Your Recovery Journey

Your recovery journey

Taking the first step on your road to recovery is not easy. You can feel vulnerable and frightened about where you are now and what may lie ahead. It is important not to look too far into the future or you can risk feeling overwhelmed. We break the journey into small, manageable steps. Just by looking at this website you have already taken your first stride and I hope that I can help guide you through the rest of that journey.

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1. Getting an appointment

First you need to decide whether you want to involve your doctor and seek a referral from them, be they private or NHS. If you have private health insurance you should check to see if you are covered: there may be exclusions. If you do not want your GP involved, although this would be preferable to enable me to build a clearer picture of your situation, you can contact the clinic directly for an appointment. Alternatively, if you are uncomfortable making the call yourself then it is perfectly fine for a friend or relative to call the clinic to book the appointment for you.

2. Your first appointment

This will usually be 60-90 minutes long. During this time, I will listen to you talk about your concerns and what has brought you to me. I will ask you quite a lot of questions about your current general health, your family history and your medical history. All this will help me understand your whole story and build a clear picture of what is going on, which in turn will help me to reach a diagnosis and develop the right treatment plan for you. It is possible, depending on your symptoms, that I may prescribe medication at this stage. I will keep your GP informed of the outcome of our assessment and may request further specialist investigations from them.

3. Diagnosis

Depending on your particular situation it may take more than one appointment for me to make a diagnosis. Once I have been able to do this, I will write a full report including your diagnosis and a proposed treatment plan, which I will send to your GP or to yourself depending on your preference.

4. Treatment

Mental health complaints and their related symptoms vary widely and so of course every treatment plan is different and tailored specifically to the unique needs of each of my patients. Where medication is suggested, this is done in accordance with best practice guidelines to aid in your recovery. You will have the option of genetic screening which can help in prescribing an individualised treatment plan. I am supported by clinical psychologists who can provide individual psychological therapies to meet your treatment needs.

5. Recovery

Recovering from a mental health difficulty is a very personal experience.  It involves learning skills and developing tools to become more resilient to life’s challenges so that you can feel empowered and in control of your life.

Your treatment plan evolves around your recovery and focuses on key elements that are important:  understanding your condition, offering hope, developing resilience and strengthening relationships.