How to make a self-referral
Please read below how you can self-refer for counselling and psychotherapy sessions with HCC, whether individual or group psychotherapy.
Step one: completing the self-referal forms
Please download and complete the following forms, and email them to our office at hcc@strides.org.uk.
The information contained in all these forms will be kept confidential.
Access to Counselling form
GP consent form
Equal Opportunities form
Step two: having an initial call with our clinical team
Once we’ve received your forms, our clinical team will arrange an initial telephone call with you to discuss your wish to start therapy, the type of therapy offered at HCC, and whether Strides HCC is a suitable service for your concerns at the time of your referral.
Following from this initial conversation, you will be invited to attend a clinical Assessment appointment with one of our Assessors.
Step three: organising your assessment appointment
Our office will contact you to organise your initial assessment appointment. In order to confirm your booking for an assessment appointment, we will ask you to pay the one-off Assessment fee of £50 (£20 if you are unemployed, retired or a student).
Step four: what happens in your assessment appointment
Your assessment appointment will be with one of our Assessors workers in person, and this appointment lasts approximately 90 minutes.
During your assessment appointment, you will discuss what brings you to therapy in more detail, explain your circumstances and speak in more depth about yourself, your life and your background. You will also be invited to ask questions about having therapy at HCC and your ideas regarding your referral.
The Assessor will discuss with you the type of therapy offered at HCC, and will help you decide what type of therapy or intervention may be more helpful for you at this time.
In some cases, we may ask you to attend a follow-up assessment appointment, with the same Assessor or with the Clinical Manager.
Fees for ongoing counselling and psychotherapy sessions vary according to individual circumstances, and will be discussed at the assessment appointment. We ask all clients to agree their session fee on a sliding scale based on their capacity to contribute.
Step five: proceeding with a referral
Following the assessment appointment(s), our Clinical team will identify a suitable referral for you. You will be contacted by the Clinical Manager to discuss the details of your assigned therapist and confirm your availability for ongoing sessions, and your wish to proceed.
If HCC is not a suitable service for you, we will recommend other suitable services or alternative interventions that we think will be more useful for you at the time.
Step six: starting your therapy sessions
Your assigned therapist with contact you via email to confirm your starting appoitnment.
When you first meet with your therapist, you will both agree on a counselling contract. This simply talks about the responsibilities of both you as a client, and those of the therapist. It also sets in place things like confidentiality, length of sessions, what happens at the end of the agreed period.
Ending
The ending of therapy is discussed in advance with your therapist, and is agreed at a time that is suitable and appropriate for your work together, and within your contracted year. You can decide to end your therapy at any time, and a shorter length of therapy can be useful in some cases.
After your therapy has finished we will ask you to complete a feedback form to let us know about your experience with HCC. This will be sent at the time of your therapy ending. All feedback forms are anonymised.
If you require any further information please contact us.