Private Counselling Service

Counselling Service

‘The therapist/counseller available at the Park Surgery is Dr Gill Yardley, who is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with 30 years experience within the NHS. She works in the specialist field of adult psychological therapy. 

She is trained in a range of psychological therapies. Her core training in clinical psychology, post qualification training and continuing professional development allow her to draw on a number of psychological models to offer psychological formulations and therapy. These include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); Compassion Focussed CBT; Mindfulness; Brief Solution Focussed Therapy; Cognitive Analytic Therapy; Mentalisation based therapy; Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR).

As a registered member of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) she regularly updates her training and professional skills.

She has experience of working with adults with a range of psychological, emotional and behavioural difficulties:

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is psychological therapy?

There are many different types of psychological therapy, offered by different types of therapists (counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists). They are all types of talking treatment focussed on emotional or psychological difficulties, relationship problems or unhelpful behaviour patterns.

Clinical psychologists are trained in a broad range of psychological models.

After completing a psychology undergraduate degree, postgraduate training is undertaken in the application of psychology to a variety of human difficulties. Clinical psychologists aim to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological well-being. Often clinical psychologists will have undertaken further specialist training in specific therapeutic approaches.

How do you know if a therapist is ‘qualified’?

When you seek psychological therapy it is important that you can trust your therapist and know that they follow nationally agreed standards. There are different professional bodies for different types of therapists.

Chartered Clinical Psychologists have completed a training approved by the British Psychological Society and have demonstrated that they maintain their skills and adhere to a code of ethics and standards. They are also regulated by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Links:

BPS – The British Psychological Society

www.bps.org.uk

HCPC – Health and Care Professions Council

www.hpc-uk.org

What happens at the first appointment?

The first appointment will be an assessment before a course of therapy is agreed. This is an opportunity to discuss your needs and the most appropriate approach. It also gives you the opportunity to meet the therapist and decide if you feel comfortable with them.

  Are the sessions confidential?

Generally everything discussed in the sessions is confidential. The exception to this is when there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.

The therapist may request to inform your GP that you have engaged in psychological therapy as a matter of good practice.

What happens following assessment?

If you are happy with the outcome of the assessment, then you will arrange a series of regular meetings with the therapist. These may be weekly or fortnightly, usually at the same time. After a few sessions it should be possible to agree the length of the therapy (ie the number of sessions).

Each session will usually last for approximately 50 minutes (unless a longer session is specifically indicated). This will involve meeting and talking with the therapist individually. Sometimes it may be appropriate, or you may wish to invite a family member or another person to a session.

Will I have to pay?

The therapist should discuss their fees with you and how they should be paid. There is usually a cancellation fee when sessions are cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.