Contact details & Information

You can contact me by email at dr.kscanlan@gmail.com, or call me at 06 68 52 99 79.
My office is based in Valbonne village: 13bis rue du Rocher, 06560 Valbonne.

First appointment
Once you have contacted me I will email you a referral form to complete before our first appointment to save time during the appointment, and we will arrange a mutually convenient time to meet. At this first appointment we typically discuss what prompted you to make contact, what your hopes and expectations are and how we might work together. It is also an opportunity for you to ask me any questions that you may have, and it will be helpful for me to get a general understanding of your current situation as well as your personal history.

​Therapy sessions
Appointments are confidential and are held in a private office in Valbonne on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9am and 4pm. Online sessions are also possible. Sessions lasts between 45 and 50 minutes. They are usually booked on a regular (weekly or fortnightly) basis at the same time and on the same day of the week. Sometimes just a few sessions are enough to get you back on track and sometimes therapy can be a much longer journey. 

Fees
Standard sessions cost 85€. Payment is accepted in cash, credit card or cheque at the end of each session. Whilst some private healthcare insurance companies, or mutuelles, reimburse all or part of the costs for psychologist’s fees, French social security currently does not (the carte vitale does not work for psychologists). Please check your insurance policies, as I can provide invoices if you are entitled to reimbursement from your mutuelle or private insurance.
There is no charge for sessions cancelled with more than 24 hours notice. After that you will be billed unless there are exceptional circumstances.  

Psychometric Assessments
Psychometric assessments tend to be recommended by schools so there may be several conversations between school, you and me to clarify what is needed. An initial appointment will then be made with parents to gather background information. The assessment appointment with the child is likely to last between 2 and 3 hours (with breaks), following which a report will be completed and a feedback appointment can be arranged. Further information can be sent upon request. Costs for assessments vary depending on what is required.

Confidentiality
All sessions are confidential. In certain situations, I may need to communicate with other professionals (psychiatrists, doctors, teachers) to support the therapy and achieve better outcomes for you. This will be with your consent and on a need-to-know basis. The only exceptions to confidentiality are if there is a risk to your own or someone else’s safety, or if required by law.

Supervision
In line with professional codes of ethics and conduct, session content may be discussed in confidential supervision sessions with a senior colleague in order to ensure the work I do is as effective as possible. 
 
Personal information
Written information you give to me, such as the referral form, letters or reports, as well as my therapy process notes are kept in a paper file in a locked cabinet, which is accessible only by me. The purpose of having this information is to aid analysis, reflection and provide pertinent and effective therapy. Electronic documents, such as reports or letters, are saved via a password protected computer in a secure online storage facility, based in the United States and which conforms to EU data protection regulations (GDPR & Privacy Shield). Your file is kept for 10 years after the end of your work with me in case you return, before it is shredded and/or deleted. Please ensure you keep your own records. 
You can find out more about your rights regarding your personal information here:
https://www.cnil.fr/en/rights-and-obligations& https://www.cnil.fr
 
What is a clinical psychologist?
A clinical psychologist is trained in psychological theories of normal and abnormal mental development across the lifespan. They use a variety of talking therapies based in well researched therapeutic models and do not prescribe medication (which a psychiatrist can). The title is protected and in France psychologists receive an 'adeli' number from the Agence Régionale de Santé, attesting that they are appropriately qualified.
The UK has a high expectation of clinical psychologists who need to study to doctorate level and obtain a significant amount of work experience in order to be qualified. This includes a first degree in psychology, followed by a minimum of 2 years working full-time as an assistant psychologist, and then competing for a place on a 3-year applied doctorate course, including a research thesis, course work and 6 six-month placements covering all major areas of practice.
In Germany you obtain the title of 'Diplompsychologe' after 4 and 1/2 years of study and a 6 month placement.
In France a D.E.S.S. or a D.E.A. (Bac+5), which also includes one placement, entitles you to the use of the title of 'psychologue'. Whilst some private healthcare insurance companies, or mutuelles, reimburse all or part of the costs for psychologist’s fees, French social security currently does not.

Les 'Psys'
Psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and psychotherapist are other terms you may have heard of, and which are all referred to in France as 'psy' alongside psychologists, though they are quite different professions with different training requirements.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in disorders affecting mental health. They diagnose and treat mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety as well as mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. They can prescribe medication and consultations in France are reimbursed by social security. Some psychiatrists are also trained in psychotherapy but usually offer this separately from their psychiatric practice.
In France, a psychoanalyst is often a psychiatrist or psychologist who has completed their own psychoanalysis, though the practice is not regulated by law so there are no specific training requirements. It focuses on uncovering unconscious processes that influence our behaviour and relationships and is often based on several sessions per week for a number of years.
Since 2010, the title of psychotherapist is protected by law and requires masters level qualifications in a relevant field. A psychotherapist is usually trained to use a specific psychotherapeutic model.