Therapy Sessions
Once a decision has been made regarding the suitability, a young person will be invited to attend individual therapy sessions. Information gathered from the assessment will also inform the choice of evidence-based therapeutic model offered, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and ideas from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Narrative and Systemic approaches. These would typically occur weekly and for a duration of 50 minutes; although a decision regarding the duration and frequency of sessions will be made depending on the young person's needs. The total number of sessions required will be informed by the model of therapy used and follow recommendations stated in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for particular mental health difficulties. In addition, total number of sessions would be informed by regular reviews of a young person's progress (informed by information gathered by questionnaires which would be completed at regular intervals and feedback from the young person and family throughout the therapy process).
Individual Therapy
The Assessment Process
Prior to starting therapy, a comprehensive assessment of a young person's difficulties and presentation is undertaken, which would determine suitability for therapeutic intervention, and guide the approach to ongoing clinical work. Individual therapy sessions would typically occur once a week for a duration of 50-60 minutes. Please note that on some occasions, further clinical assessments and sessions may be required to fully understand the needs of an individual and reach a final decision around intervention. The assessment process would also be supplemented by information gathered from the completion of standardised questionnaires regarding the young person's mental health; this may include self-report questionnaires for the young person to complete alongside questionnaires for parents or carers. You would be kept informed throughout the assessment process and will be able to share any queries or concerns.