FAQ
- Is my treatment covered by my private insurance or do I need to pay privately for the sessions?
I work with a few insurers like AXA, WPA, Vitality, Aviva, Aetna etc. Please get in touch with your insurance to get your treatment authorised.
- How safe are my records?
Your therapist uses Powerdiary:
A system designed to ensure that your information is safe, secure, convenient, and completely confidential. https://www.powerdiary.com
- How does EMDR work?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy, people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can, in fact, heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.
- What are the common symptoms of emotional and behavioural disorders in children? When should I seek professional help?
If your child is experiencing behavioural and/or emotional issues (such as performance/socializing issues at school, lack of concentration, mood changes, sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, anxieties etc.) which causes him/her or others to suffer for a while, it is worth it to seek help by talking to your partner/family/friend, teacher and/or school counsellor. If you need further help, you can give me a call to discuss the case shortly, and you can decide if you want to book an appointment.
- I am afraid of a diagnosis on my child! What is it good for?
A diagnosis in the field of mental health can be as important as facing a physical health condition, which needs the right diagnosis to get proper treatment. Only a mental health professional, who is able and allowed to diagnose psychological disorders, should diagnose by following the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders such as DSM V or ICD 10. By using different techniques (interview, broad and specific questionnaires, games, IQ/achievement tests etc.), a professional can tell you whether your child is suffering under a particular psychological disorder and inform you about appropriate treatment methods. A therapist can help you to have a better understanding of the symptoms and make a bespoke treatment plan. Sometimes there is no need for a diagnosis and parents or the child want to talk about their worries and improve their emotional and mental health.
- It is well documented that people go through a turbulent time in their teens, due to hormonal changes. At what age does it tend to start and until when?
Testosterone causes the sexual development of boys into adulthood at the age of around 11 years. Sexual development by girls starts earlier, at about nine years (production of Oestrogen and progesterone) compared to the past physical maturity, which occurs earlier. There are also significant individual differences between peers. On average, puberty ends between 17-20 years.
- It’s also commonly known that teens tend to act out. But how can parents distinguish between them going through a ‘phase’, or something more severe, like a mental disorder?
The duration and intensity of symptoms like continuous low moods or sadness, having no motivation or interest in things, less contact with peers, sleeping disorders, sudden extreme weight changes, persistent worry or feeling of being unsafe, consistent negative feedback of teachers should all be taken seriously compared to day-to-day issues.
- What are some of the triggers that can cause mental health issues in teenagers?
Due to many development tasks, puberty is the most vulnerable period of life to develop psychological disorders. Also, inappropriate expectations and psychological problems of parents, moving, divorce, different disabilities, and non-supportive environments are some examples.
- Is it true, that if issues are not addressed at this stage, teens can grow up to become dysfunctional adults?
The longer and earlier striking symptoms occur and the less protective factors in the environment exist, the higher the risk is to develop one or multiple disorders, which can have a long-term effect. Successful achievements of different tasks in life are expected to lead to happiness and to success with later tasks; while failure may result in unhappiness for the individual, disapproval by society, and difficulty with later tasks.
- How should parents approach their teens and address their issues?
Although teenagers seem to question everything especially the opinions of their parents and rebel against almost everything, it is still important to stay active in their lives. Validating their thoughts and feelings, being a role model in practising respect and tolerance and providing clear standards of acceptable behaviour are core factors of parenthood during puberty.
- What role should schools play in helping teens navigate through this turbulent time?
A good relationship between school and parents is crucial especially if you have a child with special needs or psychological problems. Teachers are facing great challenges in terms of reaching the needs of all learners regardless of their academic, social and developmental levels. Many schools already have their own counsellors and connect with professional organizations. Schools should also take responsibility to stop bullying very seriously and put in place an anti-bullying system of rules and consequences.
- Complaint procedure
If you have concerns about your therapy, please try speaking to your therapist first to try to sort out the issue directly.
If you feel you can’t speak to your therapist, you can get in touch with one of the professional bodies COSCA or BACP. They can answer any questions you may have and offer guidance on what to do next.
http://www.cosca.org.uk/guidance-policies/complaints
