Clear fees and a straightforward first step

What the suitability call is for

• A brief outline of the difficulty and what you would like to change.
• A check that the help you want is within my professional experience.
• Initial questions about format, availability, fees or assessment.
• A decision about whether to arrange an assessment or consider another route.

The call is not a clinical assessment and is not intended for crisis support. You do not need to tell me everything at this stage.

What happens at assessment?

Assessment gives us time to explore the current difficulty, relevant history, your goals and any medical or safety considerations. I will explain my initial understanding and whether I believe CBT with me is an appropriate option. If we agree to work together, we will discuss the likely structure and how progress will be reviewed.

I will be honest if your needs fall outside my competence or if a different service, practitioner or level of care appears more suitable.

Eating difficulties and medical care

Some eating difficulties can affect physical health even when somebody is not underweight. CBT does not replace medical assessment or monitoring. Depending on your circumstances, I may ask you to involve your GP or another health professional. I may recommend a different or more intensive service where private outpatient CBT would not be safe or sufficient.

Urgent help

Your CBT is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or somebody else is in immediate danger, call 999 or attend A&E.