Things I can help with include:
Relationship challenges
Do you ever feel like you just can’t find the one? Sometimes you think yeah, this is the one, then it falls apart. You can’t believe it, at some point you thought you had found your soul mate and it all came crumbling down. The dynamics we create with our loved ones can be sources of love, connection and intimacy. When we feel these needs are not being met it can feel lonely and confusing, this can lead to a lot of hurt. Together, we can understand who you are in relationship so that you can gain deeper understanding, feel less anxious and connect emotionally with those close to you.
Anxiety
Are you tiring yourself out with all this searching? What if searching for your ‘problem’ is part of whats holding you back? What if your anxiety could be your superpower? It’s our human instinct to strive to be better and to find meaning and purpose in our lives. You can have that. Living in this cycle of anxiety is tiring, the reassurance seeking and avoidance can be really consuming. Through exploring this, we can slow the pace down and start using it as a resource.
Trauma & PTSD
Dr Peter Levine describes trauma as ‘ any unresolved autonomic nervous system response. It’s about the nervous system response to an event, not necessarily the event itself’. There are many forms of trauma, from big catastrophic traumatic events (Big T) to adverse life experiences (Small T) (Shapiro, 2001). Big T examples could be deaths, accidents, abuse, domestic violence, surgery, war or natural disasters. Small T examples are often more hidden, and can be as a result of our upbringing or environments. Such as, being frequently criticised or shamed, discrimination, childhood emotional neglect, being expected to keep family secrets, and bullying.
It is important for you to know that what you’re experiencing is not your fault, nor does it need to be your life sentence. A fulfilling life after trauma can be possible, even thought it might seem like you’ve been living this way forever. There is nothing “broken” in you that can’t be healed. Through therapy you can begin to understand how to stay present and tolerate your symptoms. You can learn about your body’s physiological response to perceived danger and how to ride those waves. As a trauma informed therapist, I will help you achieve a sense of safety. You can rebuild your life and finally feel peace of mind.
Low self-esteem & confidence
You know that feeling of inadequacy, feeling like you are not good enough? Perhaps you find yourself plagued with feelings of self-doubt. All that comparison and doubting is exhausting. In our sessions, through guided self-discovery, you will be able to silence that inner critic and unleash that giant within you.Imagine how different your life would be if you could let go of caring what others think. You can learn to trust yourself and value what you think more.
Codependence
Do you ever think that you can carry the world on your own? Do you sometimes feel you can’t afford to not be there for someone and your whole world revolves around that person? Or you just need the validation of others to establish your worth? Do you always have to do everything yourself? There are other ways of relating to people and yourself, I’d love to help you identify and recover from these patterns. Your needs are as worthy as everyone else’s, and no, prioritising your own needs is not a selfish act.
Depression, low motivation
With all that is happening around us, sometimes it can just be too much for us to handle. Depression is real and you can’t just sit and wait for it to miraculously go away. If you are struggling to get out of bed, have lost interest in your usual hobbies and feel hopeless; these could be signs of persistent low mood.Depression can occur suddenly or be more of a chronic experience, which can have a major impact on your life without adequate support and intervention. You need the drive to reconnect with your creative soul and fulfil your life purpose. Get in touch and we can start that engine to get you going.
Loss & Grief
Losing a loved one is never easy. The bereavement and grieving process is different for everyone. There is no right way for grieving; you may notice feelings of anger, guilt, disbelief and sadness. Sometimes people agonise over whether they have processed their grief in the right way. These are valid thoughts, and I would be glad to sit with you as you figure this out. Grief isn’t a linear process, so I will respect where you are at in your healing and work with that.
Those bereaved by suicide can experience complex emotions, and be left feeling very isolated in their grief. The often unanswered questions that linger after a death by suicide can be incredibly challenging to process. The stigma that still exists after a suicide can compound your grief, and leave you feeling more estranged from friends and family. Therapy can be a space to explore that in a safe, non judgemental and contained manner.
Disability & Illness
As a registered Occupational Therapist, I have worked with people with a range of physical disabilities and long term conditions. The onset of an illness or the aftermath of an accident can have significant psychological consequences. People can experience identity issues, shame and even survivor guilt. The micro aggressions that people with disabilities experience on a daily basis in our ableist society, can really take its toll. As your therapist I would empower you through your adjustment stage, and provide emotional and practical support required.
Childhood Emotional Neglect
Perhaps you often feel like you don’t belong? Do you often feel sad or angry, and you’re not sure why? Have you noticed that it’s difficult to soothe yourself?When your caregivers were unable to be emotionally present for you as an infant, child or teenager, this can have a negative impact on your ability to understand and experience emotions as an adult. It could be that these emotional skills were not taught to you as a young person, so it would be helpful to relearn them now.
