RESOURCES YOU'LL NEED WHEN YOU FIRST MEET ME

BEFORE YOUR ASSESSMENT

For online clients only: Get ready for your video call by checking out your equipment

I will send you a guide on Preparing for your Video call Therapy Session. If you would like to know how to maximise the video call quality  I would suggest you plug into Ethernet. I can provide you with a guide to this also if you like.

For online and F2F clients: Complete the Client Details Form and Data Protection and data Privacy Consent Form which I will have emailed you.

AFTER ASSESSMENT

Read my policies and let me know if you have any questions about them

After your assessment and before therapy proper starts, read my Social Media and Communications policy and if we are recording your sessions for you to listen to as part of your homework, then read my Audio-Visual Recordings Policy which I can provide you with.

For online and F2F clients: Complete the Therapy Contract and Contract for Email and Phone Communications.

CBT RESOURCES

Thought record. This is a key CBT technique which you will find yourself using time and time again. I use this method myself when daily life gets 'a bit too challenging'! 

Download a copy here. This PDF won't allow you to edit it, but the handy aspect of it is that it has prompt questions if you get stuck.

Activity scheduling and behavioural activation

Monitoring and planning your daily activities can help you to improve your mood by enhancing a sense of achievement, enjoyment and closeness to others. 

Learn more about using activity to manage your mood and download resources here

Unhelpful thinking habits Click here to download a PDF of Unhelpful Thinking Habits

COMPASSION FOCUSED THERAPY AND MINDFULNESS RESOURCES

The Compassionate Mind Foundation led by Prof Paul Gilbert has a fantastic website with resources. www.compassionatemind.co.uk.

Listen to soothing rhythm breathing relaxation exercise

Kristin Neff is another major name in this field and has some great audio downloads and practices.

Listen to a 5 minute Self-Compassion break audio track

Listen to a 20 minute Loving-Kindness Meditation

Watch an inspirational 20 minute TED Talk here The Space Between Self-Esteem and Self-Compassion

Getselfhelp.co.uk also has some nice handouts and worklsheets. The Compassionate Mind model, including information about our 'Tricky brains', and the 'The Three Affect Regulation Systems' can be found here.

An excellent evolving list of mindfulness resources is provided by Willem Kuyken at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre.

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY RESOURCES

Getselfhelp.co.uk produces some excellent resources in CBT and other third wave aproaches like ACT. My favourite ACT resources are below

 Therapy metaphors. This includes metaphors such as 'Passengers on the Bus', The Beach Ball', 'The Playground Bully'. To download a copy of this colourful and engaging resources click here

 Defusing techniques such as STOP - Stop Step Back and Observe. Click here to read more.

RESOURCES FOR ONLINE THERAPISTS

Practical tips about setting up an online therapy practice:

I have set up a facebook group for therapists working online UK Online Psychology and Counselling. There is a wealth of information and tips on there.

I would also recommend listening to Clay Cokrell's Online Counselling podcast - you can see the list of his episodes or listen to them on iTunes here or on his New york-based practice here

For ethical guidance:

For the UK context there are to my knowledge only the BACP and BPS ones. The American Psychological Association have produced what I think are the best ones with the most detail.

Online therapy professional body and information on further training

The Association of Counselling and Therapy Online provide details of where to get extra training in online working.

Books

To get you started, see Pip Weitz's book 'Psychotherapy 2.0'

Please note that when you complete the forms above (Thought Record, Session Brdige Sheet, Helpful Aspects of Therapy Forms, Activity Schedule and Client Details Form).  I will get a copy which I will forward on to you.  If you a member of the public and not one of my patients then you need to bear in mind that I will not be able to forward on a copy of your answers. So while you are welcome to look at the forms i would not advise that you actually submit your information.  All forms are end-to-end encrypted and data housed in the EU and therefore should be safe to submit data through. Nonetheless, you use the form at your own risk as I cannot guarantee the 100% saftety of data transmission.