• Frequently asked questions for Lisa Gorman psychotherapy & art psychotherapy

Frequently asked questions …

Welcome to my Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Here you will find:

  • Client’s questions and answers
  • Links to more information
  • A link for any unanswered questions

Having taken the first step to contact a therapist, which I know is not always easy, I will contact you within twenty four hours. We can then arrange either by email or telephone (whichever you prefer) a convenient time to meet at my Barnes office in SW13. The office is discreet and arranged sensitively to accommodate clients. See photos of the room on this website. For further information please see my Therapy Agreement form.

The Therapy Agreement Form is a verbal contract between therapist and client that sets out how I work and what you can expect from me.  It is the ‘Housekeeping’ aspect of therapy, such as locations, times, confidentiality, holidays, consent, privacy information and data protection, cancellations, payment, etc. It also contains a client consent form as it is important for the client to agree to therapy. There is no obligation for you to continue therapy even if you sign the Therapy Agreement Form.

The initial consultation is ninety minutes long. We would then meet on a weekly basis and each appointment will be fifty minutes long, at the same time every week.

In the therapy room there is no right or wrong answer to the therapy sessions. This depends on each individual client and what you would like to focus on and where we begin. The fifty minute session is for you. It is a private and calm space. I will listen very carefully to you and whatever you want to talk about. I am an art psychotherapist and you may want to use the art materials as a tool to help articulate difficult thoughts and feelings. You may not feel like talking. Quiet time and thinking can also be an important part of the work we do together.

I do have a limited sliding scale available. We can discuss this when you contact me, or at the first appointment.

Part of our agreement is that you want to commit to weekly sessions. I would ask you to be there every week. This is part of our verbal agreement as I will reserve our arranged time and the space for you each week, unless you are ill or have given me at least 24 hours notice. There is further information on cancellations in the Therapy Agreement Form.

Therapy is not always an easy process, it can bring feelings to the surface which are difficult and upsetting. It is important to be prepared for this. Although therapy can feel difficult, it can also feel extremely supportive and life changing. It is all about balance and whether it is worth processing difficult feelings that can get in the way of feeling more stable and hopeful.

I do not write notes during therapy. I ask for your contact details and the name and address of your GP. This is a safe guarding measure and something I am required to do by law. Your information is kept in a locked confidential file in my office. For more information go to my Therapy Agreement Form.

It is my professional obligation to refer you on if I do not have the appropriate skills to help you. We would discuss this in our first meeting. It is important for us to regularly monitor how things are going. Having open communication is part of the trusting therapeutic relationship. If it is my view that, specialist support would be best for you I would recommend you to an appropriate service such as Survivors UK who offer specialist trauma support.

I hope the above information is helpful. If you have any further questions which I have not covered please see my misconceptions page, or email me here.

frequently asked questions …

Welcome to my Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Here you will find:

  • Client’s questions and answers
  • Links to more information
  • A link for any unanswered questions

Having taken the first step to contact a therapist, which I know is not always easy, I will contact you within twenty four hours. We can then arrange a convenient time to meet either by email or telephone whichever you prefer at the Thrive office in Fulham. The offices are discreet and arranged sensitively to accommodate clients. See examples of the rooms above. For further information please see my Therapy Agreement form.

The Therapy Agreement Form is a verbal contract between therapist and client that sets out how I work and what you can expect from me.  It is the ‘Housekeeping’ aspect of therapy, such as locations, times, confidentiality, holidays, consent, privacy information and data protection, cancellations, payment, etc. It also contains a client consent form as it is important for the client to agree to therapy. There is no obligation for you to continue therapy even if you sign the Therapy Agreement Form.

The first appointment lasts for one hour. We would then meet on a weekly basis and each appointment will be fifty minutes long, at the same time every week.

In the therapy room there is no right or wrong answer to the therapy sessions. This depends on each individual client and what you would like to focus on and where we begin. The fifty minute session is for you. It is a private and calm space. I will listen very carefully to you and whatever you want to talk about. I am an art psychotherapist and you may want to use the art materials as a tool to help articulate difficult thoughts and feelings. You may not feel like talking. Quiet time and thinking can also be an important part of the work we do together.

I do have a limited sliding scale available. We can discuss this when you contact me, or at the first appointment.

Part of our agreement is that you want to commit to weekly sessions. I would ask you to be there every week. This is part of our verbal agreement as I will reserve our arranged time and the space for you each week, unless you are ill or have given me at least 24 hours notice. There is further information on cancellations in the Therapy Agreement Form.

Therapy is not always an easy process, it can bring feelings to the surface which are difficult and upsetting. It is important to be prepared for this. Although therapy can feel difficult, it can also feel extremely supportive and life changing. It is all about balance and whether it is worth processing difficult feelings that can get in the way of feeling more stable and hopeful.

I do not write notes during therapy. I ask for your contact details and the name and address of your GP. This is a safe guarding measure and something I am required to do by law. Your information is kept in a locked confidential file in my office. For more information go to my Therapy Agreement Form.

It is my professional obligation to refer you on if I do not have the appropriate skills to help you. We would discuss this in our first meeting. It is important for us to regularly monitor how things are going. Having open communication is part of the trusting therapeutic relationship. If it is my view that, specialist support would be best for you I would recommend you to an appropriate service such as Survivors UK who offer specialist trauma support.

I hope the above information is helpful. If you have any further questions which I have not covered please see my misconceptions page, or email me here.

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