Therapy

The most important aspect of therapy is the relationship between client and therapist, hence it is so important to find someone you feel you can work with. Initial therapy sessions are usually about exploring what is wrong in the present that is bringing you into therapy, looking at your history, things that you feel might be relevant and contributing to what is wrong in the present. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' reason for starting therapy. If you feel things aren't right in your life then therapy could be a good option for you.

I provide a supportive safe and confidential setting in Chorlton, South Manchester. You will have the opportunity to discuss and explore your difficulties and problems and find ways to grow and change.

Transactional Analysis

I originally trained in Transactional Analysis. This is a theory of personality and communication with the central idea that we consist of and are operating in different ego states at different times: either the Parent, Adult or Child. All 3 have their benefits and downsides but importantly, we need to have access to the Adult part of us at all times. Disconnection from this can lead to problems. When we come into therapy we will be experiencing difficulties and TA therapy will look at the origins of these difficulties, usually found in our relationships with our initial caregivers. The therapy will help us to explore the decisions that we made (unconsciously) about ourselves and others, in particular looking at our thoughts, feelings, behaviours, how we relate to ourselves and others in ways that cause problems. When we look at the roots of decisions, often caused by unmet needs, we can grieve, find other ways to meet those needs and find more fulfilling ways of living.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is a form of therapy whereby the client is asked to recall a past distressing event whilst noticing what they are feeling presently in the here and now and whilst simultaneously undertaking bi lateral stimulation. EMDR works very well with TA in that we can spend time exploring compassionately and curiously the main issues in the present and start to link those issues to events in the past. These events may feel 'stuck' in our nervous systems and EMDR can help to activate and then reprocess them in an adaptive (positive) way linking these events to positive internal beliefs about ourselves effectively helping them to get unstuck. When there has been a lot of childhood and attachment trauma then there will probably need to be a lot of energy directed towards 'decontaminating' some of the original unhealthy maladaptive beliefs.