Therapy Details

THERAPY DESCRIPTION

I view therapy as a collaborative partnership in which I seek to work at your optimum level; in a compassionate but challenging way, to help you achieve your goals.

I use effective techniques supported by the latest scientific research

Therapy Benefits

Most people go through difficult and challenging times at some point. Life is not always easy or straightforward. There are many reasons people come to a therapist and there is no limit to what can be discussed in therapy.

Seeking the help of a qualified therapist and counsellor can assist you to explore thoughts and emotions and make sense of why you are thinking and feeling a certain way. Some of the benefits of therapy are:

  • improved communication and interpersonal skills
  • greater self-acceptance and self-esteem
  • ability to change self-defeating behaviors/habits
  • better expression and management of emotions, including anger
  • relief from depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions
  • increased confidence and decision-making skills
  • ability to manage stress effectively
  • improved problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities
  • greater sense of self and purpose
  • recognition of distorted thinking

HOW DOES THERAPY WORK

My Approach

It can be helpful to know about how I work as a therapist. I am trained in a number of counselling approaches including Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Family Therapy. My aim is to use the type of counselling or psychotherapy that is most appropriate to each individual client, based on the client’s needs at the time. A type of therapy that works well for one person may not work well for someone else.

I take a collaborative approach in developing a treatment strategy. Through exercises in the session as
well as “homework” exercises outside of sessions, clients are helped to develop more effective ways of coping with life.

Therapy can be short or longer-term and my clients can end therapy at any time, just by letting me know.

Therapy is a very personal experience. Each client needs to feel positive about their therapist so that a trusting, confidential relationship can develop. It’s through this private relationship that therapy is effective.

Acceptance Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets it name from one of its core messages: accept what is out of your personal control, and commit to action that improves and enriches your life.

The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential for a rich, full and meaningful life:

a) teaching you psychological skills to deal with your painful thoughts and feelings effectively

b) helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you – i.e your values – then use that knowledge to guide, inspire and motivate you to change your life for the better.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

CBT is based on several core principles, including:

  1. Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
  2. Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behaviour.
  3. People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their
    symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.


CBT treatment involves learning strategies to change thinking patterns.

CBT treatment can also include learning strategies to change behavioural patterns.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy is a method of therapy that separates a person from their problem. It encourages people to rely on their own skills to minimise problems that exist in their lives. 

Throughout life, personal experiences become personal stories. People give these stories meaning, and the stories help shape a person’s identity. Narrative therapy uses the power of these stories to help people discover their life purpose. This is often done by assigning that person the role of “narrator” in their own story.

The process of Narrative Therapy can include:

  • Helping people objectify their problems
  • Framing the problems within a larger sociocultural context
  • Teaching the person how to make room for other stories