Clinical Psychologist FAQs

To see one of our clinical psychologists, complete our brief, online form or call us on 0330 223 1844 for a free, no-obligation consultation where we will aim to help fix a good day and time for us to talk.

Testimonial: “I found the process to contact the service and get my appointment with a specific clinical psychologist to be a very smooth.“

Contact us and we will help you get as far as arranging your first appointment with a particular colleague.

The consultation chat aims to indicate a likely good match for you from our network of Clinical Psychologists and then you can look at specific colleagues’ profiles. Alternatively, click the following link to see more information about the individual psychologists who work with us.

We see people over the internet with some in same-room appointments, for talking therapy or psychological therapy remotely using Zoom.

Psychological therapy has been shown to be effective on-line – it is more than counselling over the internet.

As well as psychologists based across the UK, e.g., in Birmingham, Staffordshire, Shropshire, London, North of England and other areas,

Clinical psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. Its principles and theories are applied to help individuals, couples, families, groups, and organisations.

Clinical Psychologists usually undergo 7-8 years of training, which includes obtaining a Psychology degree (usually 3 years), plus the doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology (usually 3 years).

Additionally, some relevant experience, such as working as an assistant psychologist, IAPT worker, nursing assistant, researcher, etc., is often required to secure a place on the Clinical Psychology training course.

Clinical Psychologists are trained in a wide range of psychological assessment, intervention, and therapies. They can offer a tailored approach to individuals, including integrative therapies, which combine two or more types of therapy in a theoretically coherent practical way.

The training of Clinical Psychologists is much more extensive than that of most Mental Health Counsellors. In addition to their foundational training, many Clinical Psychologists go on to receive specialist training in particular approaches.

We view each person as unique. Rather than use a label regarding which mental health problem you have, we work out with you what’s contributed/led to, the present difficulties and what’s the best way forward.

We offer a range of therapy approaches.

Sometimes, it is appropriate to offer an individualised, integrative approach (combining 2 or more in a theoretically coherent practical way).

We will advise you, out of many possible psychological approaches including:

• Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT),
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT),
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR),
• Experiential Dynamic Therapy (EDT),
• Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT),
• Emotion Focused Therapy, etc.

We see individuals, couples and families.

As seeing a Clinical Psychologist can be a very personal journey, you would normally first meet up to see if you can work together as client – psychologist, as two people.

The first, and any subsequent, session is charged at the rate for the psychologist you see.

The Clinical Psychologist will offer an assessment. That is, getting to know you to understand possible issues linked to how the difficulties started and how they persist.

This assessment will usually consist of asking you to share about your background, key family members (past and current), relationship history, and anything else you feel is significant.

How long you will meet for can be agreed between you and your Clinical Psychologist at the first /first few meeting/s depending on the help required, the clinical understanding reached and your preferences.

We would not offer to see you for longer than necessary.

Alternatively, you might choose to be seen for a few sessions (1-4) just for assessment.

After an assessment, you can be advised if psychological approaches could help you and the approach needed in the Clinical Psychologist’s opinion.

Clinical Psychologists have a wide range of experience. Depending on your specific needs and which Psychologist you see, the cost is usually in the range of £110-£140 per appointment. It depends on which person you decide to meet.

We can be more specific once we have considered your particular presenting needs.

We will always let you know the exact cost before you agree to meet.

Clinical Psychologists have a wide range of experience. Depending on your specific needs and which Psychologist you see, the cost is usually in the range of £110-£140 per appointment. It depends on which person you decide to meet.

We can be more specific once we have considered your particular presenting needs.

We will always let you know the exact cost before you agree to meet.

From time to time, we also offer classes (courses and workshops) to those interested in learning skills in a group setting and meeting others. These cover areas such as: self-esteem, confidence, understanding more about interactions with others, understanding “rules” from childhood.

Please email letting us know of your interest and/or ask the person you see for more information about this. When we have the dates for our next course, information will be posted here.

We would normally ask you for details of your GP. We will agree with you whether you would like us to write to your GP to let him/her know that you seeing a Clinical Psychologist. We would normally prefer to write.

We take your GP’s details because, should the situation dictate and we become concerned for you welfare, then we would have to let him/her know. As part of our duty of care, we aim to tell you that we are doing so first.

We would usually only break confidentiality where absolutely necessary, for example, if we were informed that a crime was to be committed.

You are entitled to make a complaint about any Clinical Psychologist you are unhappy with to either the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and/or the professional association for Clinical Psychologists, the British Psychological Society.

(The former was set up for the protection of the public and potentially can strike someone off the register so they cannot practice again in future, if found guilty of misconduct).

Many professional organisations have published codes of conduct and code of ethics.

All individual practitioners should carry professional indemnity insurance for their work. You can ask to see a copy of their up to date certificate.

We hope, and expect, that you will receive an excellent service from our Clinical Psychologists.

However, in the event of you not being satisfied with the service you receive from your Clinical Psychologist, you have several options available to you, depending on your degree of dissatisfaction.

Please visit our complaints procedure page for more details.

A few of us are registered with health insurance companies such as:

Cigna, Aviva, BUPA, AXA, PPP, Evernorth, Vitality, WPA

Not all Clinical Psychologists have chosen to register with major insurance companies. Please mention, when you contact us, if you are paying for psychology sessions through insurers.

There are some risks of talking therapy. These can be reduced by seeing properly trained and qualified professionals.

The Guardian newspaper explores psychotherapy that’s gone wrong, as “experts are warning” that the “lack of statutory regulation” (for counsellors and psychotherapists) is “leaving people vulnerable to harm”. Clinical Psychologists here are all properly regulated.

Generally, risks of psychological therapy are far outweighed by the potential benefits. However, in one study of 14, 587 people, 763 (5.2%) reported experiencing “lasting bad effects”.

“...those that stated that they were given enough information about therapy before it started were less likely to report them.”

Therefore, do make sure you are aware about the therapy approach/es being offered. If you are not clear, do ask questions about the therapy you agree to work on together.

What are the risks of seeing a Clinical Psychologist for therapy?

One example of a risk of psychological therapy is that you may be opening up the pot of unprocessed emotions that you have been feeling, (emotions that have been suppressed), for a long time; perhaps you have avoided thinking about your feelings (by distraction, by being busy, by any other temporary coping mechanism). 

Do make sure you feel enough trust in your therapy working relationship such that you can let your Clinical Psychologist know how you are feeling in therapy. You can then both judge how to pace the therapy to make it as manageable for you as possible, yet for therapy to still be effective. 

Sometimes, people notice possible temporary changes in mood, increased irritability, having a lower threshold for stressful events, etc; if so, do discuss with your Clinical Psychologist.

Therefore, it’s helpful to let the Clinical Psychologist you are seeing, know how you are coping with the process of therapy, both during the actual appointment and how you feel (before, during and after, your appointments with the Clinical Psychologist).

The Clinical Psychologist will be aware of the principles of Trauma Informed Care and will be aiming to offer trauma-focus therapies in a safe way, so keep your therapist informed of any negative effects of therapy that you notice.

For example, when a Clinical Psychologist sees someone for EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), s/he is aware that therapy can be viewed as if you’re kickstarting the process of your brain/yourself processing, and digesting, the trauma events that happened to you (traumatic events that you lived through, that you survived through).

So, side effects of therapy can include: increased dreams or nightmares, increased flashbacks or “daymares”, difficulty sleeping, feeling anxious, wound up, stressed, etc.

These effects can be temporary and they can last an hour or two after the session; for the rest of that day, around a day or two; or more, after a particular therapy session (when you might have worked on a particular issue).

Why should I avoid making major life decisions when in therapy with a Clinical Psychologist?

It is usually generally recommended to avoid making major life decisions during a course of psychological therapy, such as deciding on ending a relationship or other major life change. For example, you might be exploring negative feelings you have towards important people in your life, perhaps for the first time, and you may temporarily lose sight of any positive feelings you may also have for them.

Of course, other times being in therapy can help you prioritise yourself appropriately, e.g., to reach a decision about something that you’ve been avoiding or delaying. For example, you might feel it’s highly appropriate for you to end a relationship (especially if it’s one where you’re being abused or you’re feeling unsafe).

Finding a Clinical Psychologist that you can develop a trusted good working relationship with is important, so you can feel appropriately supported yet also helped to explore difficult emotional areas for you.

Is it worth going through the side effects of psychological therapy?

This is a question you can ask yourself. Is it worth going through these side effects to reach your goals (including for improved psychological emotional health)?

Please be aware that some people don’t get any side effects at all and, even if you do, they may only be temporary or mild, a slight increase in anxiety temporarily, for example.

It is important just to notice that these are temporary side effects, that will usually pass. Otherwise, you may be tempted to start panicking; as you start feeling more of the feelings you usually avoid, you may be tempted to reach out for an instant fix such as increasing medication or asking to be put on medication by your GP.

Your Clinical Psychologist will aim to remain alert to any side effects and ask you to monitor how you’re feeling. Your Clinical Psychologist can help pace the therapy to match your needs.

When first meeting you, your Clinical Psychologist will try to ask you about your current ways of coping with feelings. If needed, the Clinical Psychologist you see can help you revisit these emotional management strategies or go through different ones with you, teaching you a wider array of strategies, as part of the preparation stage. 

There is no point just going straight to working on the trauma/s because, if you’ve already been traumatised by that event or series of events, we don’t want to re-traumatise you. We want to help you overcome your trauma in a safe and manageable way, permanently where we can.