Counselling and Psychotherapy

One of the most common myths of therapy is that it is only for those people who are mentally ill or those unable to help themselves. Rather, most people can benefit from therapy. In fact, most therapists themselves have gone through personal therapy and many prominent therapists recommend returning to therapy on a regular basis. Although therapy is a powerful way of helping people who are struggling to get by in life, it is also a valuable resource for people seeking deeper relationships, more authentic living, and greater life satisfaction. In other words, therapy is for anyone desiring growth or healing, or wanting changes to their behaviours.

Talking to a therapist may help you to gain a perspective about the issues(s) troubling you. Together we will explore your experiences and consider what might be stopping you from reaching your full potential. Therapists are trained to look beyond presenting problems to possible underlying causes. You will not be told what to do, as the aim of the therapy process is to enable you to understand and accept yourself, change your behaviour to that which is more rewarding for you and to help you move towards becoming the person you wish to be. I understand that life is complex and I want to provide a space for you to explore and improve your mental health wellbeing in order to enrich your life.

On occasions you may feel that therapy is distressing, confusing or may seem unhelpful – it is important to talk about these feelings rather than stopping therapy abruptly.

My clients have brought issues including: eating problems including bulimia, binge eating & anorexia; depression; anxiety; stress; addictions; bereavement; obsessive compulsive disorder; panic problems; phobias; relationship difficulties; interpersonal problems; sleep difficulties; problems associated with learning disabilities including autism; chronic fatigue; chronic pain; work problems; post-traumatic stress; general stress; abuse issues; and anger problems. This list is not exhaustive - I am prepared to work with whatever problem a client is prepared to bring.

I work with people from all nationalities, all ethnicities, all faiths, all sexual orientations, all degrees of 'able-bodiedness', from adolescence upwards.

I practice as an integrative therapist. This allows me to use a variety of skills and tools to tailor the right treatment therapy for you depending on your needs and issues. Therapeutic approaches may include: cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, solution focused therapy and specialist supportive care. Some issues respond better to different modes of therapy, and we can discuss which may be best or feel right for you in the assessment.

• Helps people identify problems and crises and encourages them to take positive steps to resolve these issues.
• It is the best course of therapeutic treatment for anyone who already has an understanding of wellbeing, and who is also able to resolve problems.
• Counselling is a short-term process that encourages the change of behaviour.

• Helps people with psychological problems that have built up over the course of a long period of time.
• It will help you understand your feelings, thoughts and actions more clearly.
• Psychotherapy is a longer-term process of treatment that identifies emotional issues and the background to problems and difficulties.

I offer all prospective clients an initial assessment consultation. The initial session is usually seen as a mutual assessment, to explore if therapy is right for you and how it might be helpful. This also provides both of us the opportunity to decide whether we wish to work together. If we are not to work together I attempt to assist by providing, wherever possible, alternative therapists and agencies to contact.

If we decide we wish to work together, it is normal practice to suggest making a contract to meet for an agreed the number of appropriate sessions, which will allow enough time to explore the issues that have been troubling you. At the end of this period we jointly assess progress and decide if further sessions are needed.

I adhere to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapists (BACP) Ethical Framework (2002). A copy is of this is available to you at www.bacp.co.uk. I also adhere to the Nursing & Midwifery Council Code of Conduct. A copy of this is available at www.nmc-uk.org.

The content of sessions will be kept confidential. However, confidentiality will be broken if you or someone else is at serious risk, or a court compels me to do so. Nonetheless, this would, wherever possible, be discussed with you first.

A requirement of the BACP is that therapists receive regular supervision and ongoing training which necessitates client material being used, in written work and discussions, for the purposes of training and further learning. In such circumstances, neither names nor any identifiable features are used; however should you feel uncomfortable about this, please discuss it with me.

All records are kept in regulation with the Data Protection Act.

Anyone who is receiving therapy can complain to the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. In the first instance please discuss your concerns with me if it seems appropriate. It is usually helpful to make the complaint as soon as possible after the event.