Assessment
Psychological Assessment: Gaining an understanding of your strengths, difficulties & goals
Our Psychological Assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of your psychological wellbeing. We will discuss what you are hoping to work on in therapy, and explore how your difficulties may be impacting your wider wellbeing.
In practice, this usually involves us asking questions relating to many important areas including your sleep, appetite, relationships, hobbies, work / academic life, physical health and mental wellbeing to build a comprehensive picture of how things are for you at present. We will also ask if you feel that there are any risks to your wellbeing / anything that you are particularly worried about at the moment.
During the assessment stage, we are also interested to hear about your personal strengths and values, and to reflect together on how these could be drawn upon to help you benefit the most from therapy. This stage usually takes 1-2 appointments, after which we will make a collaborative plan for treatment.
We do not routinely offer reports following assessment (unless there was information we felt important to convey to another health professional, usually your GP with your consent), however can in some instances provide written reports for a fee which would be discussed on a case by case basis. We are unfortunately not in a position offer Medico-Legal reports.
Fees
Sessions are 55 minutes in duration. Fees are £110 per session for telephone or zoom therapy, and £120 per session for face-to face therapy. Occasionally we offer sessions to a client and a person in their support network, for example a partner, friend, or parent, and in these circumstances a 90 minute session may be indicated; this would be charged at £150. Fees must be paid by bank transfer 24 hours prior to the start of an appointment.
Dr Harriet Hockaday is also registered with AXA, Bupa and Vitality Health and can usually bill these insurers directly for appointments. Dr Craig Mackay is also registered with AXA.
The three stages of the therapeutic process:
1. Psychological Assessment: Understanding your needs
Our comprehensive psychological assessments help us gain a deep understanding of your unique needs, strengths, and challenges, allowing us to develop personalised treatment plans.
2. Psychological Formulation: Uncovering causes and maintaining factors of distress
Through psychological formulation, we work collaboratively with you to uncover the underlying factors contributing to your difficulties, helping us tailor our therapeutic approach.
3. Psychological Therapy: Empowering you to thrive
Our evidence-based psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy provide you with the tools, support, and guidance you need to overcome challenges, build resilience, and achieve personal growth.
Comprehensive Psychological Therapy Tailored to Your Needs
Dr Harriet Hockaday, Clinical Psychologist and Lead Clinician at North Ayrshire Psychology
At North Ayrshire Psychology, we offer a range of evidence-based psychological therapies to help you to gain insight into your difficulties, overcome challenges in your life, make progress towards your own personal goals, and improve your overall well-being. We offer face to face appointments in comfortable surroundings in Beith, North Ayrshire, and remote appointments using Zoom or telephone.
Testimonials
As someone who suffers with severe OCD, perfectionism, depression and possible ADHD my journey with Mental Health has been far from straightforward. When I initially attended North Ayrshire Psychology I was at my wits end, I didn’t see any possible way out as my OCD was so bad. Harriet has been very empathetic, she has helped me to learn to be more compassionate towards myself and to act more like a co-therapist towards myself meaning in my difficult days I can manage them more easily. I’m excited to continue on my journey with her. For anyone out there’s who’s struggling with Mental Health I definitely recommend Harriet at North Ayrshire Psychology, she’s fantastic Thanks again.
Mr S
Remembering how I felt when I first met Harriet. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I was sceptical in how I thought our sessions would go, but knew I needed the support. Very quickly, Harriet put me at ease. It soon became clear that she had the compassion and understanding I needed to work through an extremely difficult time in my life. All my old feelings of vulnerability and poor self-worth had resurfaced. We met weekly in the beginning over Zoom and, as time went on and I became stronger, our meetings were in person every 4 to 6 weeks. All this happened at my pace when I felt ready. Harriet was able to help me see that I was worthwhile and worthy of kindness from myself and others and for that, I will always be grateful.
Mrs M
Popular Questions
What types of therapy do you offer?
I offer evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).
Do you provide online sessions?
Yes, I offer online and telephone-based therapy for adults across the UK, as well as face-to-face appointments in Beith, North Ayrshire.
What issues can you help with?
I can help with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, grief, panic, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, PTSD, and complex trauma.
How long are the therapy sessions?
Therapy sessions are typically 55 minutes long. I also offer a free 15-minute initial telephone consultation to discuss your needs and goals.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes, I'm registered with AXA, Bupa, and Vitality Health as well as working with self-funding clients.
What are your qualifications?
I'm a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in NHS mental health services. I engage in regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development to ensure the quality and safety of services provided.
My qualifications are as follows:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), University of Edinburgh
Master of Science (MSc) in Health Psychology, University of Stirling
Master of Arts (MA Hons) in Psychology & History, University of Glasgow
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