Counselling Services

Through out our day, we are reading literally thousands of messages through body language, tone of voice, facial expressions and many other signals from other people. When we interact with others it allows us to gain a sense of ‘self’, how we are in relation to others. This can be a positive or negative experience, allowing the body to feel trust or danger.

There are 3 stages of response and the nervous system gathers information. Sometimes if someone has experienced trauma, where they were left immobilised, it can leave them feeling hypervigilant and unable to read their future environment correctly.

Poly Vagal theory, introduced by Dr Stephen Porges, uses different techniques, and with guidance and support of a therapist, a person can start to correct how their nervous system reacts to situations, allowing them to connect, socialise, and interact in a healthier way.

Talking therapy has an established evidence base. However, other approaches such as art, creativity and meditation are supported in research too. When art is integrated into therapy it can reveal a ‘gift’ to the client through the aid of images. It can be spontaneous and creative, move imagery into words and the unknown into the conscious.

Visual expression has been used for healing throughout history. For clients to use art or other forms of creativity, it facilitates their internal thoughts and feelings, a deeper way of healing, as the image appears, it externalises their messages into the ‘here and now’. Using creativity, art, visualisation and guidance can assist to make the sub conscious connect to the conscious self.

By using creativity, I offer a short meditation journey, all the time the client is in control. This allows a client to draw an impulsive image which contains suppressed (unknown) material/issues, a projection of something about their ‘self’ onto the image. The approach of therapy integrated with Person Centred core conditions, allows the client space to explore the messages in a non-judgemental environment.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is a phased and focused approach to treating traumatic memories. EMDR was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1987 to help people manage and heal from experiences that have caused complexed trauma. With continued research and use of this method increasing, EMDR is becoming a popular choice in treating mental health issues.

By identifying and processing past disturbing experiences, EMDR techniques unblocks emotions, negative behaviour and cognitions, enabling individuals to resolve and reprocess new information and experiences adaptively. Clients begin to heal from the fear and pain associated with the trauma and gain new insight, which can facilitate improved self-esteem and enhance personal beliefs about their capabilities.

EMDR involves eight phases of treatment that focus on the past, the present, and the future and is designed to break any associations the client has between certain circumstances and symptoms. Each phase helps to work through emotional distress and trauma, and learn skills and resources to cope with current and future stress.