Online Clinical Psychology Practice
Dr Elaine Smith
Your Time. Your Space.
Clinical Psychology Services
Hello
You have probably reached this page if you are seeking some mental health support and intervention. I am glad you are here as a first step in looking after yourself.
I offer 1:1 therapy to Adults (18+), using Zoom video calls. I have found that some people access therapy online who may never otherwise attend a therapy clinic for face to face appointments. It has also allowed professionals like me to provide a service to a wider geographical area. The research on the effectiveness of online therapy has proved promising, and this reflects my experience with clients too.
I am registered with the major insurance companies in the UK:
- Aviva
- Bupa
- Axa PPP
- Cigna
- Vitality
- WPA
- Aetna Global Benefits
I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC Registration number PYL33509).
I have outlined my clinical work in some more detail below. As human beings we do like to know what to expect, so I hope to take some of the mystery out of what happens within the therapy setting.
Individual Psychological Therapy
(for Adults 18+)
-
Initially I will ask you to complete this referral form. This helps me to understand if I am the correct person to help you. Sensitive information is processed as per my Privacy Policy.
-
If I have capacity to take on a new client, and we agree to work together, I will offer a date and time for our initial appointment.
-
The initial appointment helps me to learn more about the current difficulties you are having and become acquainted with the therapeutic process. Sometimes people who have never been to therapy before wonder what it is like. One of the most important parts of my job is to provide a safe, boundaried, confidential space just for you.
-
Therapy is such an individual process, but generally the first 3 or 4 sessions are focused on me gathering information about your story, so that we can plan for intervention. The number of sessions someone has also varies greatly. It depends on a number of factors, such as severity of difficulties, funding limits (self/employer/ health insurance), personal preference and life events that may occur during the course of therapy. I am registered with most major insurers such as Axa, BUPA and Aviva.
-
The clinical presentations I see most frequently are:
- Work-related stress
- Burnout
- Trauma and PTSD
- Anxiety
- Depression
Mind UK have a useful resource explaining a range of different mental health difficulties. You can find it here.
-
The psychological intervention itself is tailored to your own needs, and preferences. I work collaboratively with people to explore the therapeutic modality that feels right, so long as it is clinically advised. My work is informed by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).
-
I am also trained in Eye Movement and Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) to Level 3. EMDR is a highly effective therapy, that was initially developed for working with people who experienced trauma. However, it has since been developed to work with many psychological difficulties such as anxiety, depression and phobias. Here is a video that is helpful in explaining how EMDR works.
I do hope this is helpful for you when deciding if you would like to work with me. If you have any other queries or questions relating to the process please do email me.
Thanks,
Elaine
CONTACT ME
If you have any questions, want to self-refer or book a consultation, please contact me on the email address below. I will get back to you as soon as I can. If you require emergency care, please contact your GP or the Mental Health Assessment Service (MHAS) on 0131 537 6000 (Edinburgh area).
TESTIMONIALS
At the start of therapy I genuinely couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Since having my CBT and EMDR therapy with Elaine, it's had a huge effect on my entire life, my outlook on life. After some hard work and perseverance, I know healthy boundaries in both work life and personal life now and accept whats happened has happened and it no longer has a hold of me or strong emotions that always trigger in day to day life! I would absolutely recommend going with Elaine as she is a brilliant and understanding person. She's supported me and got me through some very tough years and can not thank her enough for what's she's helped me through! Thank you!
Miss C