Dr Rachel Seymour - Qualifications

Psychological therapy with a clinical psychologist can be broken down into four main stages:

• Assessment and initial consultation is the gathering of relevant information, building a safe therapeutic relationship, identifying problems and therapy goals;

•  Collaborative formulation (a way of understanding and explaining your difficulties) where we develop a bespoke map/diagram/or ways of understanding what factors have contributed to your difficulties; what has triggered problems; what keeps them going; and what strengths you have that we can use and build on in therapy. The ability to formulate problems is a unique skill that clinical (and counselling) psychologists have;

• The change phase during which I  recommend and introduce interventions strategies. My recommendations will be informed by the formulation, your goals, and evidence-based and researched interventions. The approaches used will be designed to help you overcome difficulties and respond more effectively and healthily; we will also identify, understand and work through any barriers and blocks that can emerge in therapy; and

• Ending therapy and follow-up as you learn about and build confidence in meeting your needs and restoring yourself we will plan ending our working relationship and how to maintain progress and stay well. We can also process whatever may come up around this phase of therapy. At this stage, sessions are scheduled less frequently with the opportunity for follow-up sessions or ‘booster’ consultations (if required) which allows you the space to build confidence and independence with support, if needed.