Frequently Asked Questions & Fees
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions not covered below.
What appointments can I book?
Initial online consultation 60 minutes
This allows us to review your needs and treatment options before beginning therapy.
You will also meet your potential therapist so you can decide whether this feels like the right fit for you.
Online therapy appointment 60 minutes
These can be booked weekly, fortnightly or monthly, following an initial consultation and once we have agreed that therapy feels appropriate.
What are your
therapy fees?
60 minute appointment: £90
Initial online consultations and online therapy appointments cost £90 per 60-minute session.
Appointments are provisionally held for 24 hours and confirmed on receipt of payment. Payment is via bank transfer and full details are provided at the time of booking.
At present, we can only accept self funded clients.
Our Therapy Terms & Conditions are available on our website and it is important to read these in advance of booking therapy.
When can I start therapy?
Appointments are available on
Fridays - 9.30am to 2pm
Saturdays - 9am to 3pm
If a suitable appointment slot is available, it may be possible to start straight away.
If your preferred appointment time is not available, you are welcome to join our waiting list.
Please feel free to get in touch and I can advise of availability.
There is no pressure to book.
Aubrieta Online Therapy offers online appointments only.
How many sessions will I need ?
The number of sessions you may require will depend on your individual circumstances and the treatment that is best matched to your needs. Our initial consultation appointment will help gauge this.
Typically, CBT therapy takes place over 10-12 sessions. There is no set number of sessions you need to attend and this can be shorter or longer depending on your needs.
If you decide to give therapy a go, you will be offered advice on how to make the most out of your therapy sessions.
You can choose to end therapy at any time.
What happens at the initial online
consultation?
When you get in touch, we'll arrange an online appointment to meet with you via Microsoft Teams, our video call platform.
You will receive an email with a link to attend the appointment and all you need to do is click on this link if joining from a PC or laptop. You may have to download the Microsoft Teams App if you are joining via your mobile phone or tablet.
We will talk about the difficulties you are experiencing, what you hope to change and then your therapist will advise on what may be helpful for you. You can then decide if you wish to continue with therapy but there is no pressure to do so.
What do I need to attend therapy?
Therapy involves talking, listening and reflecting together, in order to make sense of your difficulties and why they aren't going away.
Having some curiosity to figure this out with your therapist will be incredibly helpful. Along with a willingness to attend therapy appointments on a regular basis.
Therapy normally involves thinking about things a bit differently than you might be used to so having an open mind will be essential.
You will require an email address and any device with a camera to attend our online appointments.
Attending with a pen and notebook is handy but not essential!
What if therapy doesn't help me?
This is a common concern from people attending therapy, especially when they have experienced mental health difficulties for a while. The honest answer is, we don't know until we try and it will depend on a range of factors that will be discussed at your initial online consultation appointment.
You will only be offered therapy if it is believed that it could be helpful for you. Your therapist will check in with you during therapy sessions to review how things are going and what we need to focus on to make sure it's feeling helpful.
Your therapist is a bit like a personal trainer - supporting, guiding and working alongside you and progress often comes from the work put in. This is not always easy but your therapist will do all they can to support you in this journey.
CBT has a wide range of treatment techniques to choose from but if CBT isn't for you then that is ok too. Your therapist may be able to advise you of alternative support options.
Is this service right for me?
As long as you are an adult aged 18 or above, living in the UK and not involved in any current mental health or psychological therapy services, we can review your needs.
If you are currently in crisis and are worried that you may harm yourself or others, then there will be other services better matched to your needs at the moment and these are mentioned on our website.
You may require more intense support than can be offered at Aubrieta Online Therapy or you may have a mental health condition that requires more specialist support e.g. a severe mood or psychosis disorder, anorexia nervosa or Complex PTSD. If this is identified at our initial consultation, we can discuss alternative options of support.
Mind altering substances such as drugs or alcohol can limit the effectivenes of CBT. If you rely on drugs or alcohol to cope, there may be other services more helpful for you at the moment.
Will online therapy be as helpful as face to face therapy?
Your experience of therapy, whether online or face to face, is often a matter of personal preference and can vary from person to person. You might not know until you try therapy and that's ok.
The emerging evidence suggests that online CBT can be just as effective as face-to-face CBT. Other factors contribute to it's effectiveness such as the relationship between the client and therapist and the amount of time CBT techniques are practised between sessions.
One of the benefits of online therapy is that you can attend sessions from the comfort of your own home or another preferred space, without needing to worry about travelling. This can make therapy easier to fit around other commitments such as work, childcare, caring responsibilities or other health appointments.
You can choose to end therapy at any time and are welcome to talk with your therapist about exploring a new plan if your needs change.
How qualified is my therapist ?
Your therapist is accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), an organisation that monitor the standards of professionals registered with them.
To ensure safe and effective practice, treatments at Aubrieta Online Therapy are guided by national standards and recommendations such as National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Matrix: A guide to delivering evidence-based psychological therapies in Scotland.
Treatments follow evidence-based practice and if you have any queries about this, please feel free to discuss with your therapist.
How do you protect my confidentiality?
Aubrieta Online Therapy is registered with the Information Commissioners Office and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation to protect your personal information and confidentiality.
What you share in therapy is treated as confidential unless there are concerns about safety (for example, if you are feeling suicidal or if someone is at risk of harm).
In these circumstance the therapist may need to take steps to support your safety and the safety of others. Your therapist will initialy attempt to discuss this with you during your appointment.
Your therapist is required to attend regular supervision in order to maintain a high standard of practice. This means that some aspects of your therapy may be discussed anonymously with another therapist bound by the same confidentiality standards.
Your therapist can discuss any concerns you have about confidentiality at your initial consultation appointment.
What if I am feeling suicidal?
If you are feeling suicidal or at risk of harming yourself, you deserve support and help to stay safe.
Aubrieta Online Therapy is not designed to provide emergency or crisis support. Different areas across the UK have their own system for responding to mental health crisis, and it can be helpful for you to know what support is available should you need urgent support.
GP Support
Your GP can advise on crisis supports available in your area. In the event that your GP is not available and you do not feel you can keep yourself safe, please seek urgent support.
NHS 24
You can contact NHS 24 by calling 111 for free or seeking further information online.
Samaritans
Samaritans offer a safe, confidential space to talk to someone when you are feeling distressed or overwhelmed. This is available 24 hours across the UK and you can call them on 116 123 for free from any UK mobile.
Visit www.samaritans.org for more information.