How we work

How we work

Working with The Brighton Psychologists happens entirely online, through video sessions arranged around your schedule, from an initial enquiry through assessment and any ongoing therapy that follows. There is no waiting room and no commute, just a private video call from wherever suits you across Brighton, Hove or the wider county.

Getting in touch

The process starts with a short message or form describing what has brought you to therapy: what you are struggling with, how long it has been going on, and what you would like to be different. A psychologist reads this before anything is arranged, so the first proper conversation can focus on your situation rather than on paperwork. There is no assumption that you already know which approach you need or how many sessions it will take. That gets worked out together, once someone has a clearer picture of what you are dealing with and what has already been tried.

The assessment

The first meeting is an assessment rather than a standard therapy session. It is longer and more structured, covering your current difficulties, relevant background, and what has and has not helped before. It also gives you a chance to ask questions and get a sense of how the psychologist works before committing to anything further. By the end, you should have a clearer idea of whether therapy looks like a reasonable fit and, if so, what shape it might take.

Ongoing sessions

Sessions after assessment usually run weekly, at a time agreed in advance, over a private video call rather than a general-purpose messaging app. You will need a reasonably stable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and somewhere quiet where you will not be overheard or interrupted. Beyond that, there is little to prepare. Each session builds on the last, checked against the goals set out at assessment rather than treated as a stand-alone conversation.

How progress is reviewed

Therapy is reviewed periodically rather than left to run indefinitely without comment. A psychologist will check in on whether things are moving in a useful direction, what has changed, and what has not. If an approach is not working, that gets raised directly and adjusted rather than continued out of habit. You are also free to raise this yourself at any point. This keeps sessions purposeful and gives you a say in how the work is shaped.

The approaches used

Therapy draws on approaches with a recognised evidence base for the difficulty being addressed. Cognitive behavioural therapy is commonly used for anxiety, low mood and stress-related difficulties, while acceptance and commitment therapy can suit long-standing avoidance patterns, chronic pain, or situations where the aim is learning to live well alongside a problem rather than eliminating it entirely. Which approach fits depends on what is brought to assessment, not on a fixed house style. A psychologist will explain the thinking behind a suggested approach, rather than applying one method regardless of what you present with, and will change course if something is not helping.

Confidentiality

Sessions are confidential, in line with the standards that apply to psychological practice generally. Notes are kept securely and are not shared without your consent, except in the specific circumstances where a psychologist has a professional duty to act on information about serious risk to you or someone else. This is explained clearly at assessment, so it is never a surprise later, and you can ask about it at any point if you are unsure.

Who this service is for

This is a clinical psychology service for adults across Brighton and East Sussex, working online and covering Hove, Kemptown, Preston Park, Hanover, Withdean and Portslade, for people looking for ongoing support with difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, stress, or the aftermath of a difficult period in life. It is not set up to respond to mental health emergencies. If you are in crisis, at risk of harming yourself, or need help right now, contact 999, attend A&E, or call NHS 111. The Samaritans are available on 116 123, at any time, for anyone who needs to talk.

Looking ahead

The practice currently works online only, serving Brighton and East Sussex, including Hove, Kemptown, Preston Park, Hanover, Withdean and Portslade, and reaching commuters and students who travel in and out via Brighton station and the wider rail links to London and Gatwick. If you would prefer to meet in person, let us know when you get in touch.