How can I help?
I can offer you therapy for a number of issues, which are explained in more detail opposite. If you have any questions that are not answered here, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information.
What are the differences between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a psychotherapist?
This is not a straightforward question as they are all interlinked and merge into each other but basically a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is an expert in mental health. They specialise in diagnosing and treating people with mental illness. They have a deep understanding of physical and mental health, and how they affect each other. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
A psychologist is a person who studies normal and abnormal mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, social processes, and behaviour by experimenting with, observing, interpreting how individuals interact to one another in their environments. There are subdivisions known as applied, clinical and counselling psychology.
Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples, families, and groups to help them overcome a range of mental health and emotional issues. It is often called talking therapy as it is a way to help clients explore and express their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
This is an extremely basic difference but helps you understand some of the terminology.
Tired of failed dieting? You have come to the right place
Dieting fails for a staggering 95% of the population as a form of long term weight control. Typically people will lose weight, then before you know it, pile it back on again … sometimes with a few extra pounds for good measure!
I understand that there are many reasons why clients put on weight and also why they find it so difficult to lose. Everyone is different and I will work with you to find the best approach to suit you.
In today’s busy world most of us will experience stress and anxiety
Most of us will experience stress and anxiety, from time to time, as we try to juggle the demands made of us.
Some anxiety is short lived – such as worries about the dreaded trip to the dentist or the upcoming job interview. But what happens when the anxiety starts to become more of a constant and prevents us from enjoying life as we would like? The truth is that anxiety can in some cases escalate to the point where it is crippling.
We have a solution.
Panic Attacks are never a pleasant experience
A person experiencing a panic attack will often have the feeling of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms, such as pounding and racing heart, sweating, shortness of breath, and may feel faint or out of control.
Panic attacks can vary in intensity and can, in some cases, be crippling – causing someone to avoid places or situations where they think they might be at risk of another attack. Most panic attacks last between 5–20 minutes and they can come on very abruptly.
What is an ‘addict’?
In the Oxford dictionary, it states, ‘a person addicted to a habit’. Therefore what is a habit? ‘A practice that is hard to give up’. Hard but not impossible! Habits are learned behaviours, and as learned they can be un-learned.
But don’t think this can be easy – for some it is, but for the majority, it isn’t. It requires work and commitment. There will be slip ups along the way, but that’s fine – it is part of the learning process. However change can be easier than you think! That is if you commit to the right program for YOU.
The majority of people will, at some point in their lives, encounter relationship problems
And sometimes they feel they cannot resolve these on their own.
Whatever your relationship situation, I can help you talk it through and make sense of any issues you may be experiencing. I have a great deal of experience counselling people – individuals and couples – from many different backgrounds, in highly emotional, stressful and difficult situations.
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, to break negative thinking habits, in conjunction with Mindfulness techniques, such as Mindful breathing and meditation.
It is primarily used to help people who are prone to recurring bouts of depression and has been found to greatly reduce the chances of these episodes occurring again.
It has also been shown to be very effective for people suffering from anxiety and addictive behaviour.
Positive Psychotherapy for Sport
Sportspeople spend a lot of time and money on improving their technique and physical fitness. But one thing that is often forgotten, one of the most important factors, in the road to success, is their attitude.
This is where I can make a difference.
Due to many years involvement in the world of sport – in particular motor sports, as a team owner and as a driver – I have specialist knowledge in increasing performance by helping boost that positive attitude, when it counts. And that knowledge can be applied to just about any sport, whether you are an individual or a team.