Psychotherapy and Counselling

Dalgleish Therapies - bryan.dalgleish-warburton@sky.com

What will happen at the first appointment?

At you first appointment, your therapist will ask you about your problems and needs and will spend time with you discussing what you can expect from therapy. Usually the first session will last no more than an hour. As well as talking about your present difficulties, the therapist may ask you to complete one or more questionnaires (assessments). Based on the information you have supplied, the therapist may also provide you with some reading material. The information may further explain the kind of treatment that may be suitable for you. The therapist will also provide you with an opportunity to discuss any questions related to the treatment. If your difficulties are unlikely to improve with psychological therapy, the therapist will discuss this with and will provide advice on alternative treatment that might be more appropriate.

How do I know the therapist is qualified to work with me in this way?

If you are unsure, you can ask the therapist to show you their qualifications. However, most therapists will be a member of a recognised body and will carry proof / evidence of membership. Examples of these professional bodies: The British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I have provided links to both these websites.

How will I know that the therapist has listened and understood?

The therapist will work collaboratively with you and together you will develop a clear picture of your present problems. This will be presented to you as a ‘formulation’. This will be either a diagram or a written description, presented to you as either a letter or a report. The ‘formulation’ will help both the therapist and you to guide the future treatment sessions.

How long will treatment take? How long is therapy?

This tends to vary from person to person. Some people may require only a couple of assessment sessions. However, others may require longer. The length of treatment will be discussed with you during the first few sessions; after you and your therapist have developed a formulation (an understanding of your needs), you will discuss the number of sessions required. Sessions will be regularly reviewed and the therapist may repeat some of the questionnaires / assessments you completed earlier. This will help to clarify how many more sessions are required.

Problems or Solutions?

One of the first things you and your therapist will do is to develop a shared understanding of your problems. This will include looking at how the problems started, what maintains the problems, and also what helps now (how you presently cope). Psychological therapy also includes finding out new solutions and new methods of coping. However, one person may benefit from one solution or coping strategy but someone else will find this less helpful. So, therapy is also about learning something new and experimenting with it. You will be helped to think about what it is you want to try and change and how you will know when you had succeeded. You will be encouraged to try and set some realistic goals for yourself. Some of these goals will be short term and may include practical solutions. However, other goals may also include longer term changes. Once you and your therapist have agreed and fully understood your goals, you will be helped to achieve them. Goals will help you to decide of the treatment is succeeding / working for you. The goals will also help you and the therapist understand when it is time to end the sessions and close down the therapy.