Do you receive regular supervision?
Yes. Each of our therapists receives regular professional supervision.
Do you early morning, evening or weekend appointments?
Daytime and evening appointments are available depending on the individual therapist you work with. Some Saturday appointments may be available depending on individual therapist.
What about confidentiality?
Our work is confidential.
In exceptional cases, ( eg. if a client reveals current abuse of children or intention to cause serious physical harm to him/herself or others), counsellors have a professional and ethical duty to inform clients that they may find it necessary to take this information outside of counselling. For this reason, we may request the name and address of your General Practitioner. Any action is discussed with you first.
The email contact form on this website is not available to WebHealer staff and is not stored on its systems. The message has the same security level as normal email.
We receive regular supervision but clients' personal identities are not revealed.
Do you work with couples?
Yes we do. Some of our therapists are specially trained in the skills required to work with couples. You can see us together, or arrange individual sessions if that is appropriate.
Do you work with gay, transgender or bisexual clients?
Yes we do. However depending on the circumstances sometimes it is advisable to consult with a practice that specialises in Sexual issues.
Do you work with clients on the telephone or on Skype?
At the moment we only work in this way when we have already begun a therapeutic relationship with a client face-to-face.
It may be possible to work in this way after an initial face-to-face consultation has taken place.