MY SPECIALTIES
Individual Therapy/Counselling
Here the therapy occurs between the client and therapist, either face to face, in the safe and comfortable space of the private practice, or via zoom. Both mediums are equally valuable and offer the same level of attention and quality of response and engagement by the therapist.
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Zoom has the clear advantage of practicality and time efficiency and as such is an effective way to work for those at a distance or in another country. My experience of many years of therapeutic working allows for a deep sense of communication and healing relationship within the virtual medium. I work with the client to ensure that maximum benefit is derived, and that the fact of the physical distance is no barrier to the quality of the work or the engagement.
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Face to face therapy can provide a strong and substantial sense of holding and presence for those who are geographically situated to avail of it. I provide a calm, warm, bright and nurturing space for the work and am located in a rural setting where the surrounding nature adds to the feeling of stepping out of the world for a brief time and turning the focus inward.
Hybrid working allows clients to engage in both modalities and attend in person where possible and by zoom where circumstances prevent. It can be advantageous to work in this way as zoom working can have an added dimension following face to face engagement, where an in person connection has been established.
Areas of expertise;
‘ Trauma/Abuse/Violence
.Sexual Abuse
.Domestic Violence
.Grief
. Bereavement and Loss
. Addiction
‘Parenting
.Relationships
. Occupational Issues and Discord
.Loneliness
.Loss of Direction/Purpose
Gender Identity
‘Work with older adolescents
.Family Issues
‘ Depression
‘ Anger
. Sexuality
.Fear/ Dread
‘ Childhood Trauma and Neglect
. Negotiating Transitions
Group Therapy for Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma and Abuse
Having worked for over 20 years within the specialism of treating abuse and trauma survivors, I developed an original group treatment model for effective and transformative working through the issues that come with this difficult legacy. This treatment model is available in a book published by Routledge and is a model that I have run and refined over 20 years both privately and within The National Counselling Service.
These groups comprise of Adult Survivors of Abuse and follow a structured approach to working through the themes that typically arise for survivors. A clear contract is established at the outset regarding confidentiality and a culture of respectful communication that will promote and encourage safety, honesty and authenticity. The model is a combination of an educational and a process model due to the need to be clear about the dynamics of abuse and the need to be open about its personal impact. Relaxation, meditation and artwork are used as valuable tools along the way to encourage presence and stability and to illustrate methods of containing strong emotion and memory,
Group therapy has a profound benefit for those clients who are ready and deemed suitable. It is preferable to have completed a period of individual work with a therapist and to have established some sense of self awareness from having engaged in therapy previously, although this may not always be necessary. If you feel that this is your preference, despite not having had therapy, it may indeed be right for you however it will be necessary to attend for some individual sessions prior to attending. This is to ensure that the group is the most beneficial step for you at this time.
Group intake times vary as these groups are closed, meaning that the group begins and ends with the same members with no additional members joining as we go. Group membership consists of 6 to 8 participants and the group will run on a weekly basis for a period of approximately nine months. Breaks are scheduled in advance for public holidays etc within that time frame, All participants are asked to make a commitment to the full length of the group as this greatly aids the cohesion, community and healing effect of the endeavour.
Clinical Supervision and Training
This service is available to Counsellor/Therapists who are;
. In Training
‘Working in Practice
‘ Senior Practitioners
. Clinical Supervisors
.Therapists who would like to run a group for survivors of abuse and trauma
. Group Therapists working with survivors of abuse and trauma
The purpose of Clinical Supervision is to provide a safe and occasionally challenging space for therapists or supervisors to review and consider their work with clients and colleagues. Therapeutic work contains challenges, and it is imperative that therapists have the opportunity to tease out issues of transference, counter transference and projection within a safe and non-judgemental relationship that also upholds and gatekeeps high standards of practice. Therapists may also have a need to consider dynamics that arise within the institutions that they work for and with and this is also a valuable use of supervision time.