Making the decision to seek help is brave and so important. It’s the first stage in making life more comfortable for you or your child. Seeing it through is the next milestone. From then on, the process of talking and finding solutions is a shared experience and, hopefully, one that will bring relief and resolution.
Making an appointment and actually ‘seeing someone’, especially if it’s the first time and something quite new, is likely to make most of us a little anxious. I wanted to help the process by letting you know how it works and what to expect. I don’t know if a blog can reassure but, as the person behind the blog, I really want to do that!
“Zoe took the time to listen, to understand me and how I was thinking. It took a few sessions but we gradually made progress to the point that my life is much easier, certainly positive and I could start to do the things I had been missing out on for so long”
Am I right for you?
The first stage is contact – email me and we’ll arrange an initial phone call. This is when we can have a chat and arrange to meet.
Our first meeting can be in person or online via Zoom/Teams – whatever you prefer.
We can sit and chat or we can meet up to walk and talk. With children and young people especially this is quite a popular option. Being in nature and engaging in simple games and tasks is a great way to help your child relax. I have access to some great outdoor settings where we can talk privately.
What’s my location?
I am based in a little village called Alrewas which is in between Lichfield and Burton upon Trent. It’s very handy as it’s central and means I can work with people all over the Midlands and South Staffordshire area. I do travel to appointments and have clients as far as Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Birmingham. If you’re unsure, just ask and I am sure we can organise something that works well.
Who I am and what I do?
Very broadly I am here to help adults, young people and children who face any kind of mental health issues. I’m a Clinical Psychologist which means I am qualified to listen understand and work with you to find ways to make life easier and more comfortable.
I am qualified to assess, diagnose and support autistic spectrum disorder and ADHD. I also work with those who are struggling with a wide range of anxiety difficulties such as generalised anxiety and phobias. Often I am here to take the time to help young people and adults who struggling with depression. In addition, I have a wide interest and experience supporting women’s mental health. In particular, mental health during the peri-menopausal and menopausal stages of life.
For the full picture, have a look through my website (including the resources section and blogs) as this will tell you more about my qualifications (link) and what I do (link). Again, if you’re not sure, please ask – I am here to help, it’s what I do.
What happens at the first appointment?
When we meet, we’ll chat and I’ll find out more about you. It’s a very gentle process and we’ll establish a few facts and then start to explore the issues you are facing. At this point I can give an indication of how I expect the next stages to work out. I’ll outline my approach and you can decide whether this is for you. And indeed, if I am right for you.
And that’s it!
My office environment is above a coffee shop in our village. It’s quiet and private and I’ve made sure it feels like the kind of environment where my clients feel welcome, safe and relaxed. Every meeting and approach to treatment is unique of course but they tend to follow this kind of starting point. And an essential thing to know – everything we talk about is strictly confidential and stays between us – that’s part of my professional ethics and my commitment to you.
I hope this helps to allay any worries and helps you to take the next, brave step of making contact.
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