Expert at helping with:
- Depression
- Low mood
- Anxiety or stress
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Complex PTSD
- Other trauma related disorders
- Relationship/marriage difficulties
- Interpersonal problems
- Life transitions
- Social anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Addictions
- Self-esteem
- Self-efficacy
- Assertiveness
- Confidence
- Becoming unstuck
- Family problems
- Communication issues
- Emotion regulation
- Difficulties moving on from the past
- Anger
- Insomnia
- Bullying
- Bereavement
- Self-harm
- Phobias
- Chronic pain
- Health anxiety and more
We understand that coming for therapy or coaching can be a rather daunting prospect. From meeting a new person, going to a new place, and sharing things which are difficult or that you have perhaps been keeping to yourself for a long time. It is indeed a brave step to take, and we congratulate you for being at the stage of looking at this information and contemplating getting the support you need and deserve. To assist in the next steps we have provided some information about what to expect from therapy, and some testimonials from satisfied clients below this to demonstrate the difference engaging with us could make to your life.
Assessment
We customise the way we work to suit each client, and as such conduct an in-depth assessment which lasts a minimum of 2 sessions (for some, this could be longer).
Clare has extensive and highly specialist experience working with trauma (including those diagnosed with PTSD) and complex trauma. Clare has worked with male veterans, many of whom have experienced multiple traumas. She has also worked with survivors of childhood trauma, sexual abuse/assault, physical assault, and road traffic accidents.
What’s involved in Therapy:
Therapy isn’t just about sitting and talking for 50 minutes a week. It is often a very active process which can involve trying new things, completing exercises or reading up on things in between sessions. It can be very helpful, to make the most out of therapy, for you to spend some time prior to each session, thinking about what you want to focus on.
Home exercises are extremely important, as they are a significant part of your treatment. Most of the work you do in therapy is about the changes you make, and how this translates into your life, not just about the short amount of time talking in session. Not completing home exercises can result in slowing down your progress in therapy. Don’t worry about getting these exercises ‘perfect’ as they are simply set for your benefit and not being judged. It is important to try your best with these exercises, and if you are unsure then it can always be a talking point for your next session.
What to Expect from Therapy:
The beginning stage of therapy is more of an information gathering phase, which then allows us to move onto treatment. Please rest assured that this phase does not last for very long, and usually within a few sessions we have started considering your goals for therapy and agreed a way of working towards them.
Therapy works as a collaborative process where your practitioner can be considered your guide or facilitator. They will assist in helping you to understand your difficulties more, support in evaluating what you want to achieve with therapy, and help to motivate you to take steps which will create the desired changes in your life. Their job is to empower you to make positive changes needed in your life, not necessarily to ‘fix’ things.
Ending Therapy:
You can choose to terminate therapy at any time, however when deciding that you wish to end we ask you to do two things. Firstly please inform your practitioner of your wish to end, as this allows for more efficient diary management.
We also ask that all clients attend a minimum of 1 or 2 ending sessions. This is to check readiness to end, re-evaluate goals and go through relapse prevention. Clients who attend this extra session or two to focus on the future, tend to have better long-term outcomes.
If you feel that you are simply not getting what you were hoping for from therapy then it is important to discuss this. Sometimes it can be that therapy is a slower process than you would like, and clarification of expectations is needed. However, a change in therapeutic approach could also be explored. If you feel it is just not the right match, then please do not worry about communicating this. It is possible to signpost to other services, as we prioritise finding the right support for each and every one of our clients.
Testimonials
Please note that client’s names have been changed to ensure confidentiality, and these have been published with the full written approval of the clients who supplied the testimonials.
