Anxiety is really horrible and for some a debilitating feeling. It is fed by fear although often this deep rooted fear can remain unknown to the individual.
Fear causes the individual to feel worried and anxious about all sorts of situations and experiences that may seem entirely irrational to others. Anxiety is often seen in behaviours that severely limit and restrict the way life is lived; this can look like perfectionism, reassurance seeking, inflexibility and isolation.
People who suffer with anxiety may at times feel overwhelmed and panicked. The physical response can be seen by a rapid heart rate, sweating and a sense of impending doom. Working with anxiety and fear begins by learning techniques to bring the body under control, whilst at the same time using therapy as a dumping ground for your thoughts and feelings. Slowly we will begin to find ways to help you cope with difficult feelings and develop awareness of a formula that works for you to maintain anxiety free living.
Addiction comes in many forms; substances, alcohol, food, sex, pornography, gambling, gaming, exercise and eating disorders are a few examples.
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It is possible to recover from addiction, with the support and specialist interventions that are right for you. ​I worked for many years in Addictions. I am familiar with the ways that different front line services and communities are prevented from offering the ongoing psychological support necessary to resolve the pain behind addiction.
"Don't ask why the addiction, ask why the pain?" Dr Gabor Mate.
Governance
I am governed and work to the Code of Practice of UKATA. In the unlikely circumstances of a complaint about me or me work UKATA is the body that would manage your complaint. You can link to the UKATA website on their button below.
Supervision
I attend regular specialist supervision as part of my ethical commitment to professional and safe practice. Supervision requires me to reflect on my work, consider areas of development and ensure I work within the highest standards. All client details are anonymised.
At some point in our lifetime death, endings and loss touch us all. For many, these life experiences are the least talked about and understood.
People might come into therapy to process a loss that is imminent and recent as well as those from a long time ago. Sometimes the loss feels overwhelming, complicated and confusing.
Therapy provides a safe place to talk, think and feel for as long as you need to about the deaths, losses and dying that is important to you.
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I have received excellent training from St Barnabas Hospice where I worked as a grief and palliative counsellor for several years. I have worked with a wide variety of age groups, relationships and different losses.
Trauma can be caused by a single event.
Trauma can be caused by continuous exposure over time.
Trauma can be caused by actual events as well as threatened physical / emotional harm.
Trauma is very personal and specific to the individual. You cannot compare traumas or the impact on different people. Sometimes people are not aware that an experience was traumatic; instead they may be aware that it was a significant/bad/reoccurring event in their life.
Trauma is remembered by your brain and body. That's right your BODY remembers and stores trauma. This means that it is possible for you to re-experience trauma in seemingly unconnected events. This can cause you to feel that you will never be free from it.
The important news if you have experienced trauma, is that recovery is possible. You may not believe that at the moment.
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Working with Trauma in therapy requires specialist training and supervision. I take this very seriously. In addition I have 15 years experience working with trauma. I work in a way that is accredited, informed, safe and responsible.
