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'You may know where
you want to end up
but the path there is unclear.
Therapy can be a journey of discovery.'
Therapy
The idea of talking to someone about the problems can be daunting. Even those more comfortable with talking tend to feel some level of anxiety. We may have left it a long time before seeking help or we may have previously had a number of rounds of therapy and yet the problems persist or have resurfaced.
While it is often easier to put off talking therapy, putting off often means living with the difficulties for longer and existing rather than living more fully, being able to enjoy it and be more 'present'. That you have got this far is a positive step. The next step is to begin talking therapy. Change takes time but is certainly achievable. We can change without the help of therapy but therapy often makes that change happen more quickly and can also help to ensure that improvements last longer and that we can more efficiently bounce back from future set backs.
The Sessions
Usually, the first sessions are to find out more about yourself, the difficulties you may be experiencing and what you would like to get out of having sessions with me. This is not always clear to people straight away, but it is my role to help you set realistic goals and to work towards them with you. It is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and raise any concerns you may have. Sharing concerns and reflections throughout therapy is seen as positive in therapy and can lead to important progress.
We will spend time building a clearer picture of the problem, triggers and factors that keep the problem going. With time we can introduce specially developed interventions that may be helpful in increasing how you understand or deal with problems. While there are certain tools and techniques that have been shown to be effective with certain mental health problems, part of my role is to help tailor the interventions to you. After all, we all have differences and unique stories.
It is my aim to understand your dilemmas and problems in a non-judgemental way while raising awareness of unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviours. It is important you are able to speak and feel safe. I will respect your need for space and accept if there are things you do not want to share. I will seek feedback at times about how you are experiencing the sessions. Therapy is often hard work but we usually feel better just from knowing we are trying to make sense of our issues and working towards more healthy changes.
Together we can decide if we think the approaches that I offer are suitable or not for your needs. If the approaches are not suitable, we will still be able to discuss further options. To learn more about the approaches I offer click here.
My Approach
Cognitive behavioural therapy and dynamic interpersonal therapy have distinct features linked to their respective model of treatment which guide my approach to the sessions. In either approach I will be paying attention to both what is said but also what is unsaid. A huge amount of communication is non-verbal and potentially unconscious. Feelings can be really difficult to convert into language. It is my job to help you feel safe in therapy while also facilitating you sharing your feelings. During therapy you may experience feelings and thoughts within the session, sometimes about the therapy itself. I know from experience that these feelings can be really important to understand and explore. In psychotherapy this is known as working in the here and now.
While we will try to deal with the problems you bring it is often important to address underlying issues that give rise to the problems that brought you to therapy. Without doing this it may mean the problems are more likely to reoccur. We can think of it as like stripping back layers of an onion where we get deeper into what makes us who we are and shapes how we feel and react through the therapy. See services for more details on the approaches.
Barriers in talking therapy
Clients often find they have set backs in therapy, which can feel disappointing. Even people wanting to change and improve may at times find they are fighting to not make changes. I do not assume people do this on purpose but this may be driven by unconscious feelings such as fear. Therapists' know how important acknowledging barriers in improvement are to overcoming them.
Delivery of sessions
Currently my focus is on delivering CBT remotely via video call or by telephone. I have availability across the working week which can be viewed via a link to my online calendar which is here. Appointments are usually 50 minutes in length.
If you require a specific time not listed please contact me at: info@beyondthesurfacetherapy.com
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