Common Issues
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety & Depression
Almost a third of all people will experience anxiety or depression in their lifetime. How long it lasts and how debilitating it is depends on how soon you seek treatment and whether it's the best treatment available. I uses evidenced based treatments in my practice so you get the best choice for your particular presenting concern.
Trauma & PTSD
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety & Depression
Depending on the nature and severity of your personal trauma there are several different approaches to treating trauma available. EMDR is one evidence based treatment that works well for many people. EMDR in Surrey
Relationship Issues
Anxiety & Depression
Perfectionism counselling
I have an extensive history working with individuals involved in challenging interpersonal relationships both chosen (chosen partner) or un-chosen (related to you). Together we can sort out what's going on and give you the skills you need to cope.
Perfectionism counselling
Historical Issues from Childhood
Perfectionism counselling
Society tends to see perfectionism as a good thing because people who are perfectionists typically do things very well. But what if your need to do things just right, or your ability to tolerate ambiguity in life, interferes with your daily living? Highly perfectionistic people often worry excessively about making mistakes or breaking rules. This can lead to anxiety and depression as well as problems in relationships.
Avoidance Behaviors
Historical Issues from Childhood
Historical Issues from Childhood
Everyone avoids doing tasks that are unpleasant once in awhile.. But for some individuals fear of the unknown or the unpredictable is so intense that individuals avoid engaging with life in a healthy way. The fear of genuine connection with others is a common anxiety for people. Many individuals avoid social relationships or social events because they feel too anxious to participate.
Historical Issues from Childhood
Historical Issues from Childhood
Historical Issues from Childhood
Sometimes we may not have received adequate parenting as a child, or we encountered events which we were unprepared emotionally to deal with at the time. Sometimes we need help to make sense of the things that happened to us or let go of the emotional consequences of those events. I can help you make sense of the past and let it go.
Therapy Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and helping you develop personal coping strategies. The focus is on the negative thinking which is driving the emotions and behaviors. CBT is helpful for many mood issues, anxiety, perfectionism and social anxiety.
Equestrian Counselling
Similar to in-office counselling but may take place at your barn, my barn or other venue that is relevant. Counselling focus is helping you overcome the challenges you face in riding. Many riders want help with riding their own horse, but some may choose to use my own horse (14.1hh Morgan Gelding). His small stature makes those with riding fear more comfortable.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
When a person is very upset, their brain cannot process information as it does ordinarily. One moment and all the feelings and thoughts that go with it can become "stuck" in the brain. When other situations that are similar to this event come up in the person's life, the individual can experience the same thoughts, feelings and sensations as the original memory making it harder to cope with any new events. Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way a person sees the world and the way they relate to other people.
EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information. Normal information processing is resumed, so following a successful EMDR session, a person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the event is brought to mind. You still remember what happened, but it is less upsetting.
EMDR is helpful for Mood issues, Anxiety, Trauma, Family ConflictHistorical issues from childhood, Self-Esteem and Fear
Adlerian Therapy
Adlerian therapy is a psychoeducational approach that is both humanistic and goal oriented. It takes into account the whole person within his/her social world. Adlerian therapists try to understand how an individual developed his/her core beliefs about himself and how those beliefs shape his behavior and interactions with others. Adlerian therapy is a collaborative approach between therapist and client which helps the client understand herself in a new way. Once the client understands their personality better they can make different choices in the future. Adlerian therapy is useful for many different issues in life: Mood, Anxiety, Family, Relationships, Transitions, Trauma, Historical issues from childhood etc.
Art Therapy
Art itself can be therapeutic. It can also be a technique used to facilitate expression of inner thoughts and feelings. Some people find it easier to "show" what's happening inside themselves than to "tell". Trained Art Therapists can work with clients to decode the hidden messages in their work and help the client understand what they are feeling and thinking. Art therapy works especially well for children and teens. It is also useful for adults that struggle with verbal communication, social anxiety or who simply don't want talk therapy. No artistic talent is necessary for art therapy to succeed, because the therapeutic process is not about the artistic value of the work, but rather about finding associations between the creative choices made and a client's inner life.
Expressive Arts Therapy
Similar to Art Therapy except it entails the use of multiple expressive arts modalities including: writing, play, drama, movement etc. The Expressive Therapies are very useful for children and adolescents. Also helpful for adults that may have had trauma as very young children (pre-verbal stages of development) who cannot express this trauma verbally.