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QUESTIONS
Making an initial appointment
- You can call, text, email or fax to arrange an initial
appointment, which will last for one hour.
- At the first appointment the psychologist will want to
find out about the reasons you are wanting help, the background to the
difficulty, and to get a picture of who you are and what your life is like.
- It is also possible to meet for an initial 20 minutes,
without cost, in order to assess whether you think you will be able to work
with the psychologist in question.
- They may also get you to fill out some questionnaires
and do homework tasks.
How long will it take
- Short term goal focused work would mean about 6 to 8
sessions is all that is required in order to master cognitive skills and
apply them to your difficulty
- Longer term work is also an option, and may be what you
are seeking from the outset, or it may be that you or the therapist decides
it would be useful for you after the first set of 6 sessions.
- It is also possible to have a one-off consultation for a
specific issue
- Sessions are usually scheduled weekly or two-weekly,
however in some cases it is possible to meet only once a month.
FAQs
What
is the Difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are medically trained and then go on to
specialize in Psychiatry. They generally focus on making a diagnosis and
prescribing medication that may be helpful for symptoms. Some
psychiatrists may also offer psychotherapy.
Psychologists use various forms of psychotherapy and
teach skills to address symptoms, and also to explore the problems, determine
what the underlying cause may be, and offer appropriate therapeutic treatment
or onward referral.
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