1. How long do I have to wait for an initial session?
Generally I can book an individual or couple appointment with you within a week or two of your initial call.
2. How long is a relationship psychotherapy session?
Individual and couple session are 60 minutes unless prior arrangements have been made.
3. What is the cost of a psychotherapy session?
I will let you know my current fees when we speak on the phone.
4. Do you offer health refunds?
At the moment, psychotherapy is not covered by the Social Security in France so I am not in a position to offer health refunds. Some health insurance companies cover a limited number of sessions per year for non conventional treatments like psychotherapy and osteopathy. You would need to check this with your French health insurance company first.
5. Do you off reduced or sliding scale fees?
No. Unfortunately, because I am a private practitioner and not funded by other bodies, I can unable to offer reduced fees. I do, however offer a 10% on fees when you book and prepay for 6 sessions in advance.
6. What if I can’t make a scheduled appointment?
Since scheduling an appointment involves reserving time specially for you, a minimum of 48 hours notice is required for rescheduling or cancelling an appointment. Unless we reach a different agreement, the full fee will be charged for sessions missed without notification. Of course, I will be happy to reschedule your appointment when you provide more than 48 hours notice.
7. How will I know you are the right psychotherapist for me?
I suggest you read the about Malachy and how I work pages so that you can get a sense of who I am and how I work.
I also offer a free 10 minute telephone consultation so we can speak together about your needs. I’ll ask you to give me a brief description of the issues you would like to address in psychotherapy and I will let you know how I may help you. I find that people can get a good sense of me in this call and see if there is a good fit.
8. How much therapy do I need?
This is a difficult question to answer because each person is different and has unique and specific needs. The length of therapy can depend on a number of factors which may include the type of issue, the length of time negative patterns have been active, the resources currently available, the willingness to change, and the goals and objectives that are set.
Some research suggest that it can take 3-4 months to begin to experience long-lasting change. However, people who have worked with me report they notice changes after only a few sessions. Some people may need medium or longer term therapy, which may last longer than a year in certain cases.
Together we determine how often you will attend, based on your needs and schedule. This may be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. However, in my experience, people who have the most positive outcomes from therapy attend on a weekly basis, or attend sessions on a regular basis.
9. What are your training qualifications?
I have a certificate as a body-centred psychotherapist in Biodynamic Psychology and a post-graduate certificate as a psychotherapist in Biosynthesis. I have extensive post-graduate training over the last 17 years. My orientation is a mix of body-centred and solution-focussed psychotherapy which means I work with the whole of person. Please check the about Malachy page for more information on my specific qualifications and trainings.
10. What the difference between a psychotherapist, psychologist, counsellor, coach and psychiatrist?
A psychotherapist helps people who feel their past is holding them back from moving forward in their lives. People who consult a psychotherapist are generally working towards issue resolution, recovery and some kind of moral or emotional healing. Psychotherapists have trained to work with anxiety, depression, neurosis, and addiction and have undertaken in-depth personal therapy work.
A psychologist is someone with a university degree who is trained to measure a particular norm using different kinds of aptitude tests and questionnaires. They work principally in institutional settings.
A counsellor is someone who is trained to counsel people is a particular area. They give advice and focus on results.
A coach is someone who works with people who are well individuals who have already accepted their past and who seek support to achieve future outcomes. Coaches focus on clarifying a person’s current strengths and the steps they need to take to achieve their desired future outcomes.
A psychiatrist is a doctor who has specialised in the treatment of psychic disorders through the use of psychotropic drugs. The emphasis is on diagnosis. A psychiatrist is entrusted with the important social responsibility of deciding whether someone is in need of enforced psychiatric treatment or not.
Are you ready to move out of relationship pain?
If so, contact me today at +33.(0)6.88.88.43.91. or email me to set up a FREE confidential 10 minute consultation with myself.