Psychotherapy and Counselling
As a human givens therapist I offer reliable and practical help. Without 'psychobabble' and using the best current knowledge about resolving difficulties, and utilising up-to-date therapeutic techniques, I can help you move on with your life as quickly as possible.
For further information on Human Givens therapy please check out the main HG site on www.hgi.org.uk or by reading more about Human Givens on this site.
The Human Givens approach is supported by Primary Care Mental Health Education (Primhe), affiliated with the Royal College of General Practitioners.
The Human Givens approach draws on the latest findings from psychology and neurobiology about how people really function and what we need to lead fulfilling lives. It also takes into account international research studies that have established which psychotherapeutic techniques are the most effective for relieving a wide range of emotional distress and behavioural difficulties.
Although we are unique individuals, we all come into the world with the same basic physical and emotional needs: physical needs such as for air, sustenance, shelter and warmth and emotional needs such as for security, attention, being emotionally connected with others, feeling in control, having status and the sense that life is meaningful, which comes from being healthily stretched in our lives.
It is a law of nature that if we are getting our innate needs met in a balanced way, we cannot become stressed or develop mental illness.
Everyone's situation is different, but we aim to take as few sessions as possible and you can fully expect improvements to begin from the first session. There is no commitment to the number or frequency of sessions you have and you are welcome to decide at the end of each session whether you would like to book another.
Therapists, counsellors and psychiatrists trained in the Human Givens approach focus on finding out what exactly is preventing a distressed person from getting their innate needs met and helping them to do something about it by using their innate resources creatively in new ways.
I am able to offer practical help in the here and now, based on a sound body of scientific knowledge and skills that have been proven to be effective. Therapy does not need to be lengthy or painful to be effective. While clearly, our past is very relevant, and may well need to be looked at in the context of the here and now, research has shown that talking repeatedly about stressful events or difficult feelings is not the best way to help individuals move forward in their lives
As a Human Givens therapist I have also been trained in the "rewind technique" which is being used across the country to help military veterans suffering from PTSD. The rewind technique can be particularly beneficial from anyone suffering from PTSD or suffering from the effects of trauma .
Human Givens
Wherever the human givens approach is implemented – in the fields of mental and physical health, welfare and social care, education, coaching, business or diplomacy, for instance – people find it soon benefits everyone involved. Here are some of the reasons why:
It provides a clear framework of what all human beings need to live mentally healthy and fulfilling lives – based on a solid understanding of the essentials needs and resources we are all born with, whatever our circumstances or cultural background
Helps to identify why a person is experiencing their current difficulties and what can be done about it
Applies the very latest insights from neuroscience and psychological research
Explains in clear terms the causes of a wide range of emotional distress and behavioural problems
Uses the most effective psychotherapeutic techniques from a wide range of approaches, combining them into one highly effective and flexible ‘tool box’
Provides a practical, holistic way of working with patients and enables therapy to be easily tailored to each individual’s needs
Research demonstrates that Human Givens therapy (HGT) works quickly and effectively – in four to six sessions on average
Uses clear, jargon-free language
It empowers clients by helping them to understand their symptoms and why they got into difficulties, as well as what they need to do to avoid them in the future, whilst also providing them with effective strategies to help them cope if they do
For further information on the Human Givens approach please visit www.hgi.org.uk
Individual Therapy
Our work will begin with me listening – really listening – to what has been going on for you and what has brought you to seek some support. Using the most up-to-date understanding, tools and techniques we will, together, formulate a plan for moving forward, and then work through it in a way, and at a pace, that is right for you as an individual.
The approach that I take draws on the best of CBT, person centred and solution focused therapy, set within a holistic understanding of what we need as human beings to lead emotionally healthy lives. It is fast and effective with most people where they want to be in around 4-6 sessions (sometimes less, occasionally a few more).My aim is always that you will leave each session feeling a little better, more hopeful and more confident in your ability to recover or make the changes that you would like to see in your life.
Using the most up-to-date psychotherapeutic understanding and techniques, I will always strive to help you move forward with your life as swiftly and effectively as possible – but at a pace suited to your practical and therapeutic needs.
People are often apprehensive about therapy as they feel it may be a very painful and lengthy process, where they are encouraged to talk repeatedly about difficult feelings or events – or even to dig up memories that they would prefer not to have to revisit. I don’t work that way because the latest research shows that this is not the best way to help people move forward.
Couples and Families Therapy
Build a better relationship, find ways to communicate effectively and learn how to meet your needs as individuals within a healthy couple.
When you find yourself struggling within the home either in your romantic relationship or as a family, there are often many factors involved in what is usually a gradual breakdown of the relationship(s). Fights and/or arguments about who left a dish in the sink are usually an indication of underlying anger, frustration that needs to be expressed in order to move forward. Learning to communicate, appreciate, love and respect each other again is a process of which therapy can help to promote. While the therapist can act as a mediator, the purpose is not to judge and determine right/wrong, but instead to encourage empathy support and validation within the relationship(s).
Working with the best interests of both parties in mind, I regularly help couples and families to assess where there is room for change and improvement, to determine whether the strengths of a relationship can be effectively built on and, if so, support them to move forward from difficulties they face, together. An initial family or couples session can be booked as an hour and a half appointment.
PTSD Resolution
Military post-traumatic stress wrecks the lives of sufferers, their families and friends. Trauma can cause flashbacks, nightmares, anger and depression, often leading to violence, alcohol and substance abuse, family breakdown and even suicide.
As a therapist working with PTSD Resolution I can offer a form of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is a treatment for PTSD approved by the Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence ( NICE); delivered within the Human Givens approach. Treatment is effective without the therapist or anyone else having to know the details of the traumatic events, and without the sufferer having to re-tell or re-experience the impact of the events.
PTSD Resolution is a registered COBSEO charity (no. 1133118) whose mission is to provide more effective therapy for veterans suffering from military post traumatic stress and to help veterans, reservists and families struggling to reintegrate back into normal work, relationships and family life because of the trauma the veterans has suffered during service in the armed forces or because of any other mental and emotional difficulties they may have.
This is a free and confidential service with no clinical or service referrals required.
Relief can be almost immediate: therapy is brief, effective and proven to work.
For further details please call me or see the PTSD Resolution website.
To ask for an appointment nationwide please call:0300 302 055 or contact via www.ptsdresolution.org
Narcissistic and Domestic Abuse
Coercive control is a highly psychologically damaging act or a pattern of acts of emotional assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. Often this can be so manipulatively delivered that the victim does not actually know they are being abused until it is far too late to act on the abuse.
Clients have often done research and can be aware of the various terms such as ‘covert narcissist’, gas lighting’, ‘flying monkeys’, 'hoovering', or ‘cognitive dissonance’, but many others will be manipulated and emotionally and physically harmed by a perpetrator while blissfully unaware of the significant impact of the abuse. They may even blame themselves.
The controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.
Coercive control creates invisible chains and ‘trauma bonds’ and a sense of fear that pervades all elements of a victim’s life. It works to limit their human rights by depriving them of their liberty and reducing their ability for action. Experts like Evan Stark liken coercive control to being taken hostage. As he says: “the victim becomes captive in an unreal world created by the abuser, entrapped in a world of confusion, contradiction and fear.”
Coercive control is designed to make the victim emotionally unstable and therefore weak and many clients attend presenting with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD).
Finding your way out of the matrix and breaking the chains of these relationships is complex and recovering from them is difficult but finding peace and freedom is possible with understanding and support.
Drawing from my experience I can help you make sense of what you are or have been going through and together we can navigate through. There is hope and healing on the other side. Remember that you are not defined by your past, and a bright future awaits filled with love, respect, and joy.
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Coaching
Feeling stuck? Unsure of your direction and struggling to find motivation? Or perhaps you want inspiring conversations, to support ongoing high achievement in both personal and professional roles, and about building a life with meaning and purpose at its heart.
Feeling a lack of motivation and seeking inspiration can be a common struggle that many of us face. It is completely normal to go through periods where it feels like our drive and passion has dwindled. During these times, it can be helpful to reflect on what truly inspires us and brings us joy. Whether it's engaging in activities we love, surrounding ourselves with positive and uplifting people, or seeking out new experiences, finding motivation can come from various sources. It's important to remember that motivation is not always constant and that it's okay to have moments of doubt.
Utilising the latest understanding of what makes us ‘tick’ as human beings, and of what we need to enjoy a fulfilling, challenging and healthy life, we will work to set goals, prioritise, and introduce clarity and a healthy relationship with risk. Whether in business or at home, in the realm of sporting achievement or re-balancing a life, through focused questioning and reflective, straight-forward conversation, coaching can offer you the opportunity to unlock your full potential and pave the way for a promising future. It allows you to explore your strengths, skills, and goals with guidance and support., helping you to identify and overcome obstacles that may be hindering your progress.
The coaching journey is a unique experience tailored to your specific needs and aspirations. By identifying innate talents and developing essential life skills, you can break free from limitations and achieve personal and professional success. Coaching empowers you to see your true potential, enabling you to create a fulfilling and prosperous future.
Use the contact form if you have any queries at all, to request a 15-minute initial call (free of charge) so that we can discuss your requirements more fully.
Coaching is about adding meaning to ambition and maintaining life-balance and high performance.
Coaching can be about:
How to not let your relationship with risk hold you back
Your leadership skills and professional aspirations
Your contribution to a higher purpose
Life choices and relationships
Time invested in community and contribution to society
Sporting, musical or artistic high performance
Breaking or making small daily habits
