Frequently asked questions

How do I go about arranging an initial appointment?
If you would like to book a first appointment you can complete the enquiry form. We endeavour to respond to enquiries within 48 hours.

If you have private medical insurance and would like this to pay for your assessment and treatment at New Avenue Psychology, you will require a referral from your GP. You will be given an authorisation number by your insurer once you have confirmed you have a referral from your GP. If you have not yet received a referral from your GP or have not received the insurance authorisation, you can phone us to reserve a date and time for an initial appointment. We will need to have the referral information and authorisation prior to this first appointment with us.

What can I expect from my first appointment?
Before your first appointment, we will arrange a free telephone consultation so we can talk briefly about the reasons for you seeking therapy and to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. If we agree that further assessment with New Avenue Psychology is the best option for you, you will be invited in to meet with one of the team to discuss your needs in more depth. We can make a plan together about what therapy will be most appropriate and develop some goals to work towards. This will also include ensuring that you and your psychologist are a good fit together. 

If we believe that you do not require therapy at the moment or if we think other services are more likely to meet your needs, we will discuss this with you and signpost you to alternative options.

How long will therapy take?

After our assessment appointment, if you decide to go ahead with therapy, an initial number of therapy sessions will be agreed upon and we can make a regular appointment time each week. We will review your progress regularly and continue therapy for as long as it is helpful to you and until your goals have been met. One of the advantages of accessing private psychological therapy is that duration is based on your own personal needs. Of course, you are also able to end the therapy process at any point during the work. 

Individual sessions normally last 50 minutes. We accept clients who are looking for either short term or long term treatment and this will be discussed in your initial assessment.

Does therapy work?
There is a huge amount of evidence showing the effectiveness of psychological therapy for the treatment of a wide range of mental health difficulties. All of the models of therapy that are offered by the New Avenue Psychology team are evidence-based and recommended by NICE guidelines.

Are sessions confidential?
All our sessions are private and confidential. We would only break this confidentiality if there were serious concerns about your safety, the safety of others or if you told us that you have been involved in a serious crime. If we needed to share information because of this, it would always be discussed with you first. The New Avenue Psychology team regularly meets for clinical supervision, a normal part of our work that helps us maintain the highest standard of professional practice. If we discuss your therapy, it will always be presented anonymously. Please see the Privacy page for more information.

How will you store my information?

Any information we keep about you will be stored securely. Please see the Privacy page for more information.

What if there is an emergency between sessions?
New Avenue Psychology does not run as an emergency or crisis service. If we have any concerns about your ability to keep yourself safe between sessions, we will talk about this and make a safety plan together. If you are in need of urgent support you should visit your GP, the local Accident and Emergency Department, contact support services such as The Samaritans (08457909090), or call for an ambulance.

What if I feel uncomfortable with something in therapy?

Therapy can bring up lots of difficult thoughts, feelings, sensations and memories for people. We aim to offer every client a safe, non-judgmental space where you feel able to give us feedback and discuss anything about the process that might have made you feel uncomfortable. This includes talking about difficulties within the therapeutic relationship, between client and psychologist. 

What if I have a complaint?

Our aim is to provide you with high quality psychological therapy, where we are working within professional ethical frameworks. If at any point you had concerns about the quality of care we are providing you, please let us know by emailing us.