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What to expect

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Assessment

The initial session will be an assessment session. During this time we will talk through your current difficulties and assess for suitability for CBT / EMDR and whether you feel it is for you. We will gain a better understanding of what is maintaining these difficulties, any relevant history, the impact they are having on your life and what you would like to get out of therapy (what you want to change). We will also begin to discuss what CBT / EMDR is and how it could help you. At the end of this session we will agree a treatment plan and you will be provided with written information on CBT / EMDR.

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 Homework 

An important part of the treatment is putting in to practice ideas and techniques discussed in the session in to the 'real world'. We refer to this as 'between session tasks' or 'homework', tasks will be discussed and agreed between us in session, this allows you to put into practice what you have learnt in session, we will then reflect on this together. This between session work can make a real difference to the success of your therapy.

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Follow up

Towards the end of treatment our sessions will begin to become more spaced out, following treatment completion a one month follow up session can be arranged. This increases your confidence in your ability to continue putting into practice any changes made and provides an opportunity to discuss any set backs.

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 If you have therapy:

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• You will usually meet with a therapist for between 5 and 20, weekly, or fortnightly sessions. Each session will last for 50 - 60 minutes although in certain circumstances longer sessions can be agreed.

• In the first sessions, the therapist will check that you can use this sort of treatment and you will check that you feel comfortable with it.

• The therapist will also ask you questions about your past life and background. Although sessions concentrate on the here and now, at times you may need to talk about the past to understand how it is affecting you now.

• You decide what you want to deal with in the short, medium and long term (set therapy goals).

• You and the therapist will usually start by agreeing on what to discuss that day.

• The strength of therapy is that you can continue to practise and develop your skills even after the sessions have finished. This makes it less likely that your symptoms or problems will return.

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