Terms of business

Arranging appointments
Following your first appointment subsequent meetings are usually arranged at the end of each therapy session. If you prefer to have a fixed time then several meetings can be reserved in advance.  

There is no absolute rule regarding the frequency of meetings. This will vary depending on each individual’s circumstances.  Often, towards the end of therapy, meetings become increasingly less frequent.

Appointment duration
Appointments normally last fifty minutes. Two or three minutes are added on at the end to carry out general administrative tasks such as booking the next appointment.

Confidentiality
Whatever you discuss in therapy is confidential. However, to ensure client safety there are some very limited circumstances in which the content of our meetings may be shared with someone else. These are as follows:

It is normal practice to inform a client’s GP or primary doctor that therapy is taking place.  This communication usually occurs after the first assessment session and briefly outlines the focus of therapy agreed.

Professional guidelines from the British Psychological Society specify that all psychologists must have regular supervision with colleagues to review their clinical work. This requirement aims to ensure that high standards are maintained and that expertise is shared. Any client information discussed in these meetings is treated as strictly confidential. 

The only other circumstance in which confidentiality would be broken is if a psychologist recognises that you or someone else is at serious risk. In such cases failure to discuss the matter with another appropriate professional would constitute negligence.