The main areas I provide assessment and psychotherapeutic treatment for include
Depression & mood disorders Anxiety & panic disorders Antenatal & postnatal issues Grief & bereavement
Adjustment to aging Post traumatic stress disorder Adults who experienced abuse in childhood
All sessions are conducted in my clinic. Telehealth is not offered for new patients.
The first step in psychotherapy is to assess the nature and extent of your problems and talk together about how to proceed. This will usually be at least 2-3 appointments in which we discuss the matters that are currently problematic in your life. I will ask what you hope to gain from attending psychotherapy. If I do not think that I am suitable for your purposes, I will attempt to suggest another professional for you to consult.
Most clinical psychologists have a range of training in how to address emotional and mental health problems. My preference is to work in a psychodynamic / psychoanalytic approach. This means that regular attendance is required where we work towards a thorough and detailed understanding of the matters that impede your life. Learning to overcome difficulties and recover from any past trauma takes time. Some matters need repeated attention for many sessions so the way I work is not a ‘quick fix’. The aim to to proceed at a rate that is manageable for you.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is an in-depth form of treatment. It differs from other kinds of therapy by having a precise focus on conscious and unconscious thoughts, feelings, physical responses and long standing patterns of relating – both healthy and problematic . Together we analyse what enhances and what impedes your choices for growth. Sessions can be either with us sitting facing each other or you may prefer to lie on the couch.
This approach requires the patient to speak about whatever comes to mind at a pace that is manageable. In doing so, we begin to weave a picture of where things work well for you along with those matters which are causing distress, anxiety, sadness, depression and any other array of strong emotions. All behaviour and emotions have meaning but the meanings are not always clear at first. Thus, time and dedication to the process is required.
I welcome a call if you would like to consider a medium – long term psychoanalytic treatment.
Some patients prefer a less intensive style of treatment than is required with psychoanalytic therapy. In this case, an assessment is still required to understand the nature of your difficulties. For many people, treatment a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach can be very successful, especially for overcoming anxiety & panic disorders.
Many patients also benefit when CBT is used in conjunction with an emotionally-focused therapy. It is important to understand how the interaction of our thoughts, emotions and physical responses influence how we do or do not cope.
It is reasonably common for patients to want their intense symptoms to reduce and be calmer, only to find out that they would like to understand their deeper selves more closely.
Many women find they feel anxious or depressed both during pregnancy and in the first 12-24 months after delivery. Adjustment to motherhood can be a wonderful time of life but when it is not, a woman may suffer with strong emotions that feel beyond her control. Sometimes, unresolved childhood traumas are triggered during this time and it important to have a good team supporting you to address these matters.
Fortunately, it is routine now for antenatal teams to screen women’s mental health during the antenatal period and refer for treatment when required. It is very common for unresolved issues to be felt more strongly in the antenatal and/or postnatal period. I like to work with GPs, psychiatrists and other health professionals to help expecting & new mothers overcome depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation, bonding difficulties, self-doubt and exhaustion.
Some women also require treatment for fertility issues, pregnancy loss, genetic disorders and birth trauma as these areas demand much in the way of personal adjustment.
If you have suffered child abuse, you know that the emotional pain can be relentless, often because you have developed ways of coping on the outside but your internal pain may not be obvious to those who are closest to you. Living through and understanding the effects of abuse is not easy, no matter how much time has passed. It can be a big step to decide to overcome the fears, depression and restricted life that sometimes accompanies an abusive past and the treatment journey is gradual.
The clinical knowledge about treating trauma that has resulted from abuse in childhood is growing all the time. Patients describe different kinds of abuse, for example: physical, emotional, sexual, financial, cultural, religious and educational, to name a few. It is important to help patients understand how their early life has influenced the way in which they live and cope in the world now. So often, patients know that how they are feeling or coping is not going well for them but they are at a loss as to how to shift from well-known patterns.
Longer-term therapy is often required when an adult has an untreated history of trauma and abuse. You are welcome to call about treatment.
As an adult in your older years, you may be experiencing depression or anxiety as a result of grief, changes in your health or aging in general. It can also be helpful to have emotional support if you are caring for an unwell partner or other family member. This can also be a time of life when you may wish to have a confidential support as you reflect upon a range of issues from the past.
If you are fighting to cope and recuperate following a traumatic life event or exposure to ongoing trauma, you may be suffering from PTSD. You may find your work, sleep, relationships, your overall health and body’s physical functions are probably suffering too. The internal struggles that often follow trauma are not always obvious to other people and so the impact are often misunderstood. It is imperative in life that we all feel safe and when this is and/or feels threatened our need for support and recovery is vital.
The treatment of post-traumatic stress has been well researched in the past three decades and continues to be an area in which clinical knowledge is growing all the time. If you are struggling after a trauma, it is vital to have the support of your GP who can care for your physical well being. You are welcome to call if you have questions about psychological treatment.