Whilst the stigma around having poor mental health is in decline, the reasons for it are certainly not. Who wants to talk about women being perpetrators of domestic violence? Or that you are being bullied at work by a manager half your age? Who understands why, after decades, you 'suddenly' decide to admit you were sexually abused or assaulted?
Carrying the burden of our experiences affects every single part of our lives, our relationships, our sense of self (self esteem), our view of the world. It can even affect our physical health.
Your Story Matters
Maybe you are thinking that there are people worse off than you, that your problems are not traumatic enough? If it's affecting how you live your life, how you feel about yourself and others, it's enough.
Stigma and Mental Health ​
Just as your story is more important than your label, your future is more important than your past. Before you attend your first session, have a think about what you would like your next chapter to be.
How many sessions will you need?
From an individually tailored perspective, the question should be "How many questions would you like to commit to?
Having therapy is an investment, it could literally change your life for the better, but paying for it can be expensive. Some types of therapy take longer than others, for example a basic course of CBT could take 6-8 sessions, whereas DBT, because it combines therapy with interpersonal skills training and because it's often used for clients experiencing severe difficulties, can take up to 12 months.
Please be assured, I work within an ethical framework which means I would never offer you a treatment plan designed to keep you in therapy for longer than you need. In fact, I have been known to turn business away if I believe a certain type of therapy is not effective, Gastric Band Hypnotherapy being one example.
Get Ready to Turn the Page
Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash
Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash
Let Me Guide You
Self hel p is great but has its limitations. Why spend time trying to find the answer on your own when, with my help, you will finally see the way forward?
After only a few sessions, you will have identified the root of the problem, have a set of goals in place and know what you need to do to achieve them.
Counsellors and Therapists are all different too!
In recent times, trainee counsellors have only usually studied one or two types of therapy, namely person centred or CBT. When I did my Diploma back in 2001, I was fortunate enough to be taught many different types, for example, cognitive behavioural, analytical, person centred, Gesault and hypnotherapy.
Coupled with studying psychology up to Masters level, this has given me a more rounded approach to what works and what doesn't.
What Can I Help With?
These are just some of the problems I have helped people with
Anxiety, depression and stress
Poor sleep, phobias, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, anger management, post natal depression, public speaking and performance.
Personality disorders, Eating Disorders, Addictions
Self harm, interpersonal skills training, managing emotions, distress tolerance, attempted suicide or thoughts of taking your own life.
Relationships
Marriage/partner issues, bullying at work, parent/child relationships. Relationships with food (weight loss and maintenance).
Trauma Recovery
Road traffic accidents, miscarriage, child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and rape, sudden illness or disability, bereavement.