No – you are not required to ask your doctor/GP to refer you to Dean Richardson for private counselling.
As a BACP Accredited counsellor/psychotherapist with his own private practice in Portsmouth (Hampshire) and via video conference through Skype, Dean is fully qualified and experienced to work with individuals, couples and groups.
Dean offers individual the following services:-
- one-on-one personal counselling (read more…)
- couple relationship counselling (read more…)
- support groups (read more…)
… all are in his private practice in Portsmouth & Southsea and online through the Internet via Skype video conference.
You can make your own appointment for counselling to discuss your options for counselling with Dean Richardson – you do not need to seek a referral by your GP (general practitioner / doctor) and your doctor is not automatically informed of any decision you make to enter counselling.
Dean is qualified to make his own judgements & recommendations to you on suitability for counselling through a process called the “counselling assessment”. This assessment session is a 50 minute appointment for individuals (or individuals wishing to join a therapy group), and 4×50 minute sessions for couples. What you need from counselling will be discussed to help you identify the focus for counselling work before any counselling begins (although many find the assessment process therapeutic too).
If counselling may not be a suitable therapy for you (or your partner when considering couple relationship counselling) other options can be discussed including referrals to therapies and therapists who may be more appropriate for your needs.