Yes, a telephone consultation before booking an appointment is offered free of charge. This is to discuss whether my approach is suitable for your needs.

I provide a range of services tailored to meet your individual needs, whether you require short-term or long-term therapy. The duration of our sessions is entirely flexible, determined by your circumstances and needs. During our initial meeting, we'll collaboratively explore your objectives for therapy and decide on the optimal number of sessions to address your needs effectively.

Some medical insurance companies will include cover for therapy. It is your responsibility to confirm this with your provider before commencing therapy. 

Authorisation needs to have been granted before sessions begin. Clients will be due to pay directly for their session and FortisMinds will provide invoices and receipts so that these funds can be reimbursed by your insurance company.

FortisMinds is fully GDPR compliant and is registered under the Information Commissioning Office (ICO). Please see the FortisMinds Therapy privacy policy.

You pay in full at the end of each session by either cash or a bank transfer. We do not accept credit or debit card payments at present.

Please contact me as soon as possible to let us know if you would like to cancel or unable to attend an appointment. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice or non-attended appointments will be charged at the full rate.

The key distinctions between a Psychotherapist, Psychologist, and Psychiatrist lie in their respective training and approaches.

Psychotherapists use a range of therapeutic techniques similar to those employed by Psychologists. However, their primary focus is on developing an in-depth understanding of the client and working therapeutically to address distorted patterns of thought and emotion, as well as dysfunctional behaviours. Central to this process is the therapeutic relationship, which provides a safe and supportive space for clients to explore and resolve their difficulties.

Psychologists, by contrast, often incorporate clinical psychometrics into their practice to help treat mental health difficulties in clients. The approach is often more clinically oriented.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have undertaken specialised training in mental health. This medical background enables them to diagnose psychiatric disorders and prescribe medication where appropriate.

FortisMinds Therapy is not an emergency service. Please follow one of these options depending on the situation:

* Call 999 if you need an ambulance

* Contact your GP

* Attend the nearest A&E department or call NHS 111 

* Call Childline on 08001111 or the Samaritans’ 24-hour helpline on 116 123.

You may already be working with another mental health practitioner or service. In some cases, building an expert team around an individual or a family can be an important part of the therapeutic process. This can be discussed during our introductory session.