Frequently Asked Questions

Services

PsycHealth Zambia provides assessment and treatment to clients seeking assistance with mental health concerns. We offer counselling (psychotherapy) and other psychological services to individuals, couples, groups and organisations.

Appointments can be made by contacting us via Whatsapp, or texting or calling our office line +260955264975/+260211292224. Alternatively, you can reach out to us by messaging us on any one of our social media platforms.

You may also E-mail us at info@psychzambia.com. For already existing clients, you can book an appointment with assistance from our administrative team. We recommend bookings be made at least a day before the desired session date.

In special circumstances, where a client seeking help is unable to come to our offices, we can conduct a session at that person’s residence. However, this may incur an additional fee.

Yes, you can. If you have a busy schedule and/or are unable to make it for in-person therapy sessions, our therapists are available to conduct online sessions on a platform of your choosing.

We are presently in Lusaka, but with the goal of eventually having offices in other places in Zambia. Additionally, we offer virtual therapy as an alternative to in-person therapy.

You can gain more insight on our therapist’s qualifications and areas of specialty by having a look at our Therapist’s Profiles or by contacting our administrative team for further guidance as you make your decision.

We are open from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and from 8am to 1pm on Saturday. All consultations must take place within these working hours. When needed, clients may make requests to their therapists to have their sessions outside working hours.

We have partnered with a Psychiatric facility and are able to make referrals for clients that require drugs/medication.

Sessions and Confidentiality

Your first session is referred to as an initial consultation. You will be asked to fill in an intake form prior to your session. During the session your therapist will gather additional information to have a better understanding of your main concerns and goals for therapy. You will also schedule your next session and go through the basics of therapy including confidentiality, bookings and communication with your therapist.

Our therapists are available for consultation during working hours. You and your therapist can agree on modes of communication outside working hours during your initial consultation.

Yes, your therapist will ensure that client therapist confidentiality is upheld. However, your therapist may break confidentiality in the event that you are a threat to yourself or others.

Our mental health care professionals fall into the following categories:

  • Psychiatrists: Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors with medical and psychiatric training. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and monitor medications and also offer counselling and provide therapy.
  • Psychologists : Our psychologists are licensed to practice and administer treatment, psychoeducation, make referrals and diagnose (with a consult from a psychiatrist). Amongst the team, our organization is equipped with, but not limited to, clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, counselling psychologists, child/adolescent psychologists, sport psychologists, health and education psychologists.
  • Interns: are psychologists in training and can provide therapy under the direction of the psychologists at our facilities.
  • Counsellors: Our counsellors are trained to diagnose and provide individual, couples and group counselling.

If you are a minor, a parent/guardian must accompany you to the appointment. Everyone above the age of 18 may come on their own, or bring anyone they feel comfortable with.

If you feel that you and your therapist are not a good fit, let our administrative staff know as soon as possible and we will work with you to figure out what didn’t work so that we can find a better match.

Appointments typically last from 45 mins to an hour. However, sessions may be held in succession (double session) upon request from a client or recommendation from your therapist.

Length of treatment varies depending upon the problems you are facing, and the nature of the treatments that you and your therapist select. You and your therapist will work together to decide how long you should be in treatment to gain the most benefit possible.

Clinical

Yes it does. Therapy is a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client. Hence the term “therapeutic alliance”. This process is successful, provided that both parties are playing their part. Our therapists will ensure that clients are guided and supported with techniques, psychoeducation and the necessary attention, while the role of the client is to actively engage and be committed to therapy sessions, exercises and practice knowledge shared in therapy sessions.

The goal of therapy is to learn about our habits, patterns of feeling and behavior and how they cause us problems. We can then learn new habits and patterns which will be more successful for us. Although it seems strange to think that we might not know ourselves completely, experience has shown that many of the problem-causing habits and patterns are things we have done all our life and are so automatic that we don’t even think about them as learned or optional behavior. Counselling provides a special setting in which we can learn about ourselves. This can help us to be more effective in our relationships with others and with ourselves. Therapy takes time, helpful observations and support to recognize and change our ways of living.

Professional help may be warranted if you or a loved one experiences:

  • Marked change in personality, eating or sleeping patterns
  • Inability to cope with problems or daily activities
  • Strange or extreme ideas
  • Excessive anxiety
  • Prolonged depression or loss of interest or enjoyment
  • Thinking or talking about suicide
  • Substance abuse
  • Extreme mood swings or excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior
  • Making excuses for behavioral changes not typical of you

Many people who have mental health conditions consider their signs and symptoms a normal part of life or avoid treatment out of shame or fear. If you’re concerned about your mental health or a loved one’s mental health, don’t hesitate to seek advice.

Seek immediate assistance. Call us on +260955264975/+260211292224, we provide suicide intervention for free.

Rates and Payments

We currently do not accept insurance and payments can only be made via cash, cheque, mobile money or bank transfer. However, we are working on partnering with insurance providers.

Consultation for an initial one on one therapy session is K500 and follow up sessions are K350 per session. For an initial couple’s counselling session, the consultation is K750 and follow up sessions are K500 per session.