Top 10 Misconceptions in Emotional Support

1. “I don’t need counselling”

Nobody should be forced to have counselling or psychological screening against their wishes. Emotional support should be an integrated option for all patients at all times. Independent emotional support is a confidential service designed to help support you and counteract the misleading information in the media. 

2. “It is expensive”

We have packages to suit all budgets even those with no budget! 

3. “I don’t have mental health problems”

Counsellors* provide you with support and information to reduce anxiety (which is perfectly normal) before and after procedures. If you have more serious mental health problems, we will provide referral options. *Counsellors are members of British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy).

4. “Counsellors talk you out of procedures”

We are here to help you make the right choice for you and feel comfortable with that choice. We neither persuade nor dissuade your from procedures. 

5. “My clinic offers patient advisers”

Patient advisors who work for clinics will not be independent. They will have an interest towards their clinic which might not be to the patient’s  advantage. 

6. “The nurse/doctor/surgeon will offer me counselling/emotional support”

Nurses, doctors and surgeons are not trained to provide emotional support in the way that independent counsellors are. Nurses, doctors and surgeons have enough to do without having to provide emotional support too. 

7. “I prefer online discussion groups”

While there is a feeling of privacy behind the computer screen, your personal details can be saved and shared with others at a later stage when you may feel differently. Some people have been bullied this way. The only way to keep your information private and confidential is to make sure that you share only with someone that abides by a code of ethics such as a BACP counsellor. 

8. “Psychological screening is quicker, better and cheaper”

Psychological screening is usually a list of questions, often answered on paper or iPad, and has little or no patient interaction. It is a screening tool for the surgeon to decide if you are a good candidate. 

9. “Counselling is not evidence based”

Counselling is as evidence based as any other discipline in psychology. Counselling puts the patient first and does not view individuals as statistics or numbers. 

10. “The NHS will pick up the psychology tab”

The NHS does not routinely offer cosmetic procedures and therefore has little experience in the psychology of these patients. Private elective cosmetic patient issues are best dealt with by private independent counsellors who specialise in this field.