Avril Gabriel

Feeling overwhelmed and anxious- Waking in the middle of the night, or struggling to get to sleep- Endless racing thoughts- Feeling like you can't breathe- Doubting yourself- Finding it hard to feel motivated- It feels like uncertainty and anxiety are unavoidable at the moment. This impacts our mood and mental health. New, troubling feelings and experiences may have been triggered, you may have been struggling for a while, or old problems may have resurfaced. Whatever the case, therapy can provide a space to reflect, talk and make sense of the difficulties you are facing. About therapy together It can feel confusing getting to grips with what is going on in our minds and bodies. You do not have to do this alone, I can help. Together we can start making sense of what you are going through, putting the puzzle pieces together, working out how, when, why, and where these feelings are coming from. Understanding them is the first step. From there we can figure out how best to move forward, developing strategies that leave you feeling calmer, with a clearer sense of direction, and more understanding of yourself. We may start unpacking unhelpful thought patterns or behaviours things you are thinking or doing that leave you feeling bad about yourself or practicing exercises that make you feel more relaxed. About me As a black woman, my experience of the world has forced me to witness, question and understand many different perspectives. I believe this, along with over ten years of experience in the field of mental health, working in schools and universities, to IAPT anxiety, depression, PTSD , community and acute NHS mental health settings including psychosis, eating disorders, substance misuse and personality disorders , has enhanced my ability to connect with a wide range of people, and developed my capacity for empathy. I cannot guarantee that all of your problems will be fixed, but many clients have shared that things have started to make more sense, once we have begun joining the dots together, and it has left them feeling better about themselves, and developing more understanding of those around them. I am an integrative therapist, meaning that I am trained in various models CBT, psychodynamic, CFT and bring them together in a way that seems to best fit the person I am working with. I believe therapy should empower people, by allowing them to feel heard and seen, I am also interested in helping people feel more connected to their bodies. I am gentle and empathic in my approach, which may not be for everyone. I think it is important that you feel comfortable with me, as it should feel like a safe and open space. If you contact me to book a free initial video via Zoom /telephone consultation, it will give you the opportunity to sense that, and we can see if we would be a good fit. About first steps During the consultation we can have a think about your needs and what would be helpful for you right now. If we are not a good match, no problem. It may be that there are other organisations or therapists I can suggest that may work better for you. If we are a good fit, great, we can arrange a time to have ongoing sessions.