Therapy

Dr Rowlands carefully selects experienced therapists for each patient, drawing on decades of trusted professional relationships. He considers clinical needs, location, therapy style, and insurance cover to ensure the best fit. Ongoing therapist communication supports continuity of care, while all reports and referrals are handled with discretion and transparency.

An important aspect of Dr Michael Rowlands’ role is not only managing communication with insurers regarding claim forms but also carefully arranging therapy for his patients.

Unlike choosing a car or hotel—where online reviews and comparison sites offer guidance—there is no reliable feedback system to assess a therapist’s competence or therapeutic style. With decades of experience in private practice, Dr Rowlands has developed a trusted network of therapists whose clinical skills and professional approaches he knows well. He believes that selecting the right therapist is one of the most crucial factors in achieving meaningful psychological change, and he has received consistent, positive feedback from the hundreds of therapy referrals he has made, potentially numbering up to 500.

When recommending a therapist, Dr Rowlands considers key factors such as location, insurance coverage, therapeutic style, communication skills, clinical boundaries, and practicalities such as session timing, particularly important for working individuals. In his experience, attending therapy more than thirty minutes from one’s normal routine can become burdensome and counterproductive.

Therapy recommendations are typically made following an initial consultation, during which Dr Rowlands assesses both clinical need and personal fit. His familiarity with each therapist’s personality, approach, and expertise allows him to make tailored referrals. For clinical and administrative continuity, therapists are asked to send a brief summary to Dr Rowlands confirming patient contact and outlining key therapy issues. Ongoing written updates are encouraged, which are particularly helpful during review appointments or when seeking extended treatment authorisation from insurers.

Most private insurers initially approve only six to eight one-to-one therapy sessions. While some may extend authorisation after direct contact from the patient, many require a clinical report from Dr Rowlands to justify further treatment. He provides these reports promptly and ensures transparency by completing them during consultations so that patients are fully aware of the content.

Dr Rowlands emphasises that, throughout his entire career, he has never known personal clinical information shared with insurers to be disclosed to employers. There is a strict separation, and any disclosure of therapy content to third parties would only occur with the patient’s explicit consent.

Referral letters to therapists and insurance reports are typically written during consultations, ensuring clarity and accuracy. These communications are not shared with the patient’s GP or entered into NHS records but serve as professional correspondence between Dr Rowlands and the therapist. He requires all therapists within his network to maintain appropriate communication about therapeutic progress. However, if a patient wishes to keep certain matters confidential between themselves and their therapist, they are encouraged to discuss this directly with the therapist.