What happens in a session?

What happens in a session?

The first session will involve discussions around the problems you would like help with and will be an opportunity to get to know the psychologist or counsellor to see if you would like to meet again.

After this initial session, you can agree whether to meet again, how often and for how many sessions. Sessions are typically an hour long, and people will normally be offered between 1 and 6. You may feel you need more session, or that you no longer require this support after the first one. You can choose to stop seeing the psychologist or counsellor at any time by letting them know. 

Confidentiality

Your psychologist or counsellor will make a brief record of your sessions in your electronic notes and will send a letter back to the person who referred you after the first and last session. These letters will be saved on our computer system. These can be seen by the other health professionals that you see within Wales, including your GP (General Practitioner). However, this is on a “need to know basis.” The aim of this is to let them know we are working together and to improve the care and support you receive from us.

If there is any information you do not want your psychologist or counsellor to share, then please say so. The only exception is when they are concerned that some harm is going to come to you or somebody else, or if they feel a child or vulnerable adult is at risk. Under these circumstances they would have a duty of care to share this information with the relevant people (i.e., your GP). They would talk with you about the best way to do this for you.

You can also ask to have a copy of all letters written about you.