Adult Service
Typically, you will have been referred to adult psychology services by your G.P or another member of the Primary Care team (such as the public health nurse)Usually, there is a waiting time for a 1:1 appointment with a psychologist. However, in the interim, you may be contacted by telephone to discuss your difficulties and to consider if some of our other services may be helpful.
When you meet on a 1:1 basis with a psychologist, this consultation will usually be carried out by two members of the team and may last up to two hours,usually with a short break. We appreciate that this may feel scary but people usually find that two heads are better than one for this first meeting.
During this meeting, we will ask questions about your current difficulties, how you cope, what has been helpful/unhelpful, supports available to you as well asother aspects of your life - past and present. This is to help us understand your difficulties as fully as possible and to try and begin to understand you as a whole person. We may also ask you to fill out some questionnaires. Following this, we will share our understanding of what you have told us, think together about what might be helpful to you and begin to make a plan.
This may include:
- Access to interventions that we offer (such as groups)
- Psycho-educational reading to support you in managing your difficulties
- Further 1:1 sessions for a limited period of time
- Referral to another service that may be more helpful to your needs
When you meet with a psychologist, we will:
- Listen carefully and take your problems seriously.
- Try and understand you and help you make sense of your difficulties.
- In most instances keep private what you share.
We will not:
- Read your mind - you choose what to tell your Psychologist
- Tell you what you should do or give you a magic cure
- Offer you counselling or suggest other things unless we believe that it is the most suitable option for you.
What to expect at the first session?
Usually, you will have talked to a psychologist on the phone to discuss your difficulties and to consider if some of our other services might be helpful.
The first face to face session is a consultation appointment, which is carried out by two members of the team and usually lasts up to two hours with a short break. We appreciate that this may feel scary but people usually find that two heads are better than one for this first meeting.
During this meeting, we will ask questions about your current difficulties, how you cope, what has been helpful/unhelpful, supports available to you as well as a brief exploration of other aspects of your life - past and present. This is to help us understand your difficulties as fully as possible and to try and begin to understand you as a whole person. We may also ask you to fill out some questionnaires.
Throughout first and subsequent appointments, we will listen carefully to you and take your problems seriously. We will try and understand you and help you make sense of your difficulties, rather than read your mind, tell you what you should do or give you a magic cure. We will not offer further sessions or interventions unless we believe that it is a suitable option to help you in managing your distress.
Confidentiality
It is important when seeing a psychologist to feel you are in a private, safe and trustworthy environment. There are some exceptions however to absolute confidentiality.
- Your psychologist will usually provide some feedback to the person who referred you -this can be discussed with you in advance
- Your psychologist will also be obliged to notify appropriate others if they feel that there is a risk to your own or others' safety. This is in order to seek the appropriate help or protection.
Finally, as we work as part of a wider primary care team, Psychologists may on occasion consult with other colleagues about your case. This will be done in such a way as to continue to protect your privacy.
Where are we?
The location of service provision may vary depending on the type of services being provided. Currently, services are provided from Loughlinstown Health Centre, Shankill and Dun Laoghaire.
