Therapy Sessions
Finding it hard to set limits in relationships? Struggling to show up as you would like with others? Maybe you are finding it hard to "move on" from something that has happened to you. Or you feel stuck acting in ways that are linked to your past, even though you know this isn't helping you. Carrying pain or struggle can feel exhausting to do alone.
If you are seeking a space where you can feel understood, grounded, and supported, while also being gently challenged to move toward the change you’re seeking, get in touch to discuss how my compassionate approach might be the right fit for you.
Therapy with me is a space to explore your story at your own pace, with someone alongside you. My aim is to help you understand what’s happening, why it makes sense, and what might support you in moving forward in a way that feels right for you.
Therapy sessions can be offered on a weekly or fortnightly basis initially. We regularly review how things are going, and it might be that over time, session frequency is reduced.
Face to face therapy is offered in my clinic space in central Bodmin.
I am experienced in a range of therapy models and this is something that will be discussed as part of your assessment to decide what might best suit your needs.
Information about the models and theories I use can be found by clicking on each one below;
I use a trauma-informed approach supporting adults in working with difficulties which might include anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, self-criticism, single and multiple traumas, and personality difficulties.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a therapeutic approach that aims to help those who struggle with shame and self-criticism.
CFT teaches clients to cultivate the skills of self-compassion and other-oriented compassion, which are thought to help regulate mood and lead to feelings of safety, self-acceptance, and comfort.
CFT can be used to help manage many long-term emotional problems related to persistent shame, self-criticism, and an inability to view one’s self and one’s behaviours kindly and compassionately.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy model utilising an eight-phase treatment to support the processing of distressing memories.
Using the natural healing ability of your body, processing involves the use of eye movements, similar to those during REM sleep, to support the processing of memories through bilateral stimulation. EMDR helps the brain “unstick” the traumatic memory, allowing it to be integrated with other experiences and reducing its emotional intensity
EMDR is well researched and has shown effectiveness in resolving difficulties people experience in relation to traumatic stress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and relationship difficulties
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
NET is an individualised evidence-based intervention designed to treat people with PTSD and trauma disorders associated with multiple and complex trauma histories. It has been a NICE recommended treatment for PTSD since 2018.
NET aims to alleviate the emotional, cognitive, and behavioural symptoms associated with trauma(s) by creating a chronological life history in order to integrate fragmented trauma memories into a coherent narrative.
NET consists of four parts:
1) Diagnostic interview and psychoeducation
2) Laying out the Lifeline
3) Memory processing
4) Reading through the complete narrative.
Symbols are usually used to guide the individual through a step-by-step account of what happened to them (laying the lifeline). This is often stones to mark a particularly negative time and flowers to donate happier experiences. The size of each can be representative of the level of emotion.
One of the reasons NET is used for people who have experienced multiple or complex traumas is that it enables them to explore their entire lived experience and the impact that has on their identity. In some cases, the client is given a written copy of their narration, to help them to continue to process and contextualise the trauma, reducing the negative associations and reactions.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term form of psychotherapy based on the idea that the way someone thinks and feels affects the way he or she behaves.
CBT aims to help clients resolve present-day challenges such as depression or anxiety, relationship problems, anger issues, stress, or other common concerns that negatively affect mental health and quality of life.
The goal of treatment is to help clients identify, challenge, and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to change their responses to difficult situations.
Attachment Theory
Attachment theory focuses on relationships and bonds (particularly long-term) between people, including those between a parent and child and between romantic partners. It is a psychological explanation for the emotional bonds and relationships between people.
The theory suggests that people are born with a need to forge bonds with caregivers as children. These early bonds may continue to have an influence on attachments throughout life.
Although attachment styles displayed in adulthood are not necessarily the same as those seen in infancy, early attachments can have a serious impact on later relationships. Adults who were securely attached in childhood tend to have good self-esteem, strong romantic relationships, and the ability to self-disclose to others.
