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PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

WHAT IS BRIEF PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY?
Brief psychological therapy is a psychological approach to helping people deal with distressing emotional problems and difficulties in life.

This approach involves meeting on a number of occasions with a qualified clinical practitioner (Chartered Clinical Psychologist) with expertise and experience in dealing with such problems.

Chartered Clinical Psychologists, through their training and experience are equipped with interventions known to be effective for many people in distress.

See below for details about the training and practice of Clinical Psychologists.

MY WORK AND APPROACH TO BRIEF PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY
I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with over thirty years experience. I have worked in the National Health Service as a clinician, therapist, supervisor, manager and consultant. I have published extensively on clinical and management issues and have co-written three books and over 20 articles on these subjects.

I am an Associate Fellow with the British Psychological Society.
I am BUPA recognised provider of psychological services.

I bring a wide range of expertise to my practice, which aims to help people cope better with emotional and psychological problems.

I believe that everybody has the right to be treated as a unique individual and my practice reflects this. I select and design appropriate therapeutic approaches for each client, with the aims and goals of therapy being individually negotiated within a confidential therapeutic relationship.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM BRIEF PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY?
If you are experiencing any of the following problems, or a combination of them, brief psychological therapy may be of help to you:

  • Confusing and difficult feelings and behaviours: sadness, depression, anxiety, avoidance, fears, phobias, guilt.

  • Pessimism and loss of drive: lack of energy, self-doubt, low self esteem, lack of direction orpurpose.

  • Problems adjusting to change; in your relationship, in your family, in your work place.

  • Stress related to your lifestyle: develop mental life crisis, middle life crisis, changes to self-image andbody image.

  • Stress related to your relationships and your family life: relationship breakdown, separation and divorce, loss, grief, bereavement or other family crises and changes.

  • Stress related to changes at work: performance difficulties, burnout, workplace changes and challenges, redundancy, problems with self-esteem and career direction, executive stress.

  • Stress related to your health: psychosomatic disorders, body image problems, adjusting to illness or medical interventions.
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HOW WILL I KNOW IF PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY IS FOR ME?
As a result of your initial interview you will have a better understanding of what is involved in psychological therapy and this will help you to decide whether a psychological approach is right for you.

I will also be able to advise you on alternative approaches, other therapies and different sources of help that might be more appropriate for you.


INFORMATION ABOUT CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Clinical Psychology is an exclusively postgraduate profession. In order to receive recognition a practitioner must have both a degree in psychology and an appropriate postgraduate training. To qualify as a clinical psychologist can take between 6 to 7 years.

Postgraduate training leads to either an MSc or more recently a clinical doctorate. The background and training of clinical psychology is rooted in the science of psychology. Clinical Psychology is one of the applications of this science to help solve human problems.

The British Psychological Society (BPS) regulates the practice of Clinical Psychology through the process of Chartering, which ensures that those who practise have appropriate qualifications and experience and their services are of the highest quality and integrity.

The BPS regulates the profession by a Code of Practice to which all Clinical Psychologists must adhere.


EVALUATION AND AUDIT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY
I continually evaluate my clinical work to ensure that effective treatments are being offered to all my clients and as part of standard on-going professional development, peer clinical supervision is also arranged.

In 1992 I carried out extensive audit ofthe outcome l of my therapeutic approach. This was based on therapy evaluation responses from 176 of my discharged clients. The results were subsequently published in a professional journal (Ref. DCP Forum 1992, "Auditing One's Work, What Clients Think of Therapy").


WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
If you wish to explore whether this approach can help you, please discuss your concerns with me during your initial assessment session. You will meet me in a confidential setting in a private clinic for a one and a half hour session at a time convenient for you. Evening appointments may be available.

If you decide to proceed with a course of treatment we will agree the goals, expectations and outcomes of therapy in advance. To this effect, a number of individual sessions, each lasting 50 minutes will be available to you.


RELEVENT PUBLICATIONS
Working Briefly with Meaning
International Journal of Psychotherapy, Changes, vol 16, number 4, 1998

What Clients think about therapy
Division of Clinical Psychology, Forum, 1993

HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
For an initial appointment please e-mail me via the contact page.

Please note that a full fee is charged if less than 24 hours notice of cancellation is given, once an appointment has been booked for you.

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