What do psychotherapists do?
Psychotherapists sit with people who have some kind of difficulty. They listen and think about the person who is talking. They might think about possible trends or habitual ways of being, some of which may be useful, some less useful, some painful and needing respect and acceptance, some of a long term nature and in need of reconsideration. They talk and engage with the person about their thinking. Psychotherapists have gone through this process themselves during their training, and know from experience what may be helpful or hurtful.A psychotherapist who uses EMDR draws on this approach for traumatic episodes, for example, if you are suffering any symptoms that might include flashbacks and nightmares. EMDR is the treatment of choice by The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for dealing with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and with all kinds of traumatic psychological injury.
What can psychotherapy do for me?
Psychotherapy can give people the opportunity:- to understand why they feel, think and behave the way they do towards themselves, in their life and relationships;
- to understand how they can be ‘trapped’ into repeating patterns of feeling, thinking and behaviour;
- to explore the impact of trauma that has happened suddenly or has been experienced cumulatively, over time;
- to choose how they want to feel, think and behave;
- to help them develop their creative, intellectual, physical, social and emotional capacities;
- to open themselves up to relationships and activate a life that has personal purpose, meaning and value;
- to explore the meaning of human nature and human connection, about what makes us laugh, cry, love, grieve, hate, hurt, embrace, heal.
How does psychotherapy help?
- by providing a safe space and relationship in which people can learn to talk openly about themselves and share what is important to them;
- through building a shared care and commitment to understand the person, as well as their life and relationships, through the process of listening, talking and engaging;
- through understanding how particular themes unfold in a person’s life; exploring, for instance, how trust, betrayal, disappointment, love, hate, trauma, sexuality shape the relationship between the individual and the therapist, as they do between the individual and other people.
What is Attachment-based psychotherapy?
Attachment is a process that begins in the womb and continues from birth onwards. In the early years of our life, it represents the series of interactions in the relationship between us as babies or toddlers and our caregivers. A secure or insecure attachment is formed, based on the quality of these interactions. Our attachment history helps moulds our ‘attachment template’, that is, how we regard and behave in relationships. This will affect interactions and relationships throughout life. The template can be adapted or modified by later experiences or other significant relationships, of which psychotherapy can be one.As an attachment-based psychotherapist I work with people to understand their attachment style, to explore how and why these patterns of relating developed in their life. This process would facilitate being able to choose more fulfilling ways of relating and moving away from patterns which are unhelpful.
What do people want help with?
I have worked with people to understand and make the changes they want with:- addictions
- anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, phobias, obsessions, stress
- bereavement and loss
- confusion about who they are, their identity
- depression, self-harming and or suicidal feelings
- dissociation
- eating difficulties
- family, friend, partner, work relationship breakdown or difficulties
- finding meaning and direction
- intense feelings of anger, fear, hurt, disappointment
- loneliness, feeling empty, abandoned or unable to make lasting relationships
- low self-esteem and self confidence
- the impact of abuse, trauma, violence
- the impact of discrimination, oppression or exploitation in relation to age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation
- work related difficulties such as unemployment, bullying
