Charlotte Warner is an online psychotherapist
What attracted you to become a therapist?
Mental health, the world of thoughts and feelings, was always a source of great interest to me. That, coupled with my passion for communication, led me to start developing a professional interest in psychology and different ways of thinking about our emotional and spiritual experiences as human beings.
Where did you train?
I trained in both London and Brighton.
Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?
The therapeutic framework I trained in is psychodynamic psychotherapy. In a nutshell this involves understanding where you are now, the issues that bring you to therapy in the context of your experiences throughout your life and how they may have impacted upon the present situation.
I also bring in my experience from further trainings in art therapy, eco-therapy and trauma-based approaches.
The type of therapy I practise might be best described as an ongoing conversation, with lots of reflecting, thinking things through together in a way that might offer new perspectives that didn't seem available before.
How does therapy help with symptoms of anxiety?
In terms of the symptoms of anxiety, the therapy process hopes to provide relief by offering a safe and secure place to share some of the worries and fears.
As those worries and fears are shared and thought about together, we can work together to understand what they may represent to the client in terms of their story. This helps us to reframe them and leads to a new relationship with those very issues.
What sort of people do you usually see?
I work with adolescents and adults on a one-to-one basis. I have extensive experience working with male clients. Clients may come to therapy for anxiety symptoms, depression, problems with relationships or feelings around abuse and trauma.
Have you noticed any recent mental health trends or wider changes in attitude?
I have seen over the years an increase in male clients which I think is perhaps telling about how it is becoming more acceptable for men to talk about being in therapy.
Online work clearly is the biggest new trend in terms of the way psychotherapy is practiced and opens up a new flexibility so that therapy is accessible to people now in a way it just wasn't before.
Another recent trend is that there really does seem to be a growing disconnect in society whereby support networks are simply not there, be it in terms of friends or family or even community support of neighbours. A space to connect and share our experience of being human is fundamental to our wellbeing and this seems to be something we could all become aware of - how open am I to connect with the people I share my world with?
What do you like about being a therapist?
It is a great privilege to share an individual's story with them. The strength and power of the human spirit, even against great adversity is a creative force, constantly present once you know how to look for it.
What is less pleasant?
Accompanying individuals through deeply painful moments is very affecting. It is a reminder of the realities of life as they really are.
What you do for your own mental health?
Get outside!
What do you wish people knew about therapy?
That therapy is not a magic wand. It is hard work, and painstaking.
What did you learn about yourself in therapy?
That I am so grateful for all that I have.
