Live the life you deserve
Helping you create healthy coping strategies to control symptoms associated with stress, anxiety and depression.
Releasing the potential within an individual is the best therapy to heal oneself.
What I do
When thinking about starting therapy there is often stigma and the thought of it can feel daunting and complicated.
If this has been your experience so far you are most certainly not alone. Whether you are struggling with your ever increasing anxiety levels, endless cycles of depression or low mood I can help. Perhaps strategies that you once used, no longer work?
You may be numbing these difficult emotions and are now questioning your relationship with alcohol, or other drugs. I work with people from all walks of life, all stages and ages such as Teens, Parents, Bankers, Women experiencing Menopausal Symptoms, Lawyers, Teachers, those in retirement, Management Consultants, Doctors and more.
Although each person is unique, research shows depression and anxiety often go hand in hand and this can be overwhelming.
Are you tired of being tired? Are you stressed and unable to cope with day to day life?
Is anxiety and/or depression starting to effect your schooling, work, relationships, are you having dark thoughts? Some symptoms of anxiety I work with include:
- rapid and/or irregular heartbeat
- fast breathing
- sweating
- nausea
- dizziness
- trouble sleeping
- feeling irritable
- lack of concentration
- panic attacks
- It's important not to allow excessive anxiety to take over your life - Learning techniques to help you cope with and manage your anxieties can help hugely, whether they are related to your Health, Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Over Worrying (Ruminating) you don't have to do this on your own.
- Depression is more than sadness. Depression can remove joy from anything you do or feel making you forget what happiness ever was. It comes in various forms, somedays getting out of bed isn't an option and other days can be more tolerable. Living with depression can be so difficult for not only the person suffering from the symptoms but everyone else around them too. Sometimes we can feel like we are wearing a mask for fear of what others may think. Some symptoms of depression I work with include:
- Struggling with emotions
- Feeling hopeless
- feeling unable to cope
- Mild/Moderate depression
- Post Natal Depression
I have specialist training in alcohol, substance and behavioural addictions. As humans we are programmed to avoid pain and will naturally gravitate towards a more pleasurable path.
Are you doing something that you know you hate, but you keep repeating the same thing over and over? .
Typically, people who struggle with substance or behavioural abuse are bound or devoted to a drug or a compulsion – their loyalty is not tied to a person but to the temporary release from torment. Be it physical and/or emotional. That fleeting, pleasurable moment when the world makes sense only to be followed by more shame, more guilt and the living hell of withdrawal – only fuels the merry-go-round of addiction that keeps us imprisoned. Let me help explain why this happens and give you healthier coping strategies which will allow you to live a life aligned with your core values.
If your lifestyle has gone from fun to a living hell or maybe you’re simply just tired of living this way, this could be the first step towards the life you deserve
Life does not have to be like this. I understand change can be scary but you have already taken the first step - you are here.
The word addiction comes from the Latin word ‘addicere’ which means to ‘sell out’ ‘abandon’ and ‘enslave’.
My areas of practice
The origins of the Monkey Mind are found in Buddhism. It describes a mind full of unrelenting chatter, restlessness and confusion.
It's easy to become overwhelmed and lose touch with ourselves - but the monkey mind can be calmed.
Treatment approach
SMART Recovery runs an international network of mutual support meetings in which to help people in their recovery journey.
The easy to grasp programme and its materials have been hugely successful in dealing one to one with client’s who have substance misuse issues.
It is extremely helpful in building and maintaining motivation, helping cope with urges, managing thoughts, feelings and behaviours and living a balanced life.
For those who want to explore the differences in the support groups, why not try both these groups to see which is best for you.
AA and SMART Recovery have different philosophies and approaches towards addiction recovery. AA follows a 12-step program that emphasises surrender to a higher power and spiritual principles, while SMART Recovery is a non-religious, science-based program that focuses on empowering individuals to become self-reliant and overcome addiction through the use of evidence-based tools. There is no mention of spirituality or a higher power in SMART Recovery. Whilst both these organisations have given many people back their lives, ultimately, the choice between these programmes often comes down to personal preferences and beliefs.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that addresses addiction, anxiety, and depression in therapy. The focus of ACT is to promote psychological flexibility by encouraging individuals to accept their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment, and to engage in behaviours that align with their values.
ACT aims to achieve the following goals for individuals struggling with addiction, anxiety, and depression:
- Acceptance: Embracing and acknowledging difficult thoughts and emotions, without getting overwhelmed by them.
- Mindfulness: Staying present in the moment and paying attention to experiences without getting caught up in them.
- Committed Action: Identifying values and taking meaningful actions aligned with them, regardless of emotional state.
- Defusion: Separating thoughts from self, reducing the power of negative thoughts.
- Expansion: Broadening perspective, viewing challenges as opportunities for growth and personal development.
ACT is typically delivered in 8-20 sessions and involves a range of techniques such as mindfulness, visualisation, and cognitive restructuring to increase psychological flexibility and resilience against addiction, anxiety, and depression.
A young man applying for a job thinks “What are you doing? You’re too young, too inexperienced. You idiot! Who do you think you are?”
A woman about to meet someone new thinks “You’re not going to be his type. Your hair is a mess. What makes you think he will find you interesting"
Someone struggling with addiction thinks “You’ll never stay clean; you are a waste of space. You’ve not been able to go more than a few days, you’re a loser”…
We all have one, however some speak softly, some shout continually! The inner critic always, always talks in a negative non-constructive way with little compassion. This can clearly have a significant impact on an individual's mental health and well-being, leading to, low self-esteem, and decreased motivation. It can also contribute to the development of mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and in extreme cases, even self-harm behaviours. Therefore, addressing the inner critic and learning to manage negative self-talk is essential for improving overall well-being in all aspects of your life.
We often live life at great speed without noticing whats going on around or within us. We spend a lot of time either thinking about the past or the future whilst getting caught up in our heads. Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzz word, however research has shown with practice, the benefits can be life changing.
Mindfulness is very much about connecting with yourself – not running away to escape uncomfortable feelings but by being more present in the moment. It can help reduce overthinking and able to respond without judgement and with clarity, mindfulness is a great overall tool to help combat anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and addiction.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a therapeutic approach that aims to help individuals become motivated to change behaviours that are preventing them from making healthier choices. Those that may feel conflicted, who want to change but cannot find the motivation or energy needed to do so.
MI focuses on enhancing our own internal motivation to change by exploring the reasons for change, resolving ambivalence, and addressing resistance to change. It involves a non-confrontational, collaborative and empathetic relationship between therapist and client. The goal of MI is to help you recognise your own motivations for change and develop your own goals and strategies for recovery. Making it personal to you has shown the likeliness of a more successful outcome much greater.
This is an effective treatment that has been successfully used in therapy throughout the world.
CBT teaches you coping skills for dealing with different problems. It focuses on how your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes affect your feelings and actions.
CBT helps individuals recognise the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Through therapy, you will learn to identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs and develop more positive, realistic perspectives. This can help reduce feelings of distress, increase self-awareness, and promote healthier coping strategies. CBT also teaches individuals how to manage triggering situations and stressors that can cause us problems.
With substance abuse, CBT helps you develop a plan for maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse. CBT can be delivered in individual or group therapy sessions and is often used in combination with other addiction treatments. It has been shown to help improve abstinence and prevent relapse.