FAQ & Blog
FAQ
Here is a list of frequently asked questions to help you make your decision about whether I am the right therapist for you:
People seek therapy for all sorts of reasons. I believe that everyone should be entitled to support. You don’t require an official mental health diagnosis to attend therapy. I have worked with individuals who have sought therapy for general stress, transitional periods in life, wanting to understand themselves better, and working towards specific goals. That being said, therapy is the ideal place to process previous life events, access support during times of stress (such as a bereavement, breakup, or job loss), or have someone to talk to on a regular basis, because let’s be honest, how often do we actually have someone’s undivided attention for 50 minutes to talk about what is going on for us.
I practice using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person Centred Therapy (PCT), Attachment Theory. I am a relational, trauma informed therapist, which means I help my clients to build a secure therapeutic relationship with myself which enables deeper conversations, and more proactive positive change. I also work from a trauma informed framework, which means I understand and recognise that trauma can impact a persons neurological, psychological, emotional, social, and physical well-being.
Attachment Theory focuses on the attachments we form as a child with our primary care givers. Disruptions within our attachments (attachment disturbances), or childhood trauma can result in difficulties regulating our emotions, dealing with challenging life events, building secure and healthy relationships, and impacts how we feel about ourselves.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy looks at how our thoughts and emotions impact our behaviours. This might include looking at negative or intrusive thoughts, overwhelming emotions, or perceived problematic behaviours. CBT can be effective for a range of mental health difficulties and can improve your quality of life by building resilience and equipping you with helpful coping mechanisms.
Person Centred Therapy is the notion that YOU are the expert of your own experiences. I will never assume or infer I know exactly what you have been through. The relationship we build will help you to increase your self-awareness, and improve your ability to use self-direction to make desired changes, increasing clarity, improving self-esteem, and building on your self-resilience.
I have a BSc in Mental Health Psychology, and a MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is the equivalent of a Level 7.
Counselling and Psychotherapy is not currently a regulated profession within the UK, therefore you are entitled to ask any therapist about their qualifications and experience. A Level 4 requires a minimum of 100 practical hours, whereas a Level 7 requires 300. If you are wondering what type of therapy and level of qualification you would prefer your therapist to have, see my blog post on 'Finding the right type of therapy, and therapist, for you'.
The BACP stands for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and is a professional ethical body for counsellors and psychotherapists. I am a registered member which ensures I practice to a high standard of care, and follow a professional Ethical Framework.
My specialties include: Attachment Theory, including attachment wounds, adverse childhood experiences, relational difficulties, life traps, intergenerational trauma, maladaptive coping behaviours such as self-harm, thoughts about suicide, traumatic events, and complex emotional needs including personality disorders.
My specialties are all interlinked, and therefore also include other presenting difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
Adverse Childhood Experiences were first identified in the 1990’s, and explain how abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction can contribute to childhood adversity. Children who experience ACE’s often have insecure attachment styles or attachment wounds which impacts an individuals ability to cope with stressful life events, form healthy relationships, and are at higher risk for developing physical and mental health conditions. Children who have experiences ACE’s may be seen as anxious, or poorly behaved, when in reality, they lack a sense of safety and security with the world around them due to their needs not being effectively met during their upbringing.
Intergenerational trauma is a concept developed to better understand years of trauma that are passed down through generations. Parents that experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences as children are more likely to pass down their internal difficulties and coping behaviours onto their own children.
Attachment wounds or disturbances can create insecure attachments that affect mood and behaviour, and make it difficult to maintain relationships. It may also impact an individual’s sense of self, self- esteem or self-worth.
Schema’s, also known as Life Traps, are negative life patterns that begin when we are children or adolescents, which repeat themselves through our lives. They can be difficult to overcome, not least because they feel comfortable and familiar to us, and they are resistant to change. Schemas can lead to lifelong difficulties with psychological problems, including unsatisfactory relationships. A couple of examples of schemas include: fear of abandonment, failure, unrelenting standards, mistrust and abuse, and approval / recognition seeking.
The first session will be a consultation and assessment where you and I can get to know one another, clarify any questions, and explore your reasons for wanting therapy. I will ask questions about your previous experiences, interpersonal relationships, goals for therapy, and mental health history.
We will collaboratively work on a plan of what you would like to focus on in therapy, and the steps we might take to get there. I will ask whether you have any questions about the contract, policies and procedures, or the way that I work as a therapist.
We will then agree on a regular time and date to meet weekly should you want to continue, and I will email across a copy of our therapy agreement, payment information, and our weekly Microsoft Teams link.
People experience therapy in their own way, at their own pace. By exploring previous experiences, thoughts and behaviours in depth, you may feel more emotional to begin with. Progress can be measured in various ways, depending on your goals for therapy. We can measure your progress in a way that you will find supportive. I gently remind clients that to notice positive changes, therapy requires a commitment to yourself and to the process inside and outside of sessions.
Yes, therapy is confidential, however there are some circumstances in which confidentiality may be broken if I have concerns about yours or someone else’s immediate safety, or you are directly involved in criminal activity.
Anyone and everyone is entitled to access therapy should they wish. You don’t need a mental health diagnosis, or have to experienced trauma to seek support. I work with clients on goal setting, general stress, and working towards being the best version of themselves. You don’t need to have a specific ‘problem’ to come to therapy.
There is often an overlap between counselling and psychotherapy regulations within the UK, so in simple terms, psychotherapy is usually longer term and also focuses on the therapeutic relationship to help the client tackle any problems, whilst forming a secure, therapeutic relationship.
It is important to note that with psychotherapy not being a regulated profession currently within the UK, you are entitled to ask any therapist for proof of their qualifications and experience. Therapists in the private practice should have a minimum of a Level 4, with a minimum of 100 practice hours.
Yes. You are not required to continue with therapy should you feel it is no longer right for you. I do however strongly recommend having at least four sessions before stopping therapy, and I would be happy to discuss any concerns within our session.
Unlike therapy through the NHS, I do not have a limit on the amount of sessions a client can have. I have worked with people for a matter of months, to years. I support clients decisions to end therapy when it is right for them, take a break, and re-refer themselves to me after a period of time.
There are many reasons as to why therapists charge different amounts. This can depend on location, type of therapy, qualifications, and extra costs such as renting a room, continued professional development, supervision, and educational repayments.
Weekly sessions are recommended as it will allow us to build a therapeutic relationship, and ensure you feel safe to explore your emotions and previous experiences in depth. Weekly sessions will also allow consistency for you to see results and positive changes. Fortnightly sessions can be arranged upon request.
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Hannah Beech Psychotherapy
United Kingdom