What We Do
1. Assessment & Formulation
Clinical psychologists generally approach therapy by collaboratively developing a formulation (sometimes known as a case conceptualisation): an individualised picture that helps both you and your psychologist understand and explain your presenting difficulties or problems.
The process of formulation will vary depending on the type of approach or therapy your psychologist is using. But essentially, formulation looks to build a description of the current difficulties; an account of why and how they may have developed; and an analysis of the key maintaining processes hypothesised to keep the problems going.
During assessment your psychologist will also be interested to understand your hopes and goals for attending therapy, so they can help to make therapy more meaningful to you and the life you live.
Formulation usually takes place over the course of the initial few sessions. It will be collaboratively built given you are the expert on your own life. You are unique, and you hold a unique view of your own situation and experiences which will be important to the development of your formulation. This process is underpinned by psychological theory and principles, and from it we can draw hypotheses about the direction of treatment and where we might prioritise our efforts.
At The Clinical Psychology Collective we often find that the process of assessment and formulation can be powerful and transformational tools for our clients. By understanding themselves and their difficulties better, people often experience feelings of normalisation and validation, and can feel more empowered and hopeful when considering making changes in their lives.
Whilst assessment and formulation are integral to individual therapy, it can also be a useful processes to support teams working with individuals where they may feel stuck as to how to help the individual, or what to do next. For more information see "Training & Consultation"
2. Psychological Therapy
Our collective of Clinical Psychologists offer a range of evidenced based, psychological therapies.
Therapy:
We understand the search for help can in itself be a confusing experience given the vast range of both therapists and therapies available. We can provide professional safe, and accessible psychological therapies with our caring, empathetic, and highly experienced Clinical Psychologists, all of whom are regulated by the HCPC. Our psychologists have extensive experience in delivering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Clinical psychologists are trained in multiple models of therapy and can, where needed, amalgamate and integrate principles and treatment techniques from multiple theoretical models, tailoring treatment to suit each individual's requirements. For interest, information is provided below on some of the psychological approaches that we use. However clients are not expected to 'know what they need'; your psychologist will work with you to decide the most suitable approach for your individual needs.
Workshops & Groups:
Here at the collective we can provide individual and couples therapy through a variety of modalities. We are also in the process of developing a number of online short groups and workshops. Sessions will include, but not be limited to mental health topics such as; ‘managing well with COVID anxiety’, ‘strategies to beat low mood.’, 'coping with stress' and 'improving sleep problems and insomnia'.
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CBT
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an ...
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and R...
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy is an intensive talking t...
DBT-informed
ACT
CAT-informed
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is an evid...
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy uses a...
Cognitive Analytic Therapy is a structur...
CFT
Mindfulness
Safety & Stabilisation
CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy) is an i...
Mindfulness is not a specific therapy in...
This is not a specific therapy in its ow...
3. Training and Consultation
Training & CPD (continued professional development):
We are currently developing a number of training sessions and workshops for health and social care staff and businesses. All our psychologists are highly experienced in delivering training and teaching across a wide range of clinical areas whether this be focused on working with specific mental health presentations, or utilising a certain therapeutic approach. We can also offer focused training in specialist clinical areas such as Stress and Distress in Dementia.
We understand the significant amount of change and uncertainty many have been faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions, and it is a particular passion of ours to make psychological therapy, supervision and training more widely accessible to individuals and businesses. Our training is designed to give you a strong theoretical understanding of psychological principles, but importantly how to utilise and apply this kind of learning in a practical sense in order to improve functioning and wellbeing,
We are passionate about taking complex and often emotive subjects and making them accessible to everyone. Whether you are a small or large business or organisation, a charity; school or local authority, whatever your requirements, we can recommend an existing training or create a bespoke package tailored to suit your needs.
Consultancy:
Consultancy refers to the provision of psychological advice and support to non-psychologists, or Allied Health Professions such as Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists. As a significant proportion of our NHS work involves supporting the teams around our patients, Clinical Psychologists are well placed to provide and advocate a psychological perspective. This can be beneficial by increasing understanding through psychological formulation; developing hypotheses of how to overcome any challenges within team relationships and functioning; and using this information to support team members and provide service development recommendations. Here at the Collective we offer bespoke online professional consultancy. Please enquire for further information.
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4. Professional Supervision
What is Supervision?
Here at the Collective, we strongly believe in the importance of regular and supportive clinical supervision. Clinical supervision is an ongoing, active, commitment between supervisor and supervisee ensuring the delivery of safe, high quality care; the monitoring and evaluation of practice and the upholding of standards of their respective professional bodies. Clinical supervision supports safe practice in a structured way through engagement in processes such as reflection, development of clinical competence and knowledge, and discussion around professional issues. Professional registration (HCPC) standards require Clinical Psychologists to engage in a minimum of one hour of supervision per month.
Our Approach:
Our clinicians offer a variety of approaches, and have extensive experience supervising a range of trainees, assistant psychologists and other health and social care professionals. We have accrued a wealth of experience treating a number of client difficulties and presentations, working with people across the lifespan and in a diverse range of specialist settings, both inpatient and in the community.
We approach clinical supervision in the same gentle, non-judgemental, supportive and professional way as we do our individual clinical work. We aims to provide a safe and open space for supervisee's to explore personal and professional responses to work; to encourage reflection, self and professional-development and to promote self-care.
We have all have received supervision training, and offer online clinical supervision to other psychological practitioners, such as CBT Therapists, Clinical and Counselling Psychologists, Trainee Therapists and Trainee Clinical and Counselling Psychologists. We can also offer supervision to other health and social work, or 'listening professionals'. Supervision arrangements can be one-off or regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly meetings; please contact to discuss your requirements.
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