Some of the common issues I work with in therapy are:
Anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, self-criticism, low mood, panic attacks, paranoia, guilt, shame, overthinking
Trauma and PTSD – single traumatic events or developmental or complex trauma (often referred to as CPTSD)
Bereavement, loss, grief, change, illness, aging, menopause
Childhood/adult abuse, toxic relationships, co-dependancy
Identity issues, who am I?, feeling stuck or lost, low self-esteem, high sensitivity, perfectionism, spirituality-seeking
Addictions, anger management, self-harm, suicidal ideation
Relationships issues, break-ups and divorce, family problems, sexuality
Stress, burn out, workplace issues, breakdown, crisis
I believe that everybody deserves to have therapy in their lifetime because it can be truly life-changing. Whilst looking after our physical bodies has now become more of an accepted norm, therapy is often still seen as something for people with ‘problems’ (as if we don’t all have them). But in many ways coming to therapy is a way of educating and training ourselves about how to navigate life as a human being – something that unfortunately we never get taught in school.
Living as a human being in a busy modern-day world is inherently challenging. Our evolved brains and emotional systems are intricate and highly sensitive to our environment, and our innate survival impulses are not always well adapted to the societies we live in today. Mostly we just ‘get on with it’, but do we really understand how we ‘work’?
Our minds and bodies react to stress and trauma in automatic and complex ways. All of our experience, both positive and negative, shapes us mentally, emotionally and physically, and we can often develop patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that don’t serve us well. When we have no way of understanding ourselves we can also become caught in blame and shame cycles which are unproductive and can worsen our situation.
Therapy can help us to understand ourselves through the lens of both our individual experience and our common humanity, and make more sense of our struggles. We don’t design our own brains and bodies, and we don’t choose the experiences we encounter particularly when we are growing and developing. However, we can learn to be more in touch with our bodies and minds and develop better ways of responding to the challenges that life presents to us.
Modern science has proved that change is possible, which can motivate us to take action. Research and studies in areas such as neuroplasticity and epigenetics have provided concrete proof that it is scientifically possible to make physiological and psychological change within our brains and bodies. And we also have a growing body of evidence-based approaches that can help us to do just that. We don’t have to be stuck in old survival modes, we can learn to re-grow and thrive.
Therapy is a generic term for a multitude of different approaches and my aim is always to work alongside you to see what is helpful. My diverse training has given me lots of options to work with. Sometimes talking things out is enough. Sometimes more practical input is required – a focus on psycho-education, structured goal setting or the creation of a new routine. Sometimes exercises or practices that will help create and integrate new pathways in mind and body are important. Or sometimes a therapeutic intervention like EMDR might be the most appropriate approach. We will find what works for you.
EMDR therapy can be used to effectively treat a wide range of psychological distress. Sometimes we experience a trauma, or a series of traumas, that stay locked in our bodies and minds. Whilst our brain is able to process most of our experience and allow it to become memory, traumatic experience can sometimes get stuck and continue to show up daily in our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours. Trauma can lead to us being trapped in unhelpful reactions that talking alone may struggle to resolve. EMDR therapy is a comprehensive therapeutic approach which incorporates sessions of bilateral stimulation to help the brain process information that has become blocked, and gradually relieve the distress felt in the present that relates to past experience.
You can read more about me and the themes behind my approach on the Reflections page, or feel free to contact me with any queries, or to organise a free introductory phone call.
“Rose made me feel so seen, heard and valued. She guided me to understand myself better without ever feeling criticised or inadequate. She showed me compassion and concern, and her insight and wisdom helped me come to my own.”