What is psychotherapy?

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You do not have to be “in crisis” or “breakdown”, before having therapy; you might be feeling dissatisfied with life in general or seeking balance in your life. You may wish to improve a relationship or channels of communication or perhaps explore ways of flourishing, as your circumstances change and a new “chapter”of life appears to be opening.

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What can psychotherapy help you with?

You don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosed mental illness to have psychotherapy. It can help you with emotional or mental health problems, including:

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• abuse
• anger management
• anxiety
• bereavement
• cancer
• chronic illness
• depression and low mood
• eating disorders
• loss
• neurodiversity
• OCD
• parenting teenagers & growing up
• perfectionism
• post-traumatic stress
• redundancy
• relationships
• self-esteem
• self-harm
• spirituality
• stress
• trauma
• work related issues

and more...

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How will psychotherapy help me?

Therapy can be helpful if you are experiencing painful emotions or facing difficult decisions, if you want to improve or change your relationships, or if you’d like to develop a better understanding of yourself or others.

Perhaps something challenging or troubling has happened in your life, such as a bereavement, redundancy, break-up, divorce or a healths care. There may be something in your past that has not been fully processed or dealt with and is now interfering with your daily life or you may be seeking help to cope with issues such as anxiety, stress or a difficult relationship.

You do not have to be “in crisis” or “breakdown”, before having therapy; you might be feeling dissatisfied with life in general or seeking balance in your life.

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"I have loved my time with Mel, helping me and guiding me through my life struggles. She has been amazing, caring and very kind through out….I highly recommend Mel to help anyone with any struggles or concerns." - L

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What are the different types of therapy?

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Discuss with your chosen therapist the particular type of therapy you may have been recommended and why.  What ever the approach or “modality” offered by your therapist, research suggests that the relationship between you and your psychotherapist is the key factor in facilitating positive change.

 It is worth remembering that virtual sessions are an option. Some people prefer to work face-to-face but, if this presents challenges, discuss this possibility as it may make the process feel more manageable.

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You can work with a therapist:

• Individually with the therapist
• Virtually over the phone/online video calls

What happens during a therapy session?

Therapy is more than a friendly chat: it can take time to get used to the fact that the sessions feel like unusual conversations (we don’t normally spend time just talking about ourselves or going into the detail that therapy can invite). A strong, trusted relationship with the therapist is essential and this will often grow over time.

Sessions might include talking about past and present life events, your feelings, emotions and reactions, your relationships, ways of thinking and patterns of behaviour. The conversations we have, will seek to help you unpick your concerns and identify  your goals for growth and change and the best course of action for you, which might be helping you to resolve your difficulties or to find ways of coping.

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How will I know if a therapist is right for me?

Finding the right therapist is a personal process, and it’s important to choose someone who makes you feel comfortable, understood, and supported. If you don't feel comfortable or able to open up to someone, there is no pressure to continue your sessions. You can read more about deciding if someone is the right fit for you here

 If you feel like you can benefit from a psychotherapy session, please contact me