Counselling and Psychological Therapy

My training as a Chartered Counselling Psychologist required 6 years study of mental health disorders, psychological theories of human development, personality and behaviour alongside studying models of psychological therapy and supervised clinical placements. This means that I have attained the highest level of training in Counselling Psychology and that I am bound by the codes of ethics specific to my professional bodies. Following Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS),  I spent over 20 years working in NHS mental health services with adults experiencing a wide range of mental health, emotional and behavioural concerns.

 
In my practise I see individual adult clients over the age of 18 years until their most senior years and also provide workshops and training for groups.  I offer an integrative model of therapy which draws on  a range of psychological frameworks and approaches:

Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) explores how your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes affect your feelings and behaviour.  In CBT, client and  therapist work together to identify and challenge any negative thinking patterns and behaviour which may be causing you difficulties. It is recommended  by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the psychological treatment of anxiety and depression.    

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is a therapeutic technique to learn to manage stressful situations and emotions in your professional and personal life by focusing awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. 

Compassion Focused therapy  focuses on helping clients relate to their difficulties in compassionate ways, and to provide them with effective tools to work with challenging circumstances and emotions.

Solution Focused therapy  aims to identify a person's strengths and the resources that you have that can be draw on to find solutions which allow you to achieve your goals.  

Person-Centred therapy focuses on facilitating personal growth. At its core is the belief that all individuals will naturally work towards personal development. That everyone carries within themselves their own answers. The therapy allows for a non-directive exploration by the client of their own strength and personal identity.

I aim to provide a calm, empathic and non-judgemental space in which to listen,  reflect and explore. I am able to offer both brief and longer-term therapy. Also telephone/Skype counselling.