Crisis Advice
We care about you when you are in crisis and at all other times. However, as a private service we do not have the appropriate and necessary safeguards that an NHS team can offer those in risky mental states or situations and thus cannot offer a crisis intervention service.
We may be obliged to redirect you to secondary mental health/NHS crisis services and/or your GP, or emergency services in crisis situations to ensure you are kept safe. We are, however, here to help with any private ongoing counselling once you have been supported through the crisis, independently or in collaboration with your NHS team.
If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, call the Police by dialling 999. If this is due to a mental health crisis, they can ensure there is a safe place to go while the local NHS mental health crisis team arrange assistance and support for you. If, however, you or someone else are in danger from others (i.e. being abused or at risk of violence or another threat of imminent harm) and it is not safe to speak – call 999 and then press 55 when prompted - a silent call will work. If you are unable to use a voice phone, you can also silently text register with the Police Text Service – Text ''REGISTER'' to 999. You will get a text which tells you what to do next. Do this when it’s safe, i.e. if you are alone in the bathroom, so you can discretely alert others when you are in danger.
Scope, accessibility and ending therapy
This is to be considered as part of practice rights, terms and conditions. This is a private psychological therapy service and is not a statutory, crisis or acute mental health service. It does not, and cannot, provide urgent, emergency or crisis intervention, acute risk assessment or crisis management. Where a person's needs require a level or type of support that is beyond the scope of what this service is able to provide, the person will be advised to access an appropriate NHS, specialist or other relevant service.
Therapy is a professional relationship requiring readiness for change, commitment and good engagement and boundaries. Its commencement and continuation are subject to professional consideration of whether the service is clinically appropriate, practicable and likely to be beneficial, or whether it can continue to be beneficial once commenced. The psychologist will consider whether the arrangements necessary for therapy to be provided effectively can reasonably be maintained within a small private practice or at the stage of change or preparedness the client presents with.
Bay Psychology will consider, and is committed to, adjustments to the way in which its services are provided, taking account of individual circumstances and in accordance with applicable equality legislation and professional requirements. Any adjustment will be considered on an individual basis, having regard to the nature, scope and remit of the service and what can reasonably and practicably be provided within an independent private practice. The consideration of an adjustment does not mean that it will necessarily be agreed or implemented where it is not reasonable or practicable in the circumstances. The small size and limited resources of the practice, together with the effective management and business continuity of the service, including clinical time, appointments, professional boundaries and the needs of other service users, will be relevant considerations.
The Psychologist reserves the professional discretion to decline to commence therapy, or to end therapy where it has commenced, where, in their clinical and professional judgement, the circumstances mean that it would not be appropriate or practicable to provide, or continue providing, the service, or where therapy with this service is unlikely to be sufficiently beneficial or meet overriding needs, some of which may fall outside of the scope of the practice. This may include circumstances where ongoing or significant difficulties with attendance, engagement, communication, professional boundaries, payment, or functioning in social, occupational or other important areas materially affect the person's ability to engage with the requirements of elective therapy or the arrangements of the practice. If there is a clinical need, the client will be signposted to options for alternative therapy.
A referral may also be declined, or therapy may need to be stopped, where the psychologist identifies an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest that would make it inappropriate to accept or continue the professional relationship. In such circumstances, the psychologist may not be able to disclose more specific reason for declining the referral or ending therapy where doing so could disclose confidential or personal information relating to a third party. This may be necessary to protect the privacy and confidentiality rights of that third party.
In providing a private service, the psychologist must also consider the practical requirements of maintaining the business, including the effective and fair use of clinical and administrative time and appointments, financial considerations, appropriate professional boundaries, continuity and viability of the service, and the need to ensure that the operation of the practice and availability of appointments for other clients are not materially and unreasonably affected. Where a person's circumstances or difficulties in complying or functioning significantly affect their ability to engage with the fundamental requirements of this particular service, it may be considered that an alternative service or provision would be more appropriate to their needs. This does not mean that the underlying difficulty is, in itself, the reason for declining or ending therapy; it means that signposting the client to a more suitable or sustainable service at this time must be a prime consideration.
Any decision to decline or end therapy will be considered on an individual basis, taking account of the circumstances, the therapeutic work undertaken where applicable, relevant clinical and professional considerations, equality law and the practical requirements of providing and continuing a private psychological therapy service. It does not require a particular number of missed appointments, cancellations, rescheduling events or other incidents to have occurred and it is not a punitive decision. Where therapy is ended, appropriate information about alternative sources of support, such as the GP or specialist service, will be provided where clinically indicated.
Other useful crisis contacts include:
Samaritans Freephone Helpline Mental health support - 116123 – 24 hours – online www.samaritans.org
Mind Freephone Infoline Mental health advice - 0300 123 3393 – 9am-6pm Mon-Fri - online www.mind.org.uk
Rethink Freephone Mental Illness Advice & Information Service - 0808 801 0525 – 1-4pm Mon-Fri - online www.rethink.org
Shout 85258 24/7 Free UK Text Crisis Support – text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 - when in need of support at any time of day or night. An automated text will come through followed by connection to a Shout member of staff who offer a confidential text conversation - online www/giveusashout.org
Refuge Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 – 24 hours - online www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Respect Men’s Advice Line Support for male victims of domestic abuse – 0808 8010327 – Mon-Fri 9am-9pm – online www.mensadviceline.org.uk
National Rape Crisis Helpline - 0808 802 9999 - 12.00pm – 2:30pm & 7pm – 9:30pm daily - online www.rapecrisis.org.uk
NAPAC - Supporting Recovery From Childhood Abuse – 0808 801 0331 - 10am-9pm Mon-Thurs, 10am-6pm Friday - online www.napac.org.uk
Mosac Freephone Helpline Support &/or counselling for non-abusing parents & carers of children who have been sexually abused – 0800 980 1958 - 10-2pm Mon, Thurs, Fri & 10-6pm Tues & Wed. www.Mosac.org.uk
Bay Psychology