TREATMENTS OFFERED

Is anxiety stopping you enjoying life or achieving your goals?  Do you experience panic attacks? Do you worry about relationships? Do you suffer from social anxiety? Perhaps you need to practise setting boundaries, increase resilience, leave a relationship or stressful job, heal adult or childhood trauma or just take better care of yourself? Therapy can help you understand the source and meaning of your anxiety  and learn strategies to reduce symptoms

Depression and anxiety often occur together  as fear and struggle give way to hopelessness and inertia. 

Depression involves sad, heavy or dark thoughts, low mood and a body state of inertia. You may feel no energy,  no motivation, no hopes for the future or even thoughts of suicide. Talk therapy, exercise and Mindfulness have been shown to be as effective as medication in treating depression. Diet is also an important factor. However, medications are an essential treatment when depression does not respond to talk therapy and lifestyle changes and I will be guided by your current recommendations from your GP. Perhaps you are already taking medication and would like to try other new self- management skills to support your recovery and need encouragement to stick to your plan? Understanding what is contributing to your depression, whether it be grief, loss or other difficult challenges in your past or current life situation, exploring feelings and thoughts, and learning to accept these with self compassion will begin your journey to recovery. 

Don’t just wait and hope that things will improve if a situation is affecting your mental health. The workplace can be a supportive and respectful place or it can be a minefield! If you are losing sleep, then you need adequate support and a plan of action. In my work as an EAP counsellor I have experience in counselling people with issues including anxiety, depression,  sexual harassment, bullying, redundancies and unemployment. Together we will bring self-management strategies, interpersonal psychology and your desired outcomes to your issue, help you manage your distress and decide on the next steps to take. 

Why are we attracted to certain partners? Why does conflict invariably arise in a relationship and how can we manage it? Individual counselling about your relationship or a recent break-up can help you understand your relationship style.  We will work together on helping you articulate feelings, set boundaries and understand how you and your partner can create a harmonious bond that supports your needs and allows for individuality. Post-breakup counselling can be so helpful in preventing you falling into future relationship traps that could bring pain and disappointment. 

Can we learn to be  team players rather than opponents in a committed relationship? Couple therapy provides a space to gain a better understanding of your partner and yourself as well as a space to work through issues and heal past hurts, regain feelings of partnership, intimacy, validation and commitment. This generally involves learning a new way of looking at relationships where both partners are involved in self-growth and supporting their partner to grow. 

Early relationships with our primary care-givers, usually our parents, set the blueprint for our future relationships.  We have “programmed” expectations and ways of reacting to our partner that can result in difficulties. Families have different “rules of engagement” and these unconscious behaviours can create misunderstanding and a type of “mind reading” called projection.  Once understood, you can learn new ways of relating that support both intimacy and individual growth. I use ideas from a number of models of psychotherapy and couple therapy such as; Psychodynamic, Family Systems Theory and the Developmental Model. Couple therapy requires respect and sensitivity on the part of the therapist as well as skills in setting the pace of the therapy. I will listen to your feedback and support you fully in processing emotions in the sessions. 

Therapy can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing. Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic events or adverse childhood experiences.  Fear, anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, insomnia, triggering and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger as post traumatic events.  Unresolved trauma can cause relationship difficulties and in many cases, can lead to addictions or other self sabotaging coping mechanisms. 

*Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 

Individual counselling provides tailored interventions to help you understand your vulnerability to addiction and supports you to learn strategies to prevent relapse.  Confidentiality to work with shame and bring self-compassion into your life will benefit you and your loved ones. I encourage clients with addictions to also seek support from specialised groups such as AA, GA, NA and SMART Recovery, because the support of others on a similar journey is inspiring and provides a sense of belonging when you may have burnt bridges in the past. Both individual treatment and group approaches will provide you with support in different ways. 

For individuals or couples,  appointments can be face to face in my Rhodes office or alternatively, due to your work commitments  I offer online Zoom sessions which are held from the safety of your own home  at a time that is convenient for you.