Terms of Service
Thank you for choosing the Independent Psychology Service. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about our terms of service and approach.
1. How will you find me a therapist?
The process begins with an assessment by a Senior Clinical Psychologist, who will work with you to understand what might be going on and recommend the right kind of therapy. From there, we’ll carefully match you with a therapist in the IPS network whose approach, expertise, and location best fit your needs.
It is important that you feel comfortable with your therapist. If something doesn’t feel quite right, we encourage you to talk it through with them as this can be a valuable part of the process. If it still doesn’t feel like the right fit, please reach out to your assessing psychologist who will explore other options with you.
2. What does the assessment involve?
Your initial assessment appointment will last 50 minutes. We can offer online as well as face to face appointments. When booking your appointment online please select the appointment which reflects your preference.
3. How do I pay for my assessment appointments?
You can pay for your assessment online when booking your appointment. After your payment is processed, you will receive a confirmation email securing your appointment. Please note that we do not accept medical health insurance for the assessment session.
4. How do I cancel an appointment?
If you need to cancel your appointment, please email us as soon as possible so we can help you reschedule in good time. We kindly ask for at least 48 working hours’ notice (excluding weekends) to make any changes, as a member of our team has set aside time and resources for your session. Unfortunately, cancellations made within 48 hours of the appointment will be charged in full.
5. What if you do not find me an appropriate therapist?
We do our very best to match you with a therapist who suits your needs and preferences and will endeavor to offer an alternative if the fit doesn’t feel right. If you decide not to continue with an IPS therapist after the assessment session, please note that we are unable to offer refunds. Our team is dedicated to providing a careful and considered matching process, and we appreciate your understanding of the time and professional resources involved.
6. Can I pay through insurance?
All initial assessments are self funded and payable directly to IPS. If you are covered by private insurance we would endeavor to find you a therapist that is registered with your insurance company. However these spaces are limited, and therefore they may not be in your preferred location or have your preferred time available immediately. Some therapists require clients to ‘top up’ the insurance fees. We will discuss your preferences for fees and/or insurance arrangements in the assessment session to ensure that the therapist we refer you to suits your circumstances.
7. Will anyone need to know I’m coming to see you?
Our service is confidential, and we are committed to protecting your privacy in line with our ethical guidelines. There may be rare circumstances where we are legally required to share information, specifically if we are concerned about your safety or the safety of someone else. In such situations, we will always aim to speak with you first where possible and work together on a plan to keep you and others safe. This may include involving trusted people from your network, such as the next of kin you provided in your consultation form, or other relevant services. Your wellbeing is our priority, and any steps taken will be thoughtful, respectful, and in your best interest.
8. What happens if I would like you to share information with my GP, workplace, family or others?
This is no problem. We have a data sharing request form which we would ask you to complete before we did this. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
9. What will happen after my initial assessment?
Following your initial assessment we will be in touch with you with details of the recommended IPS therapist. You will then be able to arrange your sessions directly with them at a time that works for you. If you ever need to cancel or reschedule, please reach out to your therapist directly. They will also provide you with details about payment options and any other practical information you might need.
10. If I am a parent of a young person (under the age of 16) and I want to arrange therapy for them, will I know what’s happening and how they’re getting on with therapy afterwards?
All therapy sessions are confidential, regardless of the client’s age. However, when working with young people, we recognise how important it is for parents or carers to be involved in a supportive and appropriate way. Parents often play a key role in their child’s progress and recovery.
Every family is different, but we usually recommend that one or both parents attend the initial assessment and stay for as much of it as they and their child feel comfortable with.
Once therapy begins, it’s common practice for a parent to join the final 10 minutes of each session to hear brief feedback. This feedback is always agreed upon in advance with the young person to ensure their sense of trust and confidentiality is respected.
11. What about my personal data?
We are GDPR compliant and registered with the ICO. Please refer to our privacy policy on our website with regards to how we manage your personal data.
12. How can I give feedback on how my therapy is going?
We really value your experience of our service and welcome any feedback you have for us, either of the initial assessment process or the ongoing therapy you have. We will routinely send out feedback forms and encourage you to return them to help us in improving our services.
If you have a complaint, we will try to resolve this with you. We welcome feedback as it allows us to improve the service that we can offer to you and others. If, however, you wish to make a formal complaint about the service you will be able to do this by contacting us on support@ipstherapy.co.uk.