Psychotherapy Services – Poole, Dorset
Counselling
Through active listening in a safe and supportive environment, counselling could help you to explore, clarify, and better understand your feelings, inner conflicts, and thought processes about emotionally difficult issues. The purpose of counselling is not for the therapist to give advice, but rather for you, through the counselling process, to find your own solutions.
Psychotherapy
A client and psychotherapist enter into a therapeutic relationship with the goal of working together on a regular basis, using psychological techniques to deal with emotional difficulties, so as to bring about positive changes in thinking, emotions, behaviours and social functioning.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has a problem-solving focus using strategies to turn negative thinking into positive actions, for an improvement in symptoms such as anxiety-related conditions, low self-esteem and depression. It is an active form of therapy for which it is necessary to learn and practice skills that can then be integrated into daily life. With CBT the focus is mostly on the present, rather than the past.
EMDR therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is internationally recognized as an evidence-based treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is also an increasing body of research to support its use for various other distressing life experiences and related symptoms. EMDR therapy works with the adaptive information processing system of the brain to help activate the brain’s natural healing mechanism to work through and bring about adaptive resolution to a disturbing past event that was feeding into symptoms in the present. EMDR therapy also helps prepare for possible future challenges more effectively. EMDR therapy can feel emotionally intense, so a new client would need to be assessed for suitability for EMDR therapy. (For more information about EMDR therapy please visit EMDR Association UK)
Hypnotherapy / hypno-psychotherapy
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring trance state. In this state of deep relaxation and altered consciousness, the unconscious mind is more accessible and amenable to positive suggestions. Despite myths and misconceptions, during clinical hypnosis you aware of what is happening and being said to you. Hypno-psychotherapy is a time-efficient means of identifying underlying issues. It can be used to lower anxiety, support habit and behavioural changes, and enhance confidence and well-being. Depending upon a client’s therapy goals, different techniques could be used during the hypnosis portion of the session such as inner child work, dream analysis, regression etc. Self-hypnosis is also taught, to help manage anxiety and stress more effectively.
Tapping (or EFT)
Tapping, also referred to as the Emotional Freedom Technique, is a versatile, mind-body approach described as “psychological acupressure”. Research endorses its use to help regulate the nervous system, lower cortisol levels, and boost the immune system, thereby supporting improved health and wellbeing. I have taught tapping to many clients over the past 20 years, and the majority have also found it to be an invaluable technique for ongoing self-care.