FAQ

I use encrypted, secure and confidential email, messaging and videoconference platforms.

I use the Zoom platform in preference to others as it has excellent whiteboard and resource sharing facilities, better stability, and fewer glitches than other platforms. You won’t need to download anything to your device – to join the session, you just have to click on the link in your appointment email.

Your first (and usually second) appointment is for assessment. I will ask you questions about the problem you are seeking help with and give you some questionnaires to fill out. I will use my expertise to make a psychological ‘formulation’ and treatment plan. A formulation describes your problem and how severe it is. It features an explanation of how your problems started, what might be keeping them going and therefore what needs to change for you to feel better. Together we will agree to a treatment plan that will facilitate those changes. If either you or I think that you would be better helped by another kind of treatment, I will make some recommendations about where you can get further help.

This depends on the severity, complexity and exact nature of your problems. Most people need between 8 and 16 sessions for short term counselling. Research evidence suggests progress is quicker if sessions are regular, ideally weekly and with diligent practice of ‘homework’ tasks between sessions.

My clinic days are Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays normally from 11 till 8pm.

No, just a computer, iPad or smart phone. Ideally you will be able to plug into Ethernet as that can make the video call more stable than wifi, which can sometimes can be affected by thick walls, other people using the line etc. Also, using a headset or earbuds can make your call more private and improve call quality. I will send you further information prior to our first session about these technical issues.

I offer an initial 15 minute telephone consultation for free. Thereafter my fee is £70 per 40 minute session, and £90 for 60 minutes. Couples fees are £120, and Family fees are £150.  Fees are payable by BACS bank transfer at least two working days (48 hours) ahead of your appointment, otherwise the appointment slot will be released for the use of other clients. I also offer a limited number of reduced fee sessions for those who are financially disadvantaged, so please do contact me if this applies to you.

I no longer accept payment via private health insurance.

If you let me know that you need to cancel sooner than two working days (48 hours) ahead of your appointment, there will be no charge and we can re-schedule. Outside of this cancellation period, you will be liable for the full session fee. Please note that weekends and bank holidays are not classed as working days.

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office for the purposes of storing sensitive information. I am legally bound to protect your information and cannot share it with others unless I am worried about your safety, or that of others. I take your data protection very seriously and abide by professional practice guidelines such as the BABCP guidelines.

Like all therapists, I have regular clinical supervision. Clinical supervision provides an opportunity for therapists to reflect on and review their practice; and change or modify their practice and identify training and continuing development needs. In supervision I do not share identifying details of my patients and my supervisor will also treat this information confidentially.

As a health professional, I am required to keep records of the work I do. I only collect and store information that is relevant to our work together, and which will enhance your care. I use the data I hold about you to contact you about appointments and to take notes about what we have covered together. I store this data and information on a secure, cloud-based tool designed specifically for health professionals.

I will communicate with you via email, SMS text or WhatsApp messaging or by phone call.

I use Zoom to conduct online therapy sessions. All calls are encrypted.

The email system I use is called Protonmail and is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypted. SSL is a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client – typically a web server (website, such as doctoranitacbt.co.uk) and a browser (e.g. Safari or Google Chrome), or a mail server and a mail client (e.g. Protonmal).

WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only you and the person you’re communicating with can read what is sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp. Please note that SMS text messages and phone calls are not 100% securely confidential.

Internet and technical glitches happen occasionally when working online, despite using up-to-date devices and technology. If it does happen, we will finish the video call and try going back in. Often that solves the problem. If the problem re-occurs, then we will cancel the session and I will offer you another free of charge if the problem was in the first 20 minutes of our session.