The initial assessment is where we meet with you and the child that you care for. In this session we work with you to decide whether our service is appropriate for you and/or them.
We will let you know that this will be a safe space in which anything you tell us will be kept confidential and we will try to get an overview of the main difficulties that the child is experiencing. We will tell you a bit about ourselves, including about our qualifications which enable us to work safely and therapeutically with you and any children that we see. We will be non-judgemental and will not make any assumptions about what you or the child’s behaviours or symptoms might mean. We simply want to make sure that you have a realistic expectation about what we can do to help.
There are lots of different types of counselling or therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person Centred, Integrative, Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and many others. Each have their own way of working with patients and there are similarities between some. No one therapeutic approach is perfect for everyone and most find that they benefit from an eclectic approach.
We will look at how patterns of behaviour and self-identity are affected by the unconscious mind as well as outside influences including past experiences and relationships. We explore what is going on for the patient in their everyday life, but always look at this in relation to what is going on for them in their inner world. I am highly qualified, I have a good awareness of all other therapies as well as their techniques, and I believe in applying the appropriate techniques for you and your child and do not apply a one size fits all approach to an individual’s personal therapy.
It’s very unlikely that a parent intentionally harms their child. Just because your child is experiencing difficulties does not mean you have done something wrong or that you are a “bad parent.” In fact, seeking help and bringing your child to therapy shows that you care deeply about their wellbeing and want what is best for them.
It’s also important to remember that the issue a child presents with is not always the main underlying concern. The problem that leads a child to therapy can sometimes be a sign of other difficulties that are not immediately visible. These underlying issues may become clearer as your child continues their sessions with us.
Most importantly, your child needing support from a therapist should not be seen as a negative reflection on you as a parent. We are committed to working with your child in a supportive and non-judgemental way.
Nothing at all. We do not share information with any other agencies and most certainly not with anyone without the child/client's permission. All therapists attend regular personal professional supervision as well as our own organisations group professional supervision. During this no client's name is ever used or details that would identify them to others.
Often parents are concerned about our confidentiality policy which is that we never breach a child’s confidentiality under any circumstances.
It is of utmost importance that when a child talks to us, they know that what they tell us will not be repeated to anyone else without their permission. This can be frustrating for parents however is in the child’s best interests.
By law we are only able to breach a child’s confidentiality if we believe that they are at serious risk of immediate harm, if we were to breach confidentiality, we would be breaking the law and our industry professional guidelines. If we believe that a child is at risk of immediate significant harm, we will always act in the child’s best interests and preservation of life, and as such have protocols in place to safeguard the patient.
Our full confidentiality policy is published on our website.
CMY Counselling is not a crisis service. Please go here for local crisis support.
Our main phone number and email address are manned in the evenings and weekends however please be aware that we are not a 24 hour service and these communications platforms are monitored on a best endeavours basis and we are not able to provide a guaranteed service.
If you are concerned about the safety of yourself or others please contact the emergency service by calling 999.
No two clients are the same and it’s almost impossible to predict how many sessions someone might need. Our ethos is that the needs of the client come first and above else, so we will only ever work at a rate that a client is able to tolerate and is comfortable with.
Therefore, what might take one person five sessions may take another ten sessions to work through. The important thing is that you/your child feel supported, nurtured and not rushed.
I accept cash, card and bank transfer payments for my services, and I will always email you an invoice when you/ your child attends for the session, which has bank details on the bottom.
We respectfully remind all that there is a 24 hours remittance period and payment is expected within this time frame.
Missed or cancelled sessions are still charged for, we are a weekly service and when you agree to use our services you are expected to attend weekly.
Our terms and conditions of sale which includes our cancellation policy is clearly displayed here
We do not currently have arrangements with any medical insurance companies however we always provide full invoices for sessions and some insurance providers may reimburse you if you provide them with these invoices.
It can seem like we all we do is just play with the children we see, and in some ways, this is true (lots of playing happens). However, children can struggle to communicate their inner thoughts and talk about their emotions yet find it easier to do so through their play. We are all trained to play with children and interpret the cues and signals that their play brings out and interpret these to the child to help them make sense of their feelings.
All sessions are confidential, and we cannot tell you what your child says to us, but we can let you know how they are doing and what we think the overarching issue is. Often a child will not want a parent to know certain things and we will help them work out why that is. We will also work with them to find an appropriate way of telling you something important so that in the future they can come to you with that worry.
Can I talk to my child’s therapist?
Yes of course, however we respectfully request that you make an appointment to speak with them separately to your child’s session. It is important that parents and therapists do not chat before or after sessions as the child may well perceive this as them being friends which could very well block the child’s sense that their therapist is impartial.
Try not to ask them about the session they have just had. A child may feel questioned after a session and this can have a very negative impact on how the child feels about attending and being able to speak openly to us. It is generally best to simply ask if it all went well and leave them to tell you about the session if they wish to.
It is also generally best not to instruct the child what to say in sessions, children can feel overwhelmed easily if they feel that they have a tick list of subjects to discuss with the therapist. It is often best just to let the therapist and child discuss what the session brings if something is bothering them it will always emerge in a session.