Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBT really help?
CBT has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of psychological health difficulties; however, it is not for everyone. In our experience the more you work with your therapist and put time and effort into sessions and between session tasks, the more you will get out of therapy. Just as you would learning any new skill, the more you practice (in the remaining 167 hours of the week), the easier it will become to continue reaping the benefits.
How long does therapy last?
There isn’t a standard number of sessions that we offer. The decision is made collaboratively between you and your therapist. People recover at different rates, after one or two sessions your therapist will have a better understanding of how long it might take for you to reach your therapy goals and your progress will be reviewed at regular intervals.
Will my sessions be confidential?
All our therapists are BABCP accredited and adhere to the BABCP code of conduct. If a therapist becomes concerned with your safety, or somebody else’s safety, then they may need to speak with other healthcare professionals. It is also normal practice for a therapist to consult with a clinical supervisor from time to time to ensure high quality of care.
What will my therapist expect from me?
CBT is an active therapy. You and your therapist will decide together on tasks for you to do in-between sessions. These tasks enable you to incorporate the work you do in therapy into your everyday life as a way of working towards your goals. Tasks can vary. Some examples are: thought diary, worksheets, and adopting to new behaviours. Your therapist will work with you to find tasks that are manageable so that you can commit to doing them outside the therapy room.
What can I expect from my therapist?
Your therapist will have specialist training in CBT. Whilst they will have some expertise in this form of therapy, you are the expert of your life and your current difficulties. Therefore, they will not offer advice but will work with you in trying to untangle the difficulties you are going through and find a way to break the patterns that are contributing to the cycle of the problem.
At the start of therapy, you and your therapist will agree on specific goals which are meaningful to you and you would like to work towards. This will form the focus for your therapy sessions. These goals (in addition to the questionnaires that you will be asked to complete before each session) will help you and your therapist to monitor how helpful therapy is for you. Your therapist will help you stay focused on these goals and will set an agenda at the start of each session to make sure that you have time to cover all the important information that you both wish to share.
What can I do if I am in crisis?
If you find yourself in crisis you can contact the following:
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The Samaritans helpline 24 hours 08457 90 90 90
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Visit your local Accident & Emergency department or call 999
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Contact your out of hours GP
What if I miss a session or need to cancel?
If an appointment is cancelled with more than 48 hours’ notice, the session will be refunded to you. Any cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice will not be eligible for a refund.
