Therapy

What to expect

How I work?

I use an integrative approach to working as it allows me the luxury of using different theoretical and practical therapeutic models. This offers my clients the opportunity of working with an approach that best suits their needs. I work in a bespoke manner, thinking creatively and reflectively to consider which approach will resonate most effectively with my clients, taking into consideration Age, Gender, Sexuality, Culture, Socio-Economic Status, Disabilities, Religion and Spiritual Beliefs and Practices.

Approach

As a Therapist I use evidence-based therapies within my practice. As previously illustrated, I am trained and well versed in a wide range of therapeutic modalities and work in a collaborative and culturally-sensitive way in order to create a powerful therapeutic relationship, something that is recognised as being the most crucial factor in positive therapeutic outcomes.

I am able to work with you over the short or long term, focusing primarily on present and future-orientated treatment, but with the opportunity to explore your past and how this can programme the conscious and unconscious minds to have a powerful bearing on your life today, both positive and negative.

Specific issues can also be selectively treated if you want to focus on managing issues that have become problematic and are acting as an obstacle to your life moving forward.

As a clinician, I have extensive experience of completing assessments, formulations and interventions for most mental health disorders, including complex psychological, emotional and behavioural presentations. Working for 17 years in a multi-disciplinary environment within the NHS has afforded me wide experience and perspective of medical, systemic and family, individual, group, psychological and behavioural disciplines.

Working together

At the initial session together we can work out what you want and what you would like to achieve in your time working with me. We can then agree on which method of working will support you to achieve your vision of what you would like your life to look like at the end of our work together.

Conditions and issues I work with, but not exclusively, are:

Anxieties:

Low Mood states:

Managing adverse life events:

Parenting

In addition to the treatment of adults and young people I have a wealth experience of working with parents/carers in conjunction with the treatments I am offering. Also, I offer consultations to help parents acquire a deeper understanding of the needs of their children and what might support their capacity to manage their challenges and work towards more harmonious relationships with their children.

I have run many adolescent parenting workshops over the years using the latest neuro scientific research to support greater understanding of the teenage brain and how best to work alongside your children.

Brief explanations of my therapeutic approaches

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a type of collaborative treatment that is based on the relationship between client and therapist/counsellor. Grounded in open communication, it offers a supportive environment where clients can talk freely with someone who is neutral and non-judgmental. Together, the client and therapist can recognise the thoughts, beliefs and behaviours that may be preventing the client from living their life in the most fulfilling way open to them.

Integrative Counselling

Integrative counselling and psychotherapy is a multi-faceted treatment approach. Its strategies are found in every successful solution focused form of therapy. Overall, this approach believes that there is no single approach to psychological intervention that will work for every client. Instead, each person is distinct and unique, which means that a one-size fits all approach to therapy simply can’t be effective.

What is CBT Therapy?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that involves talking to help manage issues by altering thoughts and behaviours. It is based on the psychological theory that actions, feelings, physical sensations, thoughts and beliefs are all connected and that managing them more effectively can support a more helpful and desirable way of living.

Solution-Focused Therapy

Solution-focused therapy concentrates on solutions and is directed by goals and being future-focused. Considered to be a practical and goal-driven model, Solution-Focused Therapy places an emphasis on concise, clear, and realistic goal negotiations. It assumes that all clients have some idea of what could be done to improve their lives and already possess the minimum skills needed to create solutions, even though they may require support in finding the necessary measures to create a better life for themselves.

Neuro Linguistic Programming and Coaching

NLP is the study of human excellence and makes available a body of knowledge on how human beings go about making sense of their experiences and how they interact with their environments and other people. It focuses on the Neurology of learning and how this can be changed favourably by using the unconscious and conscious mind to influence the future with a focus on utilising what we think, hear, feel and believe to support our desire to live better, happier and more fulfilling lives.

This is achieved with a focus on the role our nervous system plays in our life. It supports the care of the body, is sensitive to its needs, and manages our health and activity levels. It processes information from the world around us and supports more helpful thinking, emotions, habits and choices.

Summarising:

With so much experience of reflective practice I would look to utilise all, or some,of the above approaches to treatment with an integration of all modalities into a format that will work for you. We will be focused on the present, but we can explore the option of reviewing the influence of your past, what unconscious patterns may be influencing your present day beliefs and actions. This will permit you greater freedom to make choices that are more aligned to your values and in line with your wishes, goals and intentions. In short, therapy can help you understand why you do what you do, whilst giving you the option to doing something different if it is helpful and desirable.