Individual Therapy

Catherine Devanney Cognitive Therapist

(Click here for CV)

 

I am based in Crook and Newton Aycliffe and has over 30 years experience working within NHS Mental Health Services, including assessment, treatment, supervision and management. I have undertaken individual work with adults in both inpatient and community settings and have experience of working with a range of mental health problems including severe and enduring conditions. For the last four years I have been working as an associate with Richard Marshall, Consultant Clinical Psychologist providing Cognitive Therapy to clients. I am registered with the National Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and I am a Member of British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy (BABCP).

 

When you need help with personal difficulties it is important that you are able to trust the person that you see. Our Associates have completed an intense and lengthy training at an undergraduate and post-graduate level. Cognitive Behavioural Therapists are uniquely trained to assess and understand the emotional problems that people experience. Their training enables them to help people understand and tackle the problems which they are having.

What About Confidentiality?

All the therapeutic work which we undertake remains confidential. You can see your records that we keep simply by asking.  If we write to anyone about your problems it will be with your consent. It is often useful and diplomatic to let your GP know that you are seeing a therapist. In exceptional circumstances if we feel that a person is at serious risk of coming to harm, we have a duty to contact others to prevent this occurring. Please feel free to discuss any issues arising from this when we meet.

What to expect.

Your first appointment will last about 1½ hours and subsequent appointments last an hour. The fee charged is £90.00 an hour and should be payed on the day of the appointment.  The purpose of this appointment is to establish what the problems are and why they have come about. This will include talking about your current problems, discussing how your life has been to date, as well as specifically exploring how you have coped with difficulties in the past. It is important to establish what support you have at the present time. Although it may be difficult to talk about some aspects of your problems you will get more out of the experience if you can be as open as possible. If subsequent appointments are offered these will usually last 60 minutes.

What Happens Next?

Immediate help may include:

• an explanation for the difficulties which you are having;
• direct advice and suggestions;
• providing you with information about self-help literature;
• advising you about local voluntary groups and national organisations that might be able to offer help;
• arranging a number of further appointments for you.

 

Consultations are by appointment only in Crook or Newton Aycliffe and can be arranged over the phone directly with Catherine (07570 017553) or you can request further information via the contact form.