Frequently asked questions
What are your fees?
All sessions are charged at £130 per hour payable 48 hours before the appointment. I offer a free 10 minute telephone call to discuss your needs.
What age groups do you work with?
I do not offer direct therapy to children under 10 years old as they often find engaging remotely particularly difficult. However, I am very happy to work with parents of children from the age of 5 years.
I offer direct therapy to young people over the age of 10 where appropriate. Parents and carers will often join the initial session and may join us for elements of subsequent sessions or for a review session with the young person's agreement.
Do you work with young people who are open to CAMHS?
Yes I will work with young people who are open to their local CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team) as long as they are not receiving input from another psychologist or therapy professional, such as a psychotherapist or family therapist. I will ask your consent to liaise with your child's care co-ordinator to ensure we are working as a team and not giving conflicting advice. If concerns arise relating to risk of harm I will also liaise with your child's CAMHS team and request they support us to manage this risk.
Do you work with young people in crisis?
I am unable to offer support to young people in crisis (by this I mean who are actively suicidal or have significant self harm). If your child needs support in an emergency please contact 111 or visit your local Accident and Emergency Department. You can also seek support from The Samaritans, ChildLine or Shout for mental health support.
Do you work with young people who have demand avoidant behaviours?
Yes. I work with lots of families where the autistic individual suffers from significant anxiety which leads to avoidance of any demands. This work often takes place with parents or carers in the initial phases to develop a clear understanding of triggers and develop strategies to support their child. Where young people are motivated to address the avoidant behaviours (many are not because the anxiety is so high) I will work directly with them.
How long does each session last?
Each session lasts for 50 minutes and takes place online. This means that you can attend from the comfort of your own home and reduce travel time, making it easier to fit with other commitments.
What will happen in my first session?
In your first session, we will spend some time thinking together about what has brought you to therapy. We will talk a bit about how the challenges have developed over time and what you have already tried. I will also ask you a bit about your child's family, school or college and anything else which is important to you. We will then think together about how I might be able to support you and develop a plan to help you achieve your goals. I usually offer up to six sessions and then we review to check the work is meeting your goals.
Do you offer face to face work?
I only offer remote work at the current time. Since the pandemic, I have found this to be a very effective way of working with many people. Young people who experience anxiety in new situations and with new people, often find remote working easier. I am also happy to work with cameras switched off, which again helps reduce anxiety. Many families also find remote work more convenient as they do not need to take as long off work, and their child does not need to have so much time off school. Some schools will also facilitate sessions during the school day again reducing the amount of time missed.
By offering remote sessions, I can also offer support no matter where you are in the country.
What happens if I cannot attend an appointment?
We all know that unexpected events sometimes happen. If you cancel an appointment more than 48 hours (2 working days) before the appointment time there is no charge, 24 hours (1 working day) before I ask you to pay 50% of the cost and within 24 hours the full amount will be due.
Do you offer diagnostic services?
No I do not offer diagnostic services because I do not currently have a team of people to do these with. I have a post on my blog about what to look for when considering a diagnostic service.