As a client, you are at the centre of the therapeutic process and although I have the knowledge of human psychology, you are the expert on you and I view therapy as a joint effort in helping you get to where you want to be. Using person centred values, I take a humanistic approach, using the core conditions of unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy to help build a strong therapeutic relationship.
Being a psychologist, I am able to integrate various approaches to meet your needs. The main approaches I use are:
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
This is known as a third wave cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach. Compassion and understanding is the basis of my approach, fostering a place of psychological flexibility. To do this, the main approach used is called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Mindfulness based teachings are intertwined into this along with connection to values making this such a powerful approach.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness has become more popular in western cultures, yet so many struggle to integrate it into their everyday lives, believing it to be all about sitting on the floor, cross legged, meditating. This can be a part of it but the main teaching of mindfulness philosophy is to be present. There are many ways to do this. I’m all for helping people to find ways of being mindful that fit with their every day lives.
Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
This approach is commonly used to treat those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but can also be used effectively for a range of difficulties. It uses bilateral stimulation, predominately eye movement (hence the name!) to help the brain to process ‘stuck’ emotional trauma on a neurological level, allowing the brain to move the content from a present moment threat to a past memory. It cannot erase experiences, but places them gently into the past whilst reducing the intensity of the emotions attached to them into the memory bank.
Attachment Focused EMDR
This approach is specifically helpful for those who have experienced relational trauma and have attachment difficulties.
Flash Technique
I am trained in the flash technique, which was developed to help reduce the distress a person may experience as a result of a past experience without needing to actively engage with the distressing memory. This technique can at times help process the memory itself or be used as part of the process of EMDR.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
This approach takes a look at how the environment, thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviour all contribute to the sense we make of the world. The objective is to identify negative core beliefs and challenge them, establishing the facts from opinions to identify a more balanced belief. Behavioural activation is used to help weaken negative beliefs and strengthen the balanced, alternative one.
Others
I have attended training in other approaches that also informs the way I work:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Transactional analysis (TA)