PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING
I provide a confidential, respectful and non-judgemental space for people experiencing a range of personal, emotional and mental health difficulties. These include depression, anxiety, psychological trauma and relationship difficulties.
With regret, I am not taking on new clients in 2024.
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People often come to counselling when they are feeling stuck with a difficulty in their life, whether it is something that has affected them for many years or a more recent problem. Psychological counselling can offer you a different perspective on your situation and provide you with a respectful and supportive space in a time of need. It is an opportunity to better understand your difficulties, reflect on your strengths and make the changes you want. Psychological counselling is not just about talking and being understood, important as this is. You may want to develop skills and techniques that will help you to feel better. I will assess which strategies, based upon psychological theory and research, will be most helpful to you.
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I work to the highest ethical and professional standards and keep up to date with the latest developments in psychological therapies. I use a variety of therapeutic techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and specialist Eye Movement and Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Read more about my approach below.
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Psychological Trauma
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I have particular experience working with people who have experienced trauma and are having mental health difficulties as a result. Some people know that they have suffered a trauma - something happened to them that was frightening, overwhelming and things haven't been the same since. Sadly for some people, trauma was a feature of their childhood - perhaps through abuse, neglect or bullying and this can lead to a sense of feeling permanently unsafe and wary of others. Some people find it harder to recognise the link between things that happened in the past and current symptoms of depression, anxiety, or relationship difficulties. Once we understand the origin of the difficulties a person faces, we can assess the options for recovery and work out how to move forwards.
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Get in touch to book a free, 15 minute phone-call to discuss how I can help you.
MY APPROACH
I use different therapeutic approaches and techniques. The approach I use will depend upon your difficulties, your strengths and your preferences. I'm aware that psychological counselling is an investment and you want to be sure that it is going to help you achieve your aims. I will suggest a way for us to work together and we will review how this approach is working for you as we go. I encourage clients to give me feedback so I can keep tailoring my approach to suit you.
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I mainly use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and related therapies which have developed from our ever-expanding understanding of human psychology. These are often called 'third wave' CBT therapies and amongst them, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy.
I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). EMDR is a specialist therapy recommended by NICE for the treatment of trauma and is also effective for other emotional difficulties and mental illnesses.
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I place great importance on the quality of the therapeutic relationship and draw from psychodynamic therapies and attachment theory. In practice, this means that I attend to how our therapeutic relationship can meet the unmet emotional or relational needs that might have caused or be contributing to your difficulties. For example, this might be your need to be heard and understood, to have your feelings validated and your autonomy respected.
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I use other therapies as appropriate, including Schema Therapy which combines CBT and psychodynamic approaches for those with longer term difficulties particularly within relationships. I will use anger management strategies for those whose aggressive behaviour or anger concerns them, and grief counselling for those who are bereaved.
WHAT IS EMDR?
Eye Movement Desentisation and Reprocessing Therapy
EMDR was developed in 1989 by an American Psychologist called Francine Shapiro. It was initially used for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has now proved to be a highly effective therapy for people who are suffering a range of difficulties because of something traumatic that has happened to them. It has been widely researched and so is very well evidenced and as a result, it is recognised by the NHS, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence and the World Health Organisation. It can be used effectively for people with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, addictions, sexual difficulties, psychosis to name a few.
The theory
When a person experiences a situation that is frightening, overwhelming or traumatic, the brain can struggle to process the memory of the event as normal. This means that memories of the situation - the noises, smells, sights, feelings - can become fragmented and stored in different parts of the brain. These memories can be easily triggered and this can cause distress, flashbacks, hyper-vigilance and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The unprocessed memories can also mean the event isn't fully made sense of and people may be left with beliefs about the event and themselves that are distressing, for example: "It's my fault", "others can't be trusted", "the world is unsafe".
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How it works
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to prompt the brain to reprocess the memory as it would have done were it not traumatic. This doesn't hurt and the client remains conscious and in control at all times. Often the bilateral stimulation involves looking at the therapist's hand as it moves very quickly from left to right whilst thinking about the distressing memory. Once a memory has been processed using EMDR, the person feels significantly less distressed than they did. Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and anxiety are reduced. Importantly, a person is able to find an alternative way of thinking about the event that is more balanced and less distressing.
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It is a difficult therapy to describe as people's experience of it differs. You can read about others' experience of EMDR here on the website of the UK and Ireland EMDR Association.
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Watch this video produced by VEN EMDR about EMDR and how it works:
ABOUT CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is one of the most used and widely researched types of psychological therapy. It is based on the theory developed by a psychologist called Beck and his colleagues in the late 1970s. They suggested that emotional distress is caused by our thinking patterns (cognitions). Unhelpful thinking patterns can lead to unhealthy or destructive behaviours.
Psychologists use CBT to help people change the way they feel by changing their thoughts and the conclusions they draw. They also help people to change unhelpful behaviours that are keeping their problems going.
CBT is evolving. 'Third wave' CBT therapies include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused therapy and Mindfulness. Rather than focusing on challenging and changing the content of a person's thoughts as Beck's CBT did, the client is empowered to disengage and distance themselves from their thoughts.
CBT has been found to be very effective for a range of mental health problems and is widely used in the NHS. You can find out more about CBT from the NHS Choices website click here.
