FAQs
What happens in the first session?
In our first session I spend time on getting to know you more deeply, that means that I will ask you a number of questions about your current and past experiences in order to form a picture in my mind about what brings you to therapy right now. I will also explore with you what you would like to gain from the counselling experience. From this conversation I will share how I think I can best support you.
We will then together agree on a therapy plan that is aligned with your needs, this also includes an agreement on whether we agree on a set number of sessions or an open ended therapy.
Can I speak to you prior to booking in?
If you have any general questions about starting therapy, or if you would just like to hear my voice before committing to a full session, you are welcome to book in a free 15-minute consultation by using the form on the contact page. Many clients who are ‘on the fence’ about starting therapy find this to be a useful stepping stone in making a decision.
Is my treatment confidential?
Everything you say to me during our conversations is confidential and will stay between you and me. There are some really rare exceptions to confidentiality, generally to do with my legal duty of care; meaning that if I have serious concerns for your or somebody else’s safety, I may have to break confidentiality however I would always aim to speak to you before any such breach would occur.
Other examples are to do with if I get subpoena or court order to supply information or if I have concerns in relation to money laundering or terrorism plotting.
What can I expect from therapy?
My aim is to create a therapeutic environment that is characterised by authenticity, empathy and curiosity. My approach will always be based on up-to-date science, proven to be effective in psychological research.
I offer both short-term as well as open-ended therapy and we can decide on this in the first session.
For the most effective outcomes, weekly attendance is recommended. However, I aim to be flexible to your circumstances and if you prefer to meet less frequently then I always try to accommodate this.
How long will treatment take?
It is not possible to predict how long a course of therapy will take, sometimes it takes 6-8 weeks other times it can take a year or more, depending on each individual’s therapeutic needs.
Therapy is most successful when it’s collaborated between client and therapist so I will regularly check in with you and review our work to ensure that we are on track and that you are finding therapy helpful.
What if I need to cancel a session?
Once we verbally or in writing agree on a time and day for a session, that is considered a session being confirmed. If you need to make any changes or cancellations to your session, I ask that at least 48 hours are provided to me via email on drshirintherapy@gmail.com.
I have private medical insurance, can this pay for my sessions?
I am registered with most insurance companies and do accept insurance referrals. Please get in touch with me to help setting up a claim or to get further information.
Client feedback
“After a previous, short and unsuccessful therapy course with another clinic I was not entirely convinced that therapy was going to work for me. I did however know that I had still not resolved my issues and perhaps still needed help. So, I decided to have another roll of the dice and found Dr Shirin Shams. This decision has proved to be invaluable to me, beyond what I could ever have expected, due to my exceptional therapist.
From the get go, Shirin showed me an immense amount of compassion and understanding that I not only wasn't expecting, but also put me at ease and made me feel safe to open up within an otherwise intimidating environment. This compassion has never, ever waivered and continues to be a very meaningful part of my progress as well as her professionalism, talent and knowledge, which is second to none. I think simply put, any clinic that has a Therapist such as Shirin is head and shoulders above the rest and clearly knows what it is doing, and more importantly CARES about what it is doing.”