Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
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Fees are £120 for a 50-60 minute session.
There are some situations where sessions might need to be extended to 75 or 90 minutes – for example to allow parent/carer feedback at the end of a therapy session for a child or adolescent. This would be discussed and agreed in advance, including fee structure.
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This can vary greatly depending on the nature of the work, but the range of therapies and treatment options I offer are all designed to be time-limited and enable you/your family to reach a point where you feel ready to manage without ongoing therapy or consultation.
A typical course of therapy is approximately 8-20 sessions but this can be much shorter or longer – every situation is unique.
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Yes! Many forms of psychological therapy, including EMDR and CBT, can now be offered online where this is preferable or more practical. This can be offered to anyone in the UK.
It is important to ensure you/your child have a good internet connection and device to use, and that the setting you join the call from is safe and private – so you cannot be overheard.
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Please let me know as soon as possible if you think you might be unable to attend your planned appointment. Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice or non-attended may still be charged, though discretion can be afforded where this is to prevent the spread of infection (see below).
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Some of my clients may have compromised immunity or other vulnerabilities and I continue to strive to minimise the risk of spreading infection whilst providing face-to-face contact where preferred.
Please do not attend face-to-face clinical sessions if you have any signs, symptoms or recent exposure to infectious illness including flu and/or COVID symptoms, or any diarrhoea and/or vomiting (with the exception of pregnancy-related sickness) in the previous 48 hours.
If you are feeling well enough to attend but have had symptoms which could be infectious, or if you are unsure whether you should attend, please contact me as soon as possible. It is often possible to offer an online session as an alternative, or find an alternative appointment time when the risk of spreading infection has passed.
If you are concerned about vulnerabilities to your health when attending appointments, please talk to me about this – I will take this seriously. I carry a portable HEPA filter with me and am happy to wear a clinical face mask if you wish.
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Psychological distress can take many forms and affect any of us during our lifetimes. Sometimes this takes the form of a diagnosable mental health condition. Sometimes, there is a more general sense of being “stuck” in a pattern of feeling, thinking, behaving, or relating in a way that feels problematic and that you want to change.
The mental health conditions and patterns of distress I can help with include:
Anxiety, worry, phobias and panic
Stress, burnout and moral injury
Trauma and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) – including complex and developmental (childhood) trauma
Distress around life transitions including Menopause
Social anxiety
Mood problems and depression
Difficulties with coping
Low self-esteem and low confidence
Grief and loss
Difficulties with habits and addictions
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I hope your experience at Kernel Psychology will be a good one. But if there is something bothering you, something you think I’ve misunderstood or any aspect of my service that you are unhappy with, please let me know either during your session or by email as soon as possible afterwards. I value feedback – it helps me to understand things better - and I would like to resolve any difficulties if possible.
If, after speaking to me, you are not happy that the issue has been resolved, or if your complaint is serious, you can raise a complaint with the Health and Care Professions Council.
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This confuses many people! Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have specialised in mental health in either children or adults. Their training will have included training in the medical model of assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and they may prescribe medication though many psychiatrists these days take a biopsychosocial approach to understanding mental health. They are regulated in the UK by the Royal College of Psychiatry.
Clinical psychologists may also have the title “Dr” due to their level of training but rather than being medical doctors, they are trained as healthcare scientists – applying psychological research and theory to understanding and treating many forms of psychological distress across the lifespan. They may consider diagnosis but are more likely to be led by Formulation in recommending treatment options including therapy. Psychologists do not prescribe medication. Clinical psychologists in the UK are regulated by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can check the registration of any clinical psychologist (including me) through the HCPC’s webpage (see how to check my registration in Resources).
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As healthcare scientists, clinical psychologists undertake lengthy training in the scientific study of what causes psychological distress and how to treat it. Most are trained across a range of models (e.g. CBT, behavioural therapy, systemic family therapy and psychodynamic approaches) so they can offer carefully-tailored psychological intervention (including therapy) depending on what is most indicated. Clinical psychologists have to meet specific training requirements and maintain a registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Psychotherapists usually train in a specific model of therapy (e.g. CBT, Systemic Family Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy) and will apply that model of therapy to understanding and treating their clients’ concerns. Counsellors are trained in skilled listening and may have some training or overview of specific models of therapy. Unlike clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors are not yet state-registered in the UK (though this is under review) and currently have their own professional bodies: this means that, legally, anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist or counsellor. Length of training can also vary considerably - some psychotherapists and counsellors train for several years while others have much shorter trainings. It is advisable to check qualifications and registration with professional bodies when choosing a counsellor or psychotherapist.
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If you are concerned that you cannot keep yourself or your child safe right now, call 999 immediately or go to your nearest A&E Department if you can.
If you can keep yourself safe for now, but are experiencing feelings of despair or a mental health crisis, it is important to seek clinical help as soon as possible. You can:
Contact your GP during open hours and ask for an emergency appointment – but check if their opening and response times are a length of time you can wait;
Call 111 at any time and select the mental health option.
If you need to talk to someone, you might also find it helpful to:
Call Samaritans on 116 123; or find out more online here: If you're having a difficult time | Samaritans;
Text “SHOUT” to 85258; giveusashout.org
For children and young people under the age of 35, or anyone concerned for the safety of a young person, you can contact HOPELINE247: Call: 0800 068 4141; Text: 88247; Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org or find out more online here: HOPELINE247 | Papyrus
Call your workplace Employee Assistance Programme if you have one.
The mental health charity Mind also provides an online Crisis Coping Skills guide here: Need urgent help | Mind - Mind
As an independent practice and sole trader, I am unable to provide emergency/crisis response through Kernel Psychology.