What to expect in therapy

What is psychological therapy?

Psychological therapy supports us to consider how our feelings, thoughts and actions interact and affect day-to-day activity. It creates a space to understand and reduce distress through evidence-based strategies and skills to enhance wellbeing and improve quality of life.

“If we give unpleasant feelings enough space, they no longer stretch us or strain us”

– Russ Harris

 “Growth occurs when individuals confront problems, struggle to master them, and through that struggle develop new aspects of their skills, capacities, views about life”

– Carl Rogers

Starting therapy

Therapy can take many different forms, including individual therapy and group workshops.

There are many therapeutic models and approaches including:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Schema Therapy
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Trauma-Informed Therapy

PTS practitioners will use clinical guidelines created by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), alongside service protocols, research, and their experience to implement an approach that compliments your current difficulties, strengths and goals.

Therapy can be a demanding yet beneficial process. It requires you to reflect on your experiences, emotions, behaviours and goals. It may take some time before you start to notice positive change therefore, it is important to openly discuss expectations with your therapist.

Roles and responsibilities within psychological therapy

Therapy is an ongoing process of active participation and collaboration between a therapist and attendee. Below are common expectations within the therapeutic relationship which support beneficial outcomes.

Therapist

• To work collaboratively with the attendee
• To listen and build a trusting relationship
• To monitor progress and support engagement with therapy
• To provide education on psychological theory and wellbeing
• To deliver appropriate evidence-based interventions
• To use supervision to provide quality care

Attendee

• To engage with the therapist
• To attend planned appointments
• To highlight any barriers to participation with therapy
• To complete tasks which support improved wellbeing

What are the stages of psychological therapy?

Psychological therapy involves four key activities. Below are the main stages of therapy which continue throughout the journey.

1. Assessment: Involves information gathering on an individual’s circumstance
2. Formulation: Involves creating a map which explains how different factors may lead to and maintain distress
3. Intervention: Involves planning tasks and practicing methods to minimise distress and enhance wellbeing
4. Review: Acknowledges the challenges encountered and the progress made throughout therapy

Psychological assessment

Before starting therapy, assessments will be carried out between you and PTS staff to learn more about your experiences, challenges, strengths and goals. This stage in the therapy process involves questions which encourage you to share what life has been like, what supports you have in place, the methods which you find helpful for wellbeing, and what your hopes are for therapy. Some explains follow…

• How are you feeling?
• How does your mental health impact your day-to-day life?
• What triggers have you noticed?
• What would you like to be different?
• What coping strategies do you use?

Therapists will share more information about the service, what supports are available in the community, and will involve you in a shared-decision making process regarding your treatment- this means that you will play an active role in the decisions made around your care.

Confidentiality

When engaging with our service, you will receive a ‘POPI: Processing of Personal Information’ leaflet, which outlines how the Trust manages the information you share. The information you provide is treated respectfully, and protected in a secure manner within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.   What you share will be kept between you, and those involved in your care as confidentiality is important to build a trusting relationship during therapy.

There are exceptions to confidentiality in cases where crime is disclosed or safety concerns arise for you or someone else.  We encourage you to read the POPI leaflet and speak to your therapist about any concerns regarding confidentiality.

How does therapy end?

Ending therapy can be challenging for both the therapist and attendee, many feelings may arise such as achievement, confidence, relief, or a sense of loss. Before ending therapy, your therapist will help you to think about next steps, how you may maintain gains and continue to progress after therapy. This process may include signposting to other services and supports in the community, the PTS peer support group, or service user involvement groups.

We hope you have experienced improvements and have developed skills to cope with your difficulties and manage mental health, however, in certain circumstances discharge from the PTS is not planned and may be due to nonattendance or drop out.

 Urgent help 

Emergency contacts