Where will appointments take place?
Appointments can either be in-person or scheduled remotely via Sessions (Psychology Today). This can be discussed during the initial consultation.
In-person appointments are held at St John’s Centre in Guildford, next to the Church. For more information please go to:
https://www.saintjohns.org.uk/about-us/st-johns-centre
If meeting in-person is not possible, appointments can be arranged online via Sessions which is simple to use and has a high standard of data security and confidentiality. To use Sessions please ensure your device has a webcam, microphone and speakers and you have a reliable internet connection.
What are the limits of confidentiality?
Sessions remain confidential, however, there are certain situations when I have a duty to inform parents, carers or other agencies. For instance, if you were at serious risk or someone else was at risk or if requested to do so by a court of law. In these situations I would always try to talk to you about my concerns before taking action and would support you to take action yourself if possible. These procedures are in keeping with the standards of proficiency for art therapists outlined by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Can I Self-Refer?
Yes, you can. However, you must be aged 16 or over and have capacity to understand and consent to your own therapeutic treatment, unless there’s significant evidence to suggest otherwise. Please go to: Refine Art Psychotherapy’s online Self Referral Form.
If you wish to refer a child or adolescent as a parent, carer or other professional, please email me on rodney.dee@refine-artpsych.com.
What happens during an assessment?
Having received your referral, you will be asked to attend a 50-minute assessment appointment.* An assessment is an opportunity for me to get to know you better and to determine your suitability for art psychotherapy. During the course of the appointment I may ask you about the following:
- Presenting issues
- Family background
- Significant or traumatic life events
- Psychiatric history (e.g. medication, diagnosis, hospital admissions)
- Current risk factors/ involvement with other services
- Availability
The assessment enables you to reflect on any issues that are causing you emotional distress or impairment and to say what you’d hope to gain from the therapeutic experience.
*Assessments with children (aged 5 – 11) may take place with parents or carers present or separately.
What can I expect from my first appointment?
In the initial appointment we can discuss any concerns regarding confidentiality, attendance, and arrangements for payment etc. These discussions can be adapted accordingly depending on the age of the client.
We will also use this time to determine your therapeutic goals and to formulate a plan for working together. If you’ve had support before, it can be helpful to think about what you enjoyed or found challenging about the therapeutic process before as this may inform our approach to working together now.
Where time allows, I may invite you to familiarise yourself with the art making materials and to produce an artwork to reflect on how you might be feeling. This may be different if we’re working together remotely via Sessions.
What role does the art making play in these sessions?
Sessions are usually non-directive. Whilst I may facilitate opportunities for art making, I am not looking to interpret your finished artwork. Rather, I look to you to describe what you see in your images and how it makes you feel. We may also reflect on your on the creative process itself and any noticeable changes that you experienced whilst engaged in these activities.
There is no hard and fast rule about how art making is used in our work together and there may be some sessions where there is no artmaking at all.
What is your cancellation policy?
Engaging with therapy can be hard. Attending regularly will help you get the most out of it. If you are unable to attend an appointment you must provide a minimum of 24-hours-notice ahead of your appointment (this includes meetings via Sessions). When 24 hours-notice or more is given you will not be charged for your appointment. If 24 hours-notice is not given, you will be charged the full appointment fee.
Should I need to cancel an appointment together, I will try to give you as much advance notice as possible and will not charge you for your session.
Any planned holidays can be discussed when contracting to work together.
Refine Art Psychotherapy 