Psychotherapy services in bath and online


People come to therapy for many different reasons. Life is messy and throws us off course. We experience pain, stress and anxiety for many reasons – life events, work issues, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, or feelings of low self-esteem that makes you feel stuck or unfulfilled. We may feel adrift, struggling to find meaning in the world and where we fit into it.  

Confronting and solving problems can be a painful process which many of us avoid. This avoidance can result in greater pain and the inability to flourish both mentally and spiritually.

In therapy we work together to identify and change thought and behaviour patterns that are keeping you from feeling your best. Therapy not only helps you solve the problems you bring but gives you new skills to better cope with challenges that may arise in the future.

How can therapy help?


Psychotherapy offers a confidential, safe and non-judgemental opportunity to explore past and present difficulties you may have in your life. It is a process of self-discovery and change that can aid us in unlocking painful feelings and unhelpful ways of thinking and being. It helps us shrug off behaviours that no longer serve us, promoting greater self-awareness to enable us to integrate better ones.  Our struggles then relax the hold they have over us and we can experience more peace and fulfilment. 

MY APPROACH


Working as an integrative practitioner means that I draw from several theories of practice. I believe each person is wholly unique and what works for one person may not for another. At the heart of my work is our relationship, a safe, confidential space where we can explore together what you’re going through.
 
Integrative psychotherapy considers various causes of human suffering.  It brings together current thinking on our emotional, cognitive, behavioural, body-based, and neurobiological capacities. Considering how these are impacted in a bespoke way ensures we work together to discover what will work best for you.

SERVICES


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Walking Therapy

RESOURCES


Take a look at some some free information and resources from respected practitioners and individuals that can make a positive difference to your mental wellbeing and give you greater understanding of the driving forces that can impact our psychological, physical and emotional experience of life. Information is listed alphabetically so you can search up what might be troubling you by a specific issue that may be troubling you…

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you can’t find the answer to your question here, please contact me.


Questions relating to therapy

Therapy is a treatment aimed at alleviating psychological distress or improving mental health. It typically involves talking with a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist, counsellor, or therapist. Therapy can take various forms, including:
1.         Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviours.
2.         Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores unconscious thoughts and feelings, often rooted in childhood experiences.
3.         Humanistic Therapy: Emphasises personal growth and self-actualisation.
4.         Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Combines cognitive-behavioural techniques with mindfulness strategies.
 
Integrative psychotherapy involves a blend of these approaches tailored specifically to meet the needs of the individual.

Therapy can help individuals address issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, trauma, and more. It provides a safe space for individuals to express their thoughts and feelings, gain insights, and develop coping strategies.

Evaluate your openness to change, your specific goals, and your willingness to engage in the process. Consider also the therapist’s approach and your connection with them. Most people find it beneficial and a game changer in changing thought processes, behaviour patterns and feeling states.

Therapy can help you understand yourself better and develop coping strategies, but ‘fixing’ suggests you are a damaged person as opposed to someone who has maybe just developed clever processes such as adaptive behaviours to try and support their own pain as opposed to having your needs met and attuned to.  Healing is a lifelong process and with every new twist and curve ball that life brings our way we have to adapt and change our behaviours to meet them. Therapy can support this process very well. As an Integrative therapist I also consider many other healing practices and will often signpost clients in whatever direction I feel may help.
 
Understanding, compassion, and supporting the healing process is however, something counselling and psychotherapy do particularly well.

The short answer is No! EMDR is a multi-faceted therapy that works particularly well for those with complex trauma or PTSD but can also be used very effectively for anxiety, depression, phobias, eating disorders, addiction, chronic grief and other trauma-related issues.

As children, we can find a wide range of things traumatic, and we lack the consciousness and vocabulary to express it. Often this trauma remains stored in the body. Bodily held trauma refers to the physical and emotional imprints that traumatic events leave on the body. The body stores memories and emotions of traumatic events, which can manifest at the time or later in life with physical sensations, illness and/or adaptive behaviour patterns e.g. addiction.
If these trauma memories remain unprocessed, this can often mean that we think our childhood was fine, until some later point in adulthood when “out of the blue” things start to feel out of kilter either due to mental or physical health issues. This is very common, and can feel very frightening for people. Coming into therapy and dealing with the effects of past trauma can put some of those feelings into a less overwhelming context then releasing them from being ‘bodily held’.

PTSD happens after witnessing or experiencing a single traumatic event such as a car accident, a natural disaster, or assault. It can also result from combat exposure. Its primary symptoms include¹:
•           Re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts
•           Avoidance and detachment from people, places, or other triggers related to the trauma
•           Changes in mood and thinking, including numbness and blunted emotions
•           Hyperarousal, including feeling edgy, easily frightened, or difficulty concentrating or sleeping


Complex PTSD results from the experience of prolonged, interpersonal traumatic events, often occurring early in life². It can result from experiencing abuse or neglect, ongoing domestic violence, repeated witnessing of violence or abuse, torture, or kidnapping.
Symptoms of Complex PTSD have a lot of overlap with PTSD but can also include:
•           Difficulty controlling emotions
•           Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
•           Problems forming and maintaining healthy relationships
•           Deep feelings of shame and guilt or failure
•           Intense feelings of distrust
•           Dissociative symptoms
•           Suicidal ideation

Psychotherapy is typically a more in-depth, long-term process that focuses on a person’s feelings and past experiences. It can lead to personal growth. Psychotherapeutic work explores more deeply held patterns which may lie within your past history. While psychotherapy absolutely deals with current issues a client may have, we often explore how those current issues may link to self-belief, self-worth and identity.
 
Counselling, meanwhile, is more likely to refer to short-term talk therapy. It focuses on helping a person find solutions to current issues ranging from the everyday to intensely difficult.

Any issue causing you distress or affecting your well-being is valid for therapy. There is no such thing as self-indulgence in the therapy space in fact it is encouraged because the answers lie in self-exploration.
 
Whatever story you have that you are struggling with or is causing you pain is real. That is the purpose of therapy – for you to have a space to explore what is troubling you and where we begin – not with someone else’s story. With yours.

The goal of psychotherapy is to help you develop coping skills, self-awareness, and resilience so that you can eventually manage your challenges independently. It is important to work with your therapist to establish clear goals and boundaries for your treatment, and to communicate openly about your concerns regarding dependency.

General Questions about Therapy Sessions

  • Get in touch by filling in the contact form or email me about what you are looking for.
  • We’ll arrange an initial chat or meeting to discuss what is going on for you, what help you feel you need, and we see if the fit feels right for you.
  • We organise regular weekly 50 minute sessions. I work for short term fixed periods or we leave it open ended if more longer term work is needed.

I invite you to turn up each time just as you are. Whether you feel anxious, angry, or depressed, we meet where you are in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space.
We just go at the pace and direction you are comfortable with. 

Wear the clothes that you feel most comfortable in. For walking therapy sessions, please dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable footwear.

ARTICLES

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Addiction

How can psychotherapy support someone who is addicted to alcohol?

The Healing Power of Psychotherapy: Supporting Alcohol Addiction Recovery Alcohol addiction is a complex and challenging condition that can have profound effects on an individual’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. While overcoming alcohol addiction may seem like an overwhelming task, psychotherapy offers a valuable and effective approach to support individuals on their journey to recovery….

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EMDR

Exploring the Science Behind EMDR Therapy: How It Works to Heal Trauma

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has gained popularity in recent years as an effective treatment for trauma-related disorders. But how exactly does this unique therapy approach work to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences? Let’s delve into the latest scientific research to understand the mechanisms behind EMDR therapy. In conclusion, the…