Formulation

Understanding Yourself: Exploration through Psychological Formulation

We will explore together what factors in your past and present may be contributing to / maintaining your difficulties, This can be in terms of specific experiences / circumstances you have faced in your life, and also in terms of the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that can maintain distress.

In practice, this usually involves us asking questions relating to your current experiences, for example are there any particular thoughts / images that are bothering you? How are you feeling currently in terms of your emotional wellbeing? Sad, angry, anxious, ashamed, empty, confused or content? Are you engaging in any actions that are getting in the way of you reaching your goals, e.g. using substances in a way that feels unhelpful to you, not getting enough sleep, avoiding certain tasks, and/or have you moved away from any activities that previously gave you joy / contentment? These questions help us to build a picture of the links between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours that may be keeping your difficulties going, so that we can hopefully identify possible areas for change and improvement.

We will usually also ask questions about your earlier experiences, as our childhood / early adulthood experiences, both positive and negative, can act as a blueprint for how we understand ourselves, other people and the world in general. Often, links can be found between our early experiences and current functioning.

Formulation is a constantly evolving process as we unearth new information together, and will be carried out at your own pace. There is no pressure to tell your psychologist everything that is important to you in the first appointment; we understand that some things are difficult for many people to talk about, and whilst we are absolutely open to hear these things, we also want you to feel safe and supported in this process and that you have control of your own story and experience.

Once we have a good understanding of what might be causing and maintaining distress, we can then think together about possible strategies to alleviate this. Formulation also considers the strengths and values that you can draw on to help you to achieve your goals.

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 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.

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

Calendar

Location: 24 The Cross, Beith, KA15 1BS

Phone: 07547 910 781

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