Why therapy?

It is often a difficult process to reach a decision to seek therapy. More often than not many solutions have already been tried. It can then be a daunting prospect to speak to a stranger about emotive, personal issues. It takes courage to ask for help and to raise difficult topics. In therapy you will be provided with a safe space in which you can express the difficulties you are experiencing and feel deeply listened to. You will also be encouraged to explore your strengths and resources, empowering you to face these difficulties with a sense of resilience. Whilst some of the topics we bring to therapy can feel burdensome, the aim of therapy is to lighten the load.
Psychological therapy offers a regular and confidential space to explore difficulties in order to seek understanding and develop ways to move forward. Therapy can be helpful to overcome upsetting early life experiences, situational stressors such as moving country, unemployment, divorce or bereavement, as well as readjusting after traumatic events that can trigger a number of mental health difficulties, for which psychological therapy has been shown to be effective.
If you are uncertain about meeting a psychologist or simply want to find out more about mental health and therapy, check out the useful links page, which include helplines, self-help manuals, a free online CBT programme and information about mental health related issues. You can also read people's experience of working with me in the testimonials section.
 
 
Therapy across the lifespan
 
Adults come to therapy for a variety of reasons, such as feelings of depression, low self-esteem and different forms of anxiety, as well as obsessions, addictive behaviours, phobias, eating disorders, irritability or aggression and somatic complaints (such as unexplained aches and pains). Many people find ways to manage difficulties, but sometimes it can reach a point when these difficulties start getting in the way of you being able to live your life as you would like to. 
Sometimes it is other people who notice changes in our behaviour, or relationships can become problematic.
Mental health difficulties can affect, and be affected by, other areas of our life such as relationships, work, or our enjoyment of leisure activities. Life events, past or present, and life circumstances can simply make certain times of our life more difficult.
Therapy can help us identify what bothers us most and how we can tackle it to make improvements in our quality of life.
 
Sometimes just the prospect of becoming a parent can be fraught with difficult emotions and the early weeks and months after a baby’s birth are often exhausting. Whilst most people will experience this as stressful to some degree, some circumstances or life experiences can leave many feeling exceptionally vulnerable. Therapy can help parents-to-be and parents of infants work towards increased wellbeing and a better start for the infant’s early life when it feels particularly difficult.
 
Being a parent can be stressful at the best of times. Young infants and children can sometimes show signs of emotional or behavioural difficulties, which make parenting even more difficult. 
A child’s needs and abilities change and develop rapidly. Their family and their environment can have an enormous impact on their wellbeing, and it is therefore important always to consider children’s context and significant relationships. Therapy provides a space to identify a child’s needs and difficulties as well as highlight their strengths and resources to determine how best to support their psychological development and wellbeing within the context of their family. 
Therapy sessions will usually include some talking but can also include play, drawing and other creative methods to help younger children express their thoughts and feelings. Whilst children often benefit from their own confidential space, it is also important to meet with parents to develop a shared understanding of problems and empower both child and parent to overcome them. It is not unusual for the primary task of therapy with children is in fact with the parents as their connection and attunement to the child is of paramount importance. ​
 
Adolescence and young adulthood can be a thrilling time. However, it is also a time filled with personal questions and external pressures, as well as the gradual separation from the close family unit and developing independence. This can be a particularly stressful time for some young people and their families. Certain circumstances, like moving schools, the birth of a sibling, divorce or other family problems as well as a variety of upsetting personal experiences can make it more tricky than usual and mental health difficulties, such as depression or anxiety can make their appearance during this period. Young people’s relationships with their peer group as well as with their bodies, with food, alcohol or drugs can also become problematic.
Young people can be seen on their own in therapy to help manage and overcome these problems, and rules of confidentiality apply. Parents, family, or school can also be included if deemed appropriate and helpful.