Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book an appointment?

Please feel free to click our contact button, call us directly at 020 8145 9453 or send an email to admin@harrisonpsychologygroup.com to schedule an appointment and/or ask any questions you might have.

What can I expect in the first session?

Sessions for individual therapy are typically 50 minutes long while those for relationship therapy vary between 50 and 75 minutes in length. The first session is a chance for you and your therapist to get to know one another a bit more. We will ask you all kinds of questions about what brings you to therapy and you can get a feel for how we will work with you and approach your struggles.

We won’t sit quietly without saying a word and we won’t take over the session with too much talking either. We try to strike a balance and work collaboratively with you to find out what you want to get out of therapy. We will ask about your current problems and want to know about your history as well. We will try to point to areas that need attention and give feedback that helps make sense of your situation. There are times where we will outline practical steps you can take to address your issues, times where we will help you address and sit with difficult emotions and times where we will aim to explore and process the deeper struggle.

In the first session you will get a general feel for how you and your therapist fit together and whether or not you like their approach. They will also want to make sure that they feel like the right fit for you. If it feels like a good match then you can continue to see one another in your agreed scheduled time. If it does not, that's perfectly alright and there are no obligations to stay. We are pleased to say that it's very rare for people to decline working with us.

What kind of therapy will I be getting?

In clinical work, our clinicians combine multiple types of evidenced based practices, third wave therapies as well as psychodynamic therapies accordingly. The specific type of therapy you will receive will depend on what works best for you as a person and what type of therapy is clinically indicated for your particular issue. You can read more about the types of therapies we use by clicking on the button below.

What does ‘Evidence Based Practice’ mean?

There are many different types of therapies out there. Our therapists provide therapies that are ‘evidenced based,’ meaning that sound clinical research has demonstrated that our therapies are an effective way to treat a given problem. Certain types of evidence based therapies are shown to be particularly good for certain types of struggles. For example, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is very effective therapy for the treatment of panic disorder while CFT (Compassion Focussed Therapy) is very effective for low confidence. We always try to be mindful of which treatments work best for the given situation and we work to stay on top of the newest research.

What are ‘Third Wave Therapies’?

Third Wave Therapies describe the newest therapeutic approaches which are intended to expand and build on older, more traditional forms of therapy. While Third Wave Therapies address cognitions, behaviours and symptom reduction they additionally propose a more holistic approach by addressing all aspects of a person’s life struggles. Healing is viewed as an ongoing process rather than the search for a cure to a dysfunction. As such, acceptance, compassion, mindfulness, personal values, meaning and spirituality are often incorporated into therapy. Third Wave Therapies are also supported by research as being effective for the treatment of multiple issues.

You mention the possibility of incorporating spirituality into the therapy. What if I don’t want anything to do with that?

As a practice, we value inclusivity for all ways of being and, as such, aim to provide a safe space for clients who explicitly ask to incorporate spirituality and religion into their therapy. There are additionally a small handful of us in the practice who are open to integrating spirituality into the therapeutic framework, typically drawing from Eastern traditions, Indigenous philosophies, Shamanistic perspectives and Mystic traditions. Importantly, if this is not something you are explicitly interested in then this will not be a part of your therapy. All of us in the practice are scientist practitioners and we respect how our clients want and need to work.

How many sessions will it take to get better?

This varies from person to person depending on your specific struggles, the type of therapy that you receive and what you're looking to get out of therapy altogether. Most clients typically achieve their therapeutic goals within 20-40 sessions while others may want or require longer term, ongoing therapy. Clients who have a very specific issue to focus on may finish in 6-12 sessions. Your specific needs will be addressed in the first session and throughout therapy as needed. In brief, you can attend therapy as long as you find it helpful and you can end when it feels right.

Is my session confidential? 

In accordance with the ethical codes of conduct of the HCPC, UKCP and BACP, all sessions are entirely confidential and nothing goes beyond the walls of the clinical practice. You may provide informed consent for your clinical information to be shared with your GP, Consultant Psychiatrist, health care provider, friends or family members but this is entirely up to you. 

As clinicians, we are required to attend ongoing clinical supervision by our registration boards in order to always improve our clinical skills and to assure that we are providing the best care. As such, all of us attend individual and group supervision where we discuss our client work. In these meetings, we do speak about our clients struggles and lives with the aim of getting other perspectives and approaches to help the therapy. Your identifying information is not presented as a part of supervision. We also ask for your informed consent about this in our policies and procedures registration form, of which you can decline.

The only time that your confidentiality would potentially be breached without your permission is if you were seen to pose an immediate threat to yourself or others (e.g., actively suicidal or experiencing psychosis without capacity) or if your clinical notes were subpoenaed by a court of law. Even in such circumstances, however, initial attempts to secure help for you with your permission will be definitely be made.  

What if I don’t want to be discussed in supervision?

We acknowledge that many of our clients are members of the LGBTQ+ communities and that potential dual relationships and conflicts of interest are, therefore, more common. After all, our communities are smaller than that of the general public. Many clients have been referred by friends, partners or family who have also been seen in the practice while others might even have some personal connection to some of the practitioners in the service. If you feel there is a conflict of interest please raise this with us and know that we will also raise it with you while minding our confidentiality obligations. It’s important that you feel safe and we will make arrangements to safeguard your clinical information as needed.

Are your therapists qualified?

Our clinicians are fully qualified Clinical and Counselling Psychologists or Psychotherapists. They are recognised by registration bodies that include HCPC, UKCP and BACP. Many also have additional memberships and qualifications and routinely update their knowledge base by attending monthly supervision, workshop trainings and additional specialised training.

Can your therapists prescribe medication?

Our psychologists do not directly prescribe medication but are well informed on the option. If you are interested in taking medication for your mental health, this can be discussed in great detail in therapy. If you believe medication is a viable option for you we can provide you with a  referral for a trusted Consultant Psychiatrist or a letter for your NHS GP to be provided alongside psychological therapy. 

Can I speak to my therapist in a crisis? 

It's understandable that you might face some intense difficulty between sessions. Our psychologists will consult with you via phone or email if needed and if possible. It's important to note, however, that our therapists do not provide acute psychological treatment and are not always available for immediate consultation. In the event that you might have an immediate emergency please contact emergency medical services (999), go to your nearest A&E or schedule an urgent appointment with your GP.

Do you offer concessions? 

We do accept a limited handful of clients for a reduced fee, dependent on income. You may be asked to provide proof of your income to determine eligibility. These slots tend to be booked in advance and you may be placed on a waiting list for the next available slot to open.  Please contact us for details and availability. 

Do you offer therapy for children or adolescents? 

Some of our practitioners have specialised training and do work with minors. If you have a child or adolescent who is younger than 18 they will paired with the appropriate therapist.

How do I pay for my sessions?

Payment for therapy is required within 48 hours of your scheduled appointment. After you have been seen for therapy you will receive an invoice via email, requesting payment for your session. Prompt payment is appreciated.

If you do not pay for your session within 48 hours you will receive reminders or be asked to contact us to make payment arrangements. If your balance remains unpaid for 30 days or more we will apply a late fee of £35 to your outstanding balance. This fee will continue to be applied every 30 days of non-payment. We will pause your therapy in the event that you have attended three sessions without payment and sessions can resume once payment is made. We will kindly ask that you regard your therapists time and work and make timely payments.

Can I use my health insurance?

Yes, you can use your private insurance to pay for your therapy. Our psychologists and therapists are recognised by most major private insurance carriers including Bupa, Axa, Cigna, Aviva, Healix, WPA and Vitality. Please note that not all of our clinicians accept all of these insurers and it will vary from therapist to therapist.

If you would like to pay using your private insurance, you will first need to obtain authorisation for treatment from your insurance provider. Please note that some insurance companies may require that you have a one time consultation with your GP or a psychiatrist prior to beginning psychological therapy. If required, we can provide a referral for a Consultant Psychiatrist for you. Following this, we will directly invoice your insurance company for your treatment. Please note that your insurance policy may have an insurance excess, member contribution or cost share that you will need to pay directly.

Do I have to pay if I don't attend? 

We understand that you will sometimes need to cancel or reschedule your appointments. Please provide us with as much notice as possible. We maintain a 48 hour cancellation policy. Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours notice will be charged in full. We maintain this policy because those slots are specifically held for a given client and without sufficient notice it becomes very difficult to manage our diaries and fill that time slot.

We do understand that life is unpredictable and things happen. In such cases, attempts will be make to re-schedule your appointed within the same week at your usual charge. It is important to note, however, that rescheduling is subject to appointment availability and may not always be possible. 

If you are paying with insurance it is important for you know that your insurer will not pay for missed appointments or late cancellations. As such, we will ask you for direct payment when you have cancelled late or missed a session. We ask you to consent to this in our policies and procedures in our registration form before you begin therapy with us.

Please contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Email. admin@harrisonpsychologygroup.com
Phone. 020 8145 9453