Service User
Information
Frequently Asked Questions
About Therapy
Is what I say in therapy kept confidential?
What happens in therapy is confidential. This is essential if
you and your therapist(s) are to trust each other. Your therapist
will also respect confidentiality, with the proviso that he/she
will discuss events from time to time with a small group of
colleagues for the purpose of supervision. Your therapist, however,
has a duty to inform your family doctor that you are receiving
treatment. There are uncommon limited situations when the therapist
must disclose therapy material elsewhere; the therapist will
discuss this with you first. This may be when someone's safety is
at risk, or to comply with the Children's Act.
What if I can't make it (e.g. on holiday,
sick)?
The therapist will give you good notice of planned breaks, and
you are asked to do likewise if you plan to be away. If you have to
be absent at short notice, you can leave a telephone message
between 9.00am and 4.45pm at Gaskell House reception on 0161 277
1120 and Macartney House reception on 0161 205 7555.
Can I attend another therapy elsewhere?
It is suggested that while you are in therapy, you do not attend
therapy sessions elsewhere. If attending Fifteen you can continue
with other therapies. However, involvement with more than one
therapy at the same time can seriously interfere with your
treatment. If you find yourself in this position you should discuss
it with your therapist.
Is it ok to continue with my regular medication (e.g.
antidepressants)?
The use of medication for psychological difficulties is not a
bar to psychotherapy treatment, although we discourage the use of
minor tranquillisers such as valium. It is important that you do
not stop any medication without discussing this with the GP or
psychiatrist supervising it. Your therapist will not supervise your
medication.
Are there childcare facilities on site while attending
therapy?
Unfortunately we do not have crèche facilities at Gaskell House
or Macartney House so if you have a baby or small child you will
have to arrange for someone to look after them. Because of the way
therapies work it is not usually possible to have your child in the
room with you during sessions.
Is there any risk/side effects of the therapy
offered?
With all talking treatments there is the risk that the therapy
may not benefit you or (more exceptionally) make you feel worse.
You may feel frustrated by the limited time available and the focus
on one or two areas. However this can be potentially helpful when
you feel overwhelmed by lots of difficulties. Choosing to
tackle one area of your life can increase your confidence, sense of
mastery and social network, which may 'spread out' to other areas
in your life.
What if I have a problem with alcohol and/or
drugs?
If you have significant difficulties with alcohol and/or drugs
which are going to interfere with your therapy we would suggest
addressing these difficulties prior to starting therapy by
contacting your GP and/or Community Alcohol and Drug services:
http://www.alcoholanddrugservices.org.uk/centres/manchester.html
Useful links to external agencies:
http://www.emergenceplus.org.uk/
(Emergenceplus is a national service user-led organisation
supporting all people affected by personality disorder including
service users, carers, family and friends and professionals)
http://www.fortysecondstreet.org.uk/index.html
(support for emotional well-being of young people between age 13-25
living in Manchester, Salford and Trafford providing a range of
services including counselling, individual support, group work and
volunteering opportunities)
http://www.turning-point.co.uk/Pages/home.aspx
(The UK's leading social care organisation offering a
person-centred approach to mental health treatment)
http://www.mind.org.uk/
(leading mental health charity in England/Wales helping people who
experience all types of mental distress)
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/problems/personalitydisorders/pd.aspx
(Royal College of Psychiatrists health info about Personality
Disorders with further useful links)
NICE (The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
provides guidance, sets quality standards and manages a national
database to improve people's health and prevent and treat ill
health)
Borderline personality disorder: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12125/42900/42900.pdf
Antisocial personality disorder:http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11765/42997/42997.PDF