Therapy and counselling
I offer both counselling and Psychotherapy (therapy). What’s the difference?
Counselling tends to be short term work which focuses on one problem or issue. You will be supported while you get to grips with the problem and as you make adjustments or changes in order to create a better outcome.
Psychotherapy tends to be longer term work involving deeper processes.
If you can see the same painful patterns occurring in your life, psychotherapy will help you identify the reasons and make the changes needed.
We gently explore your past and identify the origins for particular patterns of behaviour or emotional reactions. It’s about understanding your inner world and how your past impacts your life today. You will then be supported while we work on identifying healthier ways to think, feel and behave to make your life today happier.
We all struggle during difficult times …you’re not going mad…and you don’t have to face it alone.
Counselling and therapy is successful for a range of issues including:
Stress: Stress is the feeling of being under too much psychological or emotional pressure and feeling unable to cope. A small amount of stress is normal and it can help push you to do something new or difficult, but too much stress will take its toll on sleep, health and well-being. Once stress escalates out of control or lasts for prolonged periods of time it impacts all areas of life. Learn how to deal with stress by working with a counsellor or psychotherapist and bring back the healthy balance in your life.
Depression: Depression is not uncommon. It causes low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. It is different from feeling distressed which is usually due to a particular cause. Therapy will relieve the intense emotions of anxiety, hopelessness, negativity and helplessness and provides hope for a happier fulfilling future.
Anxiety: everyone gets anxious and worried about things from time to time. However, ongoing anxiety has a negative impact on health and well-being. Therapy and counselling helps you manage your anxiety better and teaches you to enjoy the present rather than living in the past or the future.
Confidence and self-esteem: It’s not uncommon to come to therapy wanting to work on building Confidence and Self-Esteem. Therapy and counselling can help when your displaying negative thoughts about yourself and focusing on weaknesses and mistakes with little acknowledgement of your strengths. During therapy we gently explore where those beliefs came from and who’s expectations you are trying to meet. Therapy will help you identify and implement simple steps to rebuild your self-esteem and confidence.
Menopause support: I’ve completed a research piece on menopause and have special interest in supporting women through this stage in life. Menopause often happens at the time when you’re also facing other major life changes … Children leaving home, elderly parents needing extra support, long term relationships struggling and you’re wondering how to redefine yourself and what your future holds. Doctors may advise on drug treatments but they have no time to offer emotional or psychological support. Therapy offers individual support to help you manage these major life changes and explore who you are and where your life goes next.
I also run women’s mid-life support groups where women talk about their experiences. It’s a safe confidential space for them to explore thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a supportive and nourishing way. If you’d like to join a group please contact me here (contact me link)
Self-harm: Self harm can be a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress. It may be a way to express difficult thoughts and feelings or as a “safety valve to keep ourselves safe. Talking about self-harm to friends and family can be difficult. Therapy will provide you with a safe non-judgemental place to talk freely and in confidence about your thoughts and feelings, to explore the difficulties that drive it and to look at how it affects your wellbeing. During the process we will gently explore your history to see where this originates and look at coping strategies and techniques to help support you through difficult times.
Suicidal tendencies: I have personal experience of suicide and I have worked as a Samaritan in Manchester city centre. The pull to suicide can be very powerful and resisting it can consume all your energy and take over your life. Suicide is often something we feel we can’t discuss with friends and family for fear of distressing them. The therapy room will provide you with a safe confidential and non-judgemental space to truly express yourself and your concerns. You will be able to talk freely about your inner most thoughts, feelings and behaviours. During the process we will gently explore your history to see where this originates from and look at ways of managing “the pull” and living alongside it.
Effects of suicide: Being affected by suicide is devastating and the effects on family members and loved ones can be severe and far-reaching. Those left behind by suicide are often known as suicide survivors and they have to deal with feelings of guilt, failure, anger, resentment, confusion and grief. While this is a very difficult position in which to find yourself, therapy makes it possible to heal and move forward. Studies show that having a close relative or friend end their life increases the risk that someone close them may also consider suicide. Therapy can help and support you through this incredibly difficult time and explore ways to build healthy thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Couples: All relationships go through ups and downs but couples can leave it too late to get relationship help. Having couple therapy can stop the damage, prevent conflict and promote relationship healing. Couple therapy helps you both feel heard, provides techniques for resolving conflict and will bring loving and romance back into your relationship.
Relationships: Content to follow
Abusive relationships: Abuse can happen in any relationship whatever your sex, age, income or background. It can be hard to admit that you’re in an abusive relationship…you may feel you’re walking on egg shells and keep hoping things will get better There may be physical signs such as pushing, hitting or throwing things. Or verbal issues, where you’re constantly being put down or shouted at. There may be controlling behaviour where you’re being manipulated, being given ultimatums all the time, or where your partner exerts financial or sexual control over you. You may think it’s all your fault and wonder if you’re going mad. Therapy will help you identify what your needs are, whether they are being met in the relationship and to explore all your options. It will support you while you establish boundaries and work towards keeping yourself emotionally and physically safe while working towards feeling better sooner.
I have first-hand experience of surviving a long term abusive relationship, the difficulty in leaving one and the impacts it has. I know how hard it is and I can offer the exact support you’re looking for.
Toxic relationship recovery: Content to follow
