Meet the Therapist: Deborah Rhoden Taylor
Deborah Rhoden-Taylor is a hypnotherapist in Chesterfield and online
What attracted you to become a therapist?
Helping people to live their best life. After managing large teams, coaching and training within the corporate world it was an obvious choice to train as a therapist.
Where did you train?
Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training (Sheffield), I have also trained in NLP and IEMT as well as hypnobirthing with Easibirthing.
Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?
The core of the therapy I practice is SFHT (solution-focused therapy) which focuses on the solution not the past or what if’s.
I also incorporate NLP techniques and, when required and beneficial, IEMT which is very effective for trauma.
How does solution-focused hypnotherapy help with symptoms of anxiety?
The symptoms of anxiety are in part brought on by negative thinking. It isn’t the actual event that causes the anxiety it is the thinking about it.
By using the foundations of solution-focused hypnotherapy and adding NLP techniques we can focus on how to move forward.
I tailor my therapy to the individual client's needs and what they respond to. Therapy is a process we do together, not something I do to the client.
What sort of people do you usually see?
My clients vary in age and issues, but I generally see young adults right through to clients in their late 80s.
Though I see clients with phobias and clients wanting to stop smoking, most of my clients generally present with symptoms of stress and anxiety which can be brought on by a number of concerns.
I also see clients who are dealing with all stages of cancer treatment.
From March 2023 I will be offering hypnobirthing sessions and classes.
Have you noticed any recent mental health trends or wider changes in attitude?
Anxiety has grown, especially in young adults. There is so much pressure on everyone in a consumer world to be something, have something, look a certain way etc.
Also I have seen addiction in all forms increase, which is not a choice but a coping mechanism.
What do you like about being a therapist?
I like helping people to live the life they want to live, one day at a time. There is no greater feeling than when a client says "why didn’t I find you before?" – my response is you found me when you were ready to make the changes.
What is less pleasant?
The fact that there is still a stigma about therapy, when it truly changes people’s lives.
How long have you been with Welldoing and what you think of us?
I am a new member of Welldoing and decided to join due to the way that potential clients can find the perfect fit for them. It is important that the client feels comfortable and has faith in their chosen therapist.
I also like the booking system as it give potential clients a easy way to book their therapy without lots of phone calls and email exchange, which can be daunting when first looking into therapy.
Do you ever suggest books or apps to clients?
I suggest a number of books depending on the issues people are facing. I also supply my clients with my own workbook 30 Days to a New Way of Thinking.
I also recommend the Lumie light to support good sleep patterns.
One book I recommend for clients dealing with illness or injury is You are the Placebo by Dr Joe Dispenza, as it shows that mindset is everything.
What you do for your own mental health?
I listen to a download before going to sleep, which is similar to the one I supply to my clients.
I use my own 30 Days to a New Way of Thinking programme, which encourages me to focus on the 3P’s each day: Positive thinking, Positive action and Positive interaction.
I walk my dog and cuddle my grandchildren. I read and listen to podcasts about mental health and how the brain works. Understanding why we behave the way we do is the first step to making positive changes. My adult children often comment that neuroscience has become a positive obsession for me.
You are a therapist in Chesterfield. What can you share with us about seeing clients in this area?
The clients I see are very varied, from general anxiety through to addictions and everything in between.
I cover a large area and due to being a mile off junction 30 of the M1, I see a lot of clients from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire as well as Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.
What’s your consultation room like?
Very homely. I have endeavoured to make it feel welcoming, like you are coming into my sitting room.
I run my practice from charity-run building which has great facilities, free car parking, and a lift which allows full disabled access.
What do you wish people knew about therapy?
What a difference it can make. Most people can benefit from therapy, whether it's resolving a phobia, overcoming trauma, or improving performance.
People are so very busy and at times cut off from other human beings, it's amazing how just talking to someone objective can help you view your issues in a completely different way and see a way forward.
Therapy can change people’s lives by enabling them to draw on their own strengths as well as learning coping strategies.
What did you learn about yourself in therapy?
That sometimes from the most difficult personal experience comes the greatest knowledge.
Also, this time next year this moment will be a distant memory and part of life’s experiences; it is a personal choice how you use those experiences.
