Question 1

What happens during a psychology session?

Accepted Answer

Early sessions will focus on developing a collaborative and comfortable relationship. The psychologist will want to learn about:
·      The reason(s) you’re seeking help
·      Have you had similar difficulties in the past? If so, what helped/didn’t help?
·      What else is going on in your life right now?
·      How would you like things to be different? You might have really clear ideas about this, or you might be less sure. We can work with both of these scenarios.
This will all be explored at your pace. We understand that some people come into sessions ready to talk, get everything out and start working towards changes, and that some people need longer to develop a sense of trust and safety. We will discuss what you need and go at your speed!
Together, you and the psychologist will develop a shared way of thinking about your situation, and will agree together how best to move forwards. Future sessions will then include reviewing how you’re doing, agreeing a focus for the session, and working on that.

Question 2

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

How long is a piece of string? This is the most difficult question psychologists ever have to answer! The answer to this depends on lots of things, including: what you want to work on, how long you’ve had your difficulties and how ‘entrenched’ they are, what you’re looking for – whether you want some coping strategies or a deeper, more complex understanding and resolution. We will always want to know your thoughts on this and will be guided by you. If you are restricted by your budget or private health insurance allowance, your psychologist will help you to prioritise what you want to work on, so that you get the most from your sessions even if you can’t work on everything.

Question 3

How do I pay for my sessions?

Accepted Answer

Your psychologist will send you an invoice, and you will pay by bank transfer. We ask for payment within 48 hours of your appointment. Future appointments will not be held if payment is outstanding – but please let us know if you have any difficulties with this. Please let us know in advance if you have private health insurance and we can discuss with you how this will work.

Question 4

What happens if I need to cancel a session?

Accepted Answer

We totally understand that schedules change (especially in the sporting world!). Please let us know as soon as possible if an appointment no longer works for you, and we’ll re-arrange it to a mutually convenient time.

Question 5

What happens if I forget or miss a session?

Accepted Answer

We understand that some people find it harder than others to organise themselves, and remember to keep appointments. If this is you, please let us know and we can send you reminders by email or text message. If you don’t attend a session, we will try to contact you – please let us know as soon as you can that you’re ok! Unfortunately, we do have to request payment for missed sessions.

Question 6

What do you do with my data?

Accepted Answer

Please see our GDPR policy for more information.

What you discuss with your psychologist stays between the two of you, except for a few specific situations. Firstly, psychologists all attend regular clinical supervision, during which they discuss various elements of their work. This does not usually involve sharing lots of confidential details, but more an overview of the work and the specific elements that need discussion in order that your psychologist can continue to offer the highest quality service. The supervisor works to the same confidentiality contract, and will not discuss this work with anyone else.

In addition, your psychologist has a legal obligation to share information, if they believe that you or someone else is at risk of harm. They will tell you if they need to share information on this basis, and who with.

Question 7

What ages do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Age 12 upwards

Question 8

Where will you see me?

Accepted Answer

Since the pandemic, most of our work has been carried out online. Some of the team also offer in-person sessions, please see ‘Meet the Team’ or ‘Contact us’ for more details.

Question 9

What should I do if I don’t agree with something my psychologist says or am unhappy with any aspect of the service?

Accepted Answer

Firstly, discuss with your psychologist, or with Jenny. Misunderstandings can happen – on both sides and we would always want to resolve things directly with you, wherever possible. If this discussion isn’t helpful and/or your concern is larger, all psychologists are registered with the HCPC and concerns can be raised with them.

Question 10

Is there anything that would make your service unsuitable for me?

Accepted Answer

We cannot offer regular contact between appointments or a ‘crisis’ service, so if you are struggling to keep yourself safe, we advise that you discuss this with your GP and seek referral to your local NHS or alternative provider to ensure that you get the higher-level support you need.

Question 11

What do I do if my question isn’t answered here?

Accepted Answer

Contact us at hello@wearebluetiger.co.uk

Frequently asked questions