What attracted you to become a therapist?
After years of working with and managing people I became intrigued as to why people behaved in certain ways and reacted in the way they did in some situations.
I also saw how many people seemed to struggle with life, balancing the needs of family, work, social commitments and many seemed to put their own wellbeing last on their list of priorities
Where did you train?
I trained with Chrysalis over three and half years.
Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?
When counselling I use an integrative approach which means applying the most suitable modality for the client, this might be cognitive behavioural therapy, person-centred, psychoanalytical or other. This can change over the course of therapy; I'll always be guided by the client's needs and ensure I explain the approach being used.
With hypnotherapy I use I lot of metaphor often taken from the client's world of experience.
How does hypnotherapy help with phobias?
I recently used hypnotherapy to help a client suffering with claustrophobia, awaiting to go on a waiting list for a kidney transplant she was unable to have go into an MRI scanner and couldn't even use the elevators at the hospital.
I used regression to explore her past experiences of enclosed spaces and by helping them see that firstly the problem had been caused by a significant experience and then gradually desensitising them of the feeling we also learned that the fear was not specifically enclosed space but the fear of darkness they associated with them.
Five sessions saw the client helped enough to use the elevators, get an MRI scan and is now on the list for her transplant
What sort of people do you usually see?
I see a range of clients from 15 years to 77! Many present with anxiety and we work to find the cause of this so they can in turn start to address it.
I did my clinical placements with Turning Point working with substance and alcohol addiction and also with Cruse as a bereavement counsellor so these are both areas I have focused in.
Have you noticed any recent mental health trends or wider changes in attitude?
The noticeable change over the last twelve months is the number of men seeking help. I think conversations are opening up and also referrals. 50% of my clients are male and all my current male clients are referrals from other men, many of which came from leaving my business cards in men's hairdressers!
What do you like about being a therapist?
No two clients are the same and it is a privilege to be given the chance to gain some personal insight into another person's life, to share some of things that they might not share with anyone else and to feel I might be able to play some part into make their tomorrow better than their yesterday.
What is less pleasant?
Client's who want me to "fix" them. I have had to explain to some that they are the expert in themselves, I can help them find the problem and help them explore solutions but they have to be engaged in their process.
How long have you been with welldoing.org and what you think of us?
Been with Welldoing for over a year now and I love the newsletters and range of subjects covered.
Do you ever suggest books or apps to clients?
Three books I often recommend are:
- Lost Connections by Johann Hari which I think gives a good perspective on depression and anti-depressants
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz which I was given by a wonderful hypnotherapy teacher and it just gives four very basic "tenets" for a simpler life
- Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
