About us
We are passionate about providing the highest level of mental healthcare possible. We have access to different professionals including Consultant Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Counsellors. Our approach is to provide the quickest access to the most appropriate specialist for you. Our team has the expertise to ensure the quickest and safest recovery possible. We see people in a number of different locations including Woosehill Medical Centre in Wokingham, The Berkshire Independent Hospital in Reading and the Cardinal Clinic in Windsor to ensure a local and convenient approach to psychology
The majority of our patients are seen for hourly sessions which can be weekly, fortnightly or further apart, however for those people who require more intense treatment, need to be out of their familiar environment or need to be in a safe place due to suicidal intent we can arrange for admission to private hospitals including the Cardinal Clinic in Windsor and the Priory in Woking or London.
If you are unsure of which specialist or what kind of treatment would be right for you the first step would be have an initial consultation with Dr Christian Buckland, Psychotherapist, who would look at your situation and talk through the different options available.
What is the difference between a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Counsellor?
It can be confusing for people to know how the most appropriate professional for them to see. One of the most common questions is in relation to the differences between the different professions, below is a very brief description of each, for more information please feel free to call us.
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Psychiatrist
A Psychiatrist is a medically trained Doctor who specialises in mental health and psychiatry. They have trained as a medical doctor and then go on to specialise in Psychiatry and mental health. They can prescribe medication such as anti depressants, sleep medication, medication for anxiety and ore. Some psychiatrists may also choose to specialise in specific fields such as eating disorders, addictions, sleep disorders and child & adolescent mental health.
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Talking therapists
Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Counsellors deliver 'talking therapies' which can be delivered with or without medication prescribed by either the patient's GP or Psychiatrist.
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Counsellor
Counselling is usually a short term where the counsellor provides a safe and non judgmental place for the patient to look at their situation at their own pace. Counselling is usually non directive, therefore the counsellor will not be telling the patient what to do or what not to. Counselling usually focuses on one specific part of the patient's life and often looks at the here and now.
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Psychotherapist
Psychotherapists work both short and long term and in addition to focusing on the presenting problem work to address the underlying reasons for the issues the patient is struggling with. The psychotherapist will aim to make connections between the patient's past and the present and by identifying these connections can often help to understand some of the reasons for their distress and can enable the patient to work through difficulties from their past in order to make their current situation feel better. This helps with relapse prevention aiming to empower the individual to be able to cope better in the future. There are different ways of working which can include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic, Psychoanalytical and Existential Psychotherapy.
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Psychologists
Like Psychotherapists, Psychologists are trained in a number of different techniques and often focus on changing the way a patient thinks which in turn helps to change the way they feel. This can be helpful for those who are struggling to think differently which can cause difficulties in their day to day life. Psychologists like Psychotherapists can use a wide range of treatments including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person centred therapy, Schema focused therapy.
It is often difficult to know which specialist is suitable for you, feel free to call us to discuss the different options and to work out a good move forward.