Frequently Asked Questions

How many sessions will I need?

The length of therapy depends wholly on the problems you’re experiencing and what you’d like the outcome(s) of therapy to be. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines provide recommendations for the number of treatment sessions for specific difficulties. We work with people on a weekly basis for as few as 6 sessions to as many as 60 or more. The goal is neither to rush therapy nor to keep you in therapy for longer than you should be or like. Once we know more about your history and current circumstances, we’ll be able to give you a better idea of how many sessions you might need.

How do I get to The Changing Rooms where your therapy room is?

Please visit: https://growingsudley.com/contact-us and scroll to the bottom of the page for information on travelling to us via car, bike, on foot and public transport. Please do not send questions relating to therapy or consultation to their contact form.

What does 'evidence-based' mean?

Whilst there are lots of different types of therapies out there for people to choose from, only a select few are actually backed up by strong scientific research. Therapies that are ‘evidence-based’ have been rigorously tested and found to be effective in reducing symptoms. We offer an integrative approach which, depending on your specific difficulties, may mean using techniques from two or more evidence-based therapies together in order to achieve the best outcomes.

Do you accept private health insurance?

We work with the following private health insurance companies: Aviva and Vitality.

In-person vs. online therapy - is one better than the other?

Online therapy has become the preferred medium for some clients. It allows you to choose a safe and comfortable space to have your therapy sessions from, and of course it eliminates a commute. All the therapies we use can be delivered as effectively online as they can be in person. However, online therapy will not be appropriate for everyone, and we will seek to determine your suitability for online therapy during our initial conversation.

What does a therapy session look like?

Our sessions are really your sessions and so we tend not to introduce too much structure, unless this is something you’d prefer. As a loose guide, we will usually start by reviewing your week and any difficulties that may have arisen. We will always be working towards your goals in each session. Depending on your individual treatment plan we may suggest doing some out of session work to help work towards your goal.

Who do I contact in an emergency?

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and are unable to keep yourself safe, call 999.

What should I do if I feel distressed between therapy sessions?

There are a number of services in Liverpool that are able to support you if you feel distressed:

NHS 111 - For urgent mental health guidance in the UK, call 111 and select the mental health option, or use the NHS 111 online service to speak with trained professionals who can offer advice, direct you to crisis support, community services, or even arrange face-to-face help, available 24/7 for all ages.

Your GP
Shout (text crisis service): 85258
Samaritans: 116 123
Your local NHS crisis service

Please do not email The Liverpool Psychology Clinic if you need immediate support.

How do I pay for my therapy sessions?

We use an online diary called ‘Zanda’ to book your appointment and then we send you an invoice. Stripe is another service we use to receive payments from clients.

Zanda and Stripe work together to make paying for your appointments easy and secure. When you book an appointment or receive an invoice, your payment is handled using Stripe’s secure checkout. You will receive a payment link via email where you can enter your card details on Stripe’s secure payment page.

Stripe then processes the payment safely and automatically records your payment and issues a receipt.

Your card details are never stored by The Liverpool Psychology Clinic and all payments are handled directly by Stripe using trusted security standards used by banks and large online businesses.

This means you get a smooth secure payment experience without extra steps or follow up emails.

How do I book a session?

You can book by filling out the contact form or emailing directly. We offer a free 15-minute consultation to explore whether working together feels like a good fit.

What’s your cancellation policy?

We kindly ask for at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Sessions cancelled with less notice may be charged in full.

Can I have a one-off session or consultation?

Yes. While most people benefit from ongoing sessions, one-off consultations can be useful for clarity, guidance, or decision-making around a particular issue.

Do you offer reports or letters for third parties?

Yes, we routinely write reports or letters for third parties (e.g. legal, occupational, benefits assessments). If you have a specific request, we can discuss whether it’s possible. Please note, any liaison or consultation with other teams, schools or writing letters and referrals will be charged at £130 per hour, reflecting the time spent on this work.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes – everything you share in therapy is treated with strict confidentiality. This means we will not share information about you without your consent.

There are a few important exceptions where we may need to break confidentiality:

If we believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm
If we are legally required to disclose information (e.g. court order, safeguarding concerns)
If there are concerns related to terrorism, money laundering, or serious crime

In all other situations, we will only share information (e.g. with your GP or other professionals) with your full knowledge and consent. These details will be discussed during your initial session, and you are welcome to ask questions at any time.

Your privacy is very important to us, and we follow all relevant professional, legal, and data protection guidelines. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Personal data is handled lawfully, securely, and in line with current data protection requirements. Please view our privacy policy to see how we store your data.

What if my needs fall outside the scope of your practice?

If your needs are best met by another service or specialist, we will raise this with you as soon as possible and offer signposting where appropriate. Our priority is making sure you receive support that is safe, appropriate, and genuinely helpful.

Can you support me if I’m in crisis or at high risk?

If you are currently facing an urgent situation or there is a significant risk to yourself or others, this service may not be the right level of support. We do not provide emergency or crisis intervention and we are unable to offer ongoing input where immediate or intensive care is required.

If you have any further questions, please contact us.