Information about your arrangements for psychological assessment, therapy, coaching and ELSA
We meet initially to discuss what your needs are, and how best to address them. This first consultation usually takes one to two hours but one and a half hours is typical. It can sometimes be helpful to meet with parents only initially, prior to the therapist meeting the child, and we will discuss the most appropriate approach with you at the time of booking an appointment. Following an initial consultation, we will give our thoughts about the best way forward. If we decide that it will be helpful to see your child for regular therapy sessions, or to see you for ongoing parent consultation sessions, we will offer you time slots as appropriate, taking into account both of our schedules. Typically, each therapy session lasts 50 to 60 minutes, although it may be longer in some cases. The number and frequency of sessions will be reviewed throughout therapy, and there is no commitment required to attend a set number of sessions.
Fees
The fees per treatment session are detailed below and remain unchanged throughout treatment. From time to time an incremental increase in fees may be implemented, but this is not generally more often than once per year, with at least one month’s notice given for any planned increase. The fee should be settled with the therapist at each session by cash, cheque or direct bank transfer. Payment by bank card is possible with Dr Mandy also. Time taken for writing letters and reports and telephone consultations are charged at the standard hourly rate. Travel is charged at 50% of the standard hourly rate, and business mileage of 45 pence per mile.
Dr Mandy Smiton £140 per hour
Associate Psychologists £130 per hour
Coaching/ELSA £60 per hour
Please note that we are not able to accept funding via health insurance companies currently.
We ask that all fees are settled prior to any subsequent appointments. Dr Mandy & Associates will pass on any debts which remain outstanding for three months after the appointment date to a debt collector.
Cancellations
Clients are advised that, by booking an appointment, they are reserving the therapist’s time exclusively for their treatment. We are more than happy to change the time of an appointment, however we require at least 48 hours’ notice to do so. We will send an email reminder to you 48 hours prior to the session, therefore if there are any problems with the time, please do let us know straight away.
Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice will incur a charge of 100% of the total fee. Cancellation of Monday appointments must be given by 12pm on the Thursday before.
If you have a holiday or other arrangement coming up which interferes with our sessions, please give us as much notice as possible. We will do likewise, should we need to rearrange our schedule, and when we take annual leave. If we are unable to conduct the session for any reason, we will give you as much notice as possible.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is maintained throughout all of our work. There are, however, certain exceptional circumstances in which we have a legal or ethical obligation, which conflicts with client confidentiality. If this is the case, we will notify you where appropriate. Also, from time to time, we will seek consultation with a senior colleague, in accordance with British Psychological Society Professional Practice Guidelines on supervision. Your name and any other information which could identify you will not be revealed. Apart from these exceptions, we would always seek your permission before discussing any aspect of our work with anyone else.
Data Protection & Privacy
The information provided during psychological assessment or therapy sessions can, of course, be very sensitive. All therapists are registered with the Independent Commissioner’s Office, and all information held about you, electronically or otherwise, is treated according to General Data Protection Regulations.
During the course of therapy, the therapist may keep paper notes regarding the content of your sessions. If so, these will be kept securely at all times, and in a locked filing cabinet when not in use. Any electronic information will be saved in Cliniko, a clinical practice management system, which is compliant with General Data Protection Regulations.
Information is retained in line with Department of Health recommendations. Information on a child will be kept until their 25th birthday, or 26th if the young person was 17 at the conclusion of treatment, or 8 years after death. Therapy records of adult clients are retained for a period of 7 years, in accordance with the guidelines and requirements for record keeping by The British Psychological Society (2000), and The Health Care Professions Council (2017). An annual check is made, and clients’ data deleted once the time has lapsed.
For further information, please refer to our Privacy Policy which is on our website: https://www.drmandy.co.uk/privacy-policy/
Emergencies
If you find yourself in crisis and require urgent attention, you should approach your GP in the first instance, or the accident and emergency service at your local hospital. You may try to reach the therapist via Dr Mandy Smiton’s number as shown above, but we cannot guarantee that we will be available to pick up the message or respond.
Please feel free to raise any questions that you may have about these arrangements. We will be happy to discuss them with you.
Completion of the Registration Form, and attendance at a psychology appointment, constitutes agreement to these Terms, and our Privacy Policy.
Dr Mandy Smiton
DClinPsych
Health and Care Professionals Council: PYL 19659