Terms and Conditions
Welcome to Dr Maria Mullan Psychology Services. This page outlines key information about the services offered and what to expect from us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to the psychologist.
About Dr Maria Mullan Psychology Services
Dr Maria Mullan Psychology Services provides assessment, formulation and therapy for adults experiencing psychological difficulties. This is inclusive of individual sessions and group support. We support people with a range of presenting difficulties, including, but not limited to, anxiety, low mood, adverse life experiences, bereavement, trauma and individuals living with acute or long-term physical illness.
Using a person-centred approach, we aim to help clients make sense of their difficulties and achieve their goals.
Fees
Hourly rate: £120 (Inc.VAT)
Assessment and therapy sessions usually last 50 minutes – 1 hour. These appointments are always booked in 1-hour time slots to allow for necessary administration time at the end.
Payment
Session fees are payable in advance of your appointment. Payment for each session should be made by bank transfer to:
Name of bank: Starling Bank
Account holder name: Maria Mullan
Sort code: 60-83-71
Account number: 01099111
Please use your last name and date of contact as the reference, so that the payment can be easily identified.
Your progress and needs will be reviewed regularly, to ensure you are only paying for the services that you need.
Terms of Operation
Clients can book appointments directly with the psychologist following a free initial consultation. Appointments are then scheduled by the psychologist using a secure online booking system and appointment details will be confirmed via email.
Please note, this service is not a mental health or crisis service, and therefore, it is not possible to contact the psychologist outside of appointment times. Any client or prospective client who requires more urgent or multidisciplinary mental health support should contact their GP in the first instance or should call 111 (UK), and select option 2. In the case of mental health emergency, such as a risk of suicide, or if you feel unable to maintain your safety, please call 999 or attend your nearest Accident and Emergency department.
What to expect
Prospective clients are offered a free, initial consultation, lasting up to fifteen minutes. This will take place via telephone or video call. This initial contact is to discuss your concerns and check if the service is right for you.
If you wish to go ahead with an assessment, the psychologist will offer you an appointment and send you an online form via email, collecting demographic details, next of kin and GP contact information. If you have any accessibility needs, please highlight this in the relevant section of this form.
Clients are asked to sign a declaration providing their consent to go ahead with the assessment. Forms are to be completed in full in advance of the first assessment session.
Sessions are offered face-to-face or online, depending on individual wishes and need. Together with the psychologist, you will discuss your needs and goals for ongoing therapy, and any future sessions will be planned accordingly, as required.
Sessions will take place weekly or fortnightly, dependent on individual need.
Video-based appointments
Individual therapy clients have the option to access video call appointments using a secure online system. Virtual appointments use the Google Meet platform. To access your appointment on your smartphone, laptop or tablet, please log into your existing google account or create a google account by clicking here
Maintaining confidentiality is a shared responsibility between psychologist and client. Please ensure you are in a confidential space for your appointments if accessing the service via telephone or video call.
If technical issues arise which affect the service or session, and after two unsuccessful attempts to reconnect the video call, the psychologist will make contact with the client via telephone call, using the contact number provided on the booking form. If contact is made, the session will continue via telephone. Unfortunately, session times cannot be extended as a result of unforeseen technical issues, outside of the psychologist’s or client’s control.
Face-to-Face appointments
Face-to-face appointments, including individual therapy and hypnobirthing courses, take place at 35 Lynton way, Windle, St Helens, WA10 6EQ
Diversity
We recognise that everyone is unique, and we will always strive to ensure that you feel comfortable and accepted for who you are. If you require us to make any reasonable adjustments, please talk to your psychologist and we will help in any way we can.
Cancellation policy
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing drmariamullan@gmail.com
At least 24 hours’ notice is required for individual appointments and group session cancellations. Refunds will not be processed for appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice or for non-attended appointments.
The psychologist will endeavour to give you as much advance notice as possible of any need to cancel or reschedule a future appointment/ session. Any appointments/ sessions that need to be rescheduled by the psychologist do not incur a cost to the client. The appointment fee can be refunded or applied to the next appointment/ session.
Confidentiality
Information shared in sessions remains confidential. The psychologist will keep brief session notes stored within a secure electronic record keeping system, in line with GDPR requirements.
The psychologist has a professional requirement to engage in regular clinical supervision, with a qualified psychologist. The psychologist will share client information with their clinical supervisor to ensure best practice. Any information shared will be anonymised to protect client confidentiality.
The psychologist has a duty of care to act on information shared, that indicates a risk to the client or other party, accordingly. The psychologist will aim to discuss the action to be taken with the client, prior to any information being shared. However, there may be incidences where this is not possible, for example, where sharing action to be taken by the psychologist, has the potential to exacerbate presenting risk.
The service will need to hold GP contact information, in case of a safety issue arising. The psychologist will be unable to see any client who is unable to provide GP contact details.
Complaints
We hope that you never have to make a complaint about the service provided. However, if you do have a concern, please speak to the psychologist directly or put your complaint in writing so it can be addressed as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you can make a complaint via the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) www.hcpc-uk.org
If you have any questions, with regards to our Terms and Conditions, please do not hesitate to contact us.