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Counselling & Psychotherapy
What type of therapy?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a widely practiced and extensively researched approach, for working with emotional difficulties.
It assumes that coping strategies develop in early childhood. In many respects these patterns become largely unconscious to us and so their effects on behaviour and mental states can be profound.
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Many people attend therapy and for many different reasons. You may be experiencing difficulties in a relationship? You may be unsure of the direction of your career or in another commitment? It may also not be entirely clear to you why you feel uneasy or dissatisfied - unable to move forward? You may feel at a crisis point or you may not?
You may be suffering from specific problems such as chronic depression, anxiety or persistent anger? Or perhaps have been diagnosed with a physical or mental illness and require more supportive or structured care?
You may decide to embark on time limited as opposed to open ended work? You may be unsure what would be best for you? A commitment to therapy is a challenge. It is a place where solutions are not necessarily initially apparent. Doubt and uncertainty in regard to your circumstance will most likely be reflected in our work together however what therapy strives to provides is a unique atmosphere where the complexities of your internal world can be thought about safely - without fear of judgement and in confidence.
There is no definitive reason for seeking this unique experience and one could argue there are very few relationships that reflect a therapeutic one.
I retain experience and particular understanding in these areas: Depression, Anxiety, Relationship difficulties, Personality disorders, Trauma, Low self-esteem, Stress, Bereavement, Sexuality issues, Domestic violence, Loneliness and isolation, Childhood sexual abuse, Eating disorders, Addictions.
I am particularly interested to understand the impact and mechanisms of anxiety and it's impact on relationships, especially for those in abusive and/or co-dependent relationships. In how this situation impacts ones sense of meaning and the ability to support a previously held set of values.
Typically I don't see individuals requiring acute psychiatric care or who are actively suicidal, in private practice.
We all struggle with our emotions, understanding ourselves and how we relate to others. The complex process of gaining insight begins in utero and develops throughout our lives.
We tend to make sense of ourselves in relation to those we are close too and for this reason the relational patterns established in childhood play a crucial role in how we develop as people and how we make sense of our own thoughts and feelings. Personalities are dynamic by nature - but we all have hopes and expectations. Sometimes we want to be close to others and sometimes we want to defend ourselves against our experience of others. We also all experience times when we feel less in touch with reality. Often this occurs when we are stressed, disconnected or lonely, or suffering low mood. On occasion our overall sense of ourselves can become ruptured and breakdown. This can be down to a new experience, a new perspective, a life event or stage of life.
I work psychodynamically. This means attending to relationship dynamics, unconscious communication and processes, developmental history and what occurs between us. Psychotherapy can be challenging and involves self reflection to identify patterns of relating. It can also be hugely rewarding and in some instances life changing by offering greater self awareness; improving relationships and life experiences.
Our work would begin by sharing details of your particular difficulties, background and circumstances. We would then work together to understand the dynamics established by these experiences, in the present and from the past. How it is that you are suffering and what assumptions might be supporting this way of coping.
Psychodynamic ideas are widely regarded as integral too many (if not most) counselling modalities. Contemporary theories focus on unconscious processes and predominantly on dialectic, relational qualities of the human condition but also pay attention to structural theories of the mind.
During the initial consultation we would consider the goals of our work together and agree a day and time to meet on a weekly basis. This regular time will then be yours, for the duration of our work together.
What we discuss would be strictly confidential in nature (however there are some exceptions). I will ask you for some specific details such as your address, email and GP contact. We would agree on a fee for the work and on how to approach breaks and absences. (We would also aim to review our work periodically.)
From this point forward we would seek to establish a space where at each session you could bring whatever thoughts and feelings are important to you. I will listen and think with you about this material and gradually we will begin to form a picture of your internal world and together think about how to better understand, experience and strengthen it.