Question 1

What will the sessions look like?

Accepted Answer

We begin our first session by developing a shared understanding of your problems.  This is called the assessment phase and it is where I will spend time getting to know your difficulties, needs and what you would like to achieve.  I am interested in hearing about what brought you to therapy, what your current difficulties are, how your difficulties have developed over time and any patterns that you may have noticed in how you relate to other people and how you cope with difficulties.  This time allows me to really get to know you, including hearing about your strengths and your values as a person and not just your difficulties.  From here therapy is tailored to your needs and we will work on your treatment goals so that they are achieved in a meaningful way.  Sessions last between 50- 60 minutes and are delivered online and there is no obligation to engage in therapy after the assessment period.

Question 2

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

The number of sessions will depend on the issues you would like to discuss and resolve, taking into account your unique circumstance and needs. It is also dependent on the type of therapy approach you choose to engage with, for example CBT is designed to be a shorter term therapy which can last between 6-20 or more sessions. Other forms of therapy such as Schema Therapy tend to be longer term, but we will regularly review the process. Often, once therapy starts new issues can arise that you perhaps may not have been aware of that you then want to explore further, it is also possible that you may see an improvement faster than you expected.

Question 3

How frequent are the sessions?

Accepted Answer

I offer sessions on a weekly basis, and I keep sessions scheduled for the same time and day each week.  Depending on your needs and how therapy progresses this may decrease to having sessions every two weeks or once a month.

Question 4

What are your fees?

Accepted Answer

I offer a standard 15-minute consultation by telephone or zoom without charge to talk about your main difficulties and what you are seeking and how I can help you, if you decide to go ahead with sessions we can arrange this afterwards.

My standard fee is £150 per session. If you are paying for your session yourself, I ask that the fee is paid prior to the session and no later than the close of day your session is scheduled for.  Payments are made via bank transfer unless you are funding through insurance.

If you are paying via your health insurance provider, I will invoice them directly.  I am a health approved therapist for the following health insurance providers: Aviva, Bupa, Bupa Global, Cigna, Healix, Vitality, and WPA.  Please get in touch with your insurer regarding a referral.

Question 5

Are our sessions completely confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anything you say is kept within the safety of our sessions.  All Clinical Psychologists are required to have regular supervision to maintain high standards and to ensure that our practice is safe, effective and reflective. I may discuss our work with a qualified Clinical Psychologist Supervisor, however, no names or identifying details will be shared.

There are legal exceptions where I may need to be break confidentiality without your permission.  However, I will always be open and honest with you and discuss this in advance.

These include:
• Your Safety:
* You have given me reason to believe you are going to take your life or seriously injure yourself.
* If you have become incapacitated and are unable to communicate consent for yourself, in a situation of extreme emotional 
   distress or you are in physical danger and I need to get you help.
• Public Interest:
 *Disclosure of information about child abuse.
 *Risk of serious injury or harm to someone else.
 *Act of terrorism or serious crime or miscarriage of justice.

All emails you send to me are end-to-end encrypted and securely password protected using Proton Mail who are GDPR compliant.  Proton Mail does not have access to the contents of emails via their servers due to their zero-access encryption.   Emails will be accessible from devices which are all password protected.

​I will take paper notes during the session or go through worksheets/questionnaires with you. Your name will not be put on these documents. If there are any documents that need to be kept, they will be scanned and uploaded to your secure notes. Any paper notes from the session will be destroyed.

Your contact details, assessment information and subsequent notes from sessions will be kept on GDPR compliant and securely password protected software called WriteUpp. Your information is securely stored on their cloud and not downloaded to any of my computers or devices.

You have a right to access any of the data I keep about you and requests will be responded to within 30 days without charge.

Question 6

Why might I choose a Clinical Psychologist over another type of therapist?

Accepted Answer

When you choose to work with me, you’re choosing a professional with doctoral-level training (DClinPsy) and extensive experience in understanding how people think, feel, and behave. As a Clinical Psychologist, I’m trained to help with the full spectrum of emotional and psychological difficulties — from everyday stress and anxiety to more complex challenges such as trauma or long-standing patterns of distress.

What makes my approach different from other types of therapists is the depth and breadth of my training. I’m highly qualified to draw on a range of evidence-based therapies across our lifespan that have been scientifically proven to be effective, not on opinions or trends.  This means the support you receive is not only caring and collaborative, but also firmly grounded in research and clinical expertise.

A key part of how I work is developing a psychological formulation together — a shared understanding of why your difficulties have developed and what keeps them going. This allows me to tailor therapy specifically to your needs in a personalised treatment plan, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

By choosing me as your Clinical Psychologist, you can feel confident that your care is evidence-based, highly specialised, and built around a deep understanding of you — helping you move toward real and lasting change.

Question 7

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes - research has shown that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for many people who are experiencing a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and relationship challenges.

Many people find online therapy provides greater flexibility and comfort, allowing them to engage in sessions from home or another private space, saving travel time, and making therapy easier to fit into daily life. Ultimately, what makes therapy effective is the quality of the therapeutic relationship and the use of evidence-based methods — both of which can be fully achieved online with me as your psychologist.

Dr. Michelle Fong
Clinical Psychologist
Certified Advanced Schema Therapist
CPsychol, PsychD, AFBPsS

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