Please contact me by email on mentalhealthcarecalum@gmail.com I can’t always answer calls so email allows me to be sure I don’t miss you.
It’s a talking therapy which focuses on how patterns of feeling, thinking and responding developed, and how they keep you stuck. It emphasises the use of the relationship that develops between the therapist and the patient, for emotional nurturing and to achieve change. There is a central focus on feelings or emotions and on meeting unmet core needs. For more detail, MHCC Schema Therapy information sheet 181018.
CBT is based on recognising the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and working on changing one of these to alter the others. It focusses mostly on the here and now, and on particular techniques and strategies to achieve change in thoughts and behaviours. A lot of research has been done about CBT. For more detail, visit this website.
There is no ‘normal’, it depends on your particular problems, the model of therapy and the pace of change. Some people may do better with blocks of therapy and breaks in between. As a rule of thumb, a course of talking therapy involves from around 10 up to around 60 or 70 sessions of therapy. CBT is usually shorter than ST. Therapy is usually weekly but sometimes twice a week.
When you make contact with me I’ll send you my terms and conditions document, this gives the details for BACS bank transfer payments. I send invoices by email monthly. I don’t accept cash or cheques.
If you are 16 or over, you have the legal right to consent to your treatment and therefore to confidentiality. I encourage people under 18 to give consent to involving their family in their care to some extent in most circumstances, especially if you are living with them, but I wouldn’t do so against your wishes, unless you were at high risk (see below).
I have a strict duty of confidentiality to you. For further information about what I will do with notes and other information or data I gather about you in the course of providing your care, see our data storage and use document. I will ask for your consent to share information with other professionals involved in your care eg. your GP. I will ask if you would like copies of letters.
However if I conclude there is a risk of harm to you or others, due to your mental state, there is an obligatory duty of care to disclose information to others who are in the best position to protect you and minimise risk. This could involve your GP, the Police, or family members. I would only share the information that was necessary to achieve safety in that particular situation.
I keep two therapy slots for people who cannot afford my full fee.
I have experience of working with people on the Autistic spectrum, but if you want a specialist ASD service, you should look elsewhere.
People often look for help when something difficult is happening. I can’t provide an emergency or crisis service. You’ll find information about emergency and crisis services here.
