Therapy
Depression & Anxiety
Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counselling and treatment, we are able to work together to help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had in your life.
Bereavement and Loss
Life following a bereavement or a loss can throw up many changes and complex and often painful emotions. I work with clients to help them make sense of their loss and find new ways of being and coping whilst processing their grief. The end of a relationship and sudden life changes can also present feelings of loss, shock and grief which can be worked with in a similar way.
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I work with many other issues, including relationship issues, shame, attachment, eating issues, body image, confidence, suicide and self harm, addiction, unhelpful thinking and many more. Working through difficulties and gaining understanding of yourself and your unique experience we can work together to find the blocks to thoughts, behaviour and feelings and enhance your journey to well-being and reach toward your full potential. I also have experience working with brain acquired injury, donor conception and adoption issues.
Couples Counselling
How does couples therapy work?
By working with a therapist you can explore the difficulties in your relationship in a safe way, guided and supported by your therapist. You can explore different ways to communicate more effectively with your partner, unpick old unhelpful patterns and behaviours, and rediscover the strengths in your connection. I will hold a regular safe, unjudgmental space for you to work through issues and assist you both either to committing to improving your partnership , or if it apparent the relationship isn't working out, support you in finding a healthy separation which can reduce the amount of conflict, pain and loss often felt in a break up. I won't tell you what to do but io will offer helpful tools and skills and a more structured approach than is typical in Individual therapy.
Will the counsellor take sides?
Often clients may come to therapy hoping for someone to hear their side of the story and validate their feelings and experiences. I will give each party the opportunity to feel heard, and I commit to providing a neutral unbiased space so each person feels safe, validated and supported. I do challenge unhelpful behaviours and patterns and encourage clients to find new ways of communicating in a healthy way.
What if I want couples therapy but my partner doesn't?
I can only work when both parties are consenting and committing to the therapy. It is sometimes helpful, if one person is not invested in working on the relationship, to work through a few sessions of discernment counselling. This is where both parties can explore the possibility of breaking up or staying together without pressing the eject button too soon. If, after some reflection, the couple don't feel ready to quite call it a day, then they can progress to couples counselling . Couples therapy can also help you deal with a break up more gently and offer coping strategies to manage difficult emotions during difficult times.
How many sessions will i need?
That depends on the needs of the couple and the individuals in the couple. People generally see improvements between 6-12 sessions. Some couples can attend regular therapy sessions once a month to "maintain" the relationship, others may just come to sessions when difficult situations arise.
Typically the first 2 sessions would be weekly, then followed by fortnightly sessions.
I want to leave but i am worried about my kids/family/finances.
We can explore ways to separate in a healthy, unthreatening way, which can help to reduce conflict and difficulties for all those affected by the split. It can be helpful to talk through some of the fears and concerns and work towards an ending which supports the needs of all those involved.
Will couples counselling fix my marriage/relationship?
I won't fix you or your marriage/relationship, annoyingly there is no magic pill! What I will do, through the therapy, is support you in finding more positive ways in which to communicate, explore your blocks and unhelpful patterns, and encourage your relationship to flourish. If both parties are committed to the process it is proven that couples counselling can help support improving a relationship and give you to skills to maintain it. The space can be used to explore common issues, such as money, work, sex, communication, children, differing values and beliefs etc . Alternatively couples therapy can help you to explore ways to have a healthy separation if you decide to move on. The responsibility is with the couple and the therapist is there to hold a safe space providing tools and skills to support the couple realise its full potential.