Assessment and Formulation

Your first appointment

Those who approach us for therapeutic support will first be offered an initial assessment and formulation appointment. This will be one hour and fifteen minutes long. The purpose is to get an understanding of you and how we can help.

Some of the things we may ask you about...

As well as finding out about the difficulty you are having which has brought you to therapy, we may ask questions about:

Your personal and family history
Your current circumstances
Previous intervention, support or access to services
Your strengths and skills
Medical history and physical health
Your goals

We may also ask you to complete some mental health questionnaires. Some of these questionnaires may indicate whether or not you have a specific mental health difficulty and how significant or severe it may be. Other questionnaires may help you to track progress in treatment.

Formulation

When we have gathered this information, we will work together to create a formulation of your current difficulties. A psychological formulation is a bit like a map - it helps us to understand how your difficulties may link to your circumstances and experiences. We can explore how difficulties develop and are maintained. A formulation also helps us think about how we can create change in line with your goals.

Do we offer assessment and formulation without therapy?

We understand that some clients are seeking an assessment only. We are able to offer one-off assessment sessions without proceeding with therapy. Also, clients are under no obligation to accept any therapy offered if they are unsure whether this will benefit them.

If you would like a written report evidencing an assessment, this is subject to an additional charge. See our fees page for more details.

We do not diagnose neurodevelopmental conditions, such as ADHD or Autism, through our assessment process. If we suspect that a neurodevelopmental condition may underlie your difficulties, we may suggest you seek a comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment elsewhere. This could be in addition to therapeutic support from ourselves.

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