How often do I come?
I offer psychotherapy once weekly on the same day at the same time. You may choose to do more intensive work twice or three times weekly and we could discuss this.
Psychotherapy for adults
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Cumbria and the North West
A confidential space to speak freely, think carefully, and begin to understand difficulties that may feel painful, repetitive, or hard to make sense of alone.
Why psychotherapy?
When it may help
I offer psychotherapy to adults in Cumbria and the North West. People seek therapy when they are feeling down, depressed, or anxious. Psychotherapy can also help when we experience difficulties in relationships.
Sometimes we feel disturbed by our thoughts or feelings and even destructive behaviour. Or we may feel we are failing to thrive and get the most out of life. These are all good reasons to seek therapeutic help.
I see patients from Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Manchester. Psychotherapy can help with a range of issues:
- Depression and feelings of hopelessness
- Difficulties at work
- Problems with relationships
- Family problems
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Loss of health
- Ageing and life changes
- Problems managing anger
- Low self-esteem
Psychotherapy
What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is an opportunity to speak to someone in confidence about your difficulties. In psychotherapy you speak freely about whatever is on your mind, and we think together about the meaning of this.
Psychotherapy is a depth psychological treatment. It is less interested in simply managing symptoms and behaviour, and more concerned with underlying mental processes. It is based on psychoanalysis, first developed by Freud and later by many others, including Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion, Donald Winnicott, Ronald Fairbairn, Betty Joseph, John Steiner, Otto Kernberg, Edna O'Shaughnessy, Herbert Rosenfeld and Ron Britton.
Speaking openly with your therapist about your experiences, present and past, may help you think about how your difficulties have causes of which you have been unaware. In time, you may be able to gain insight, bear painful realities, and make changes that could lead to a fuller life.
Psychotherapy can be short term, around 16 weeks, for a specific difficulty, or it may be long term when seeking more profound personality change.
The psychoanalytic method works from the understanding that much of our mental life is unconscious, and that relationships are central in shaping our minds and experience. The patterns of relating we internalise can play out again in the here and now.
Where do I start?
You can arrange a consultation by phone or email. I normally suggest between three and five consultations to think together about your difficulties and whether psychotherapy can help.
Does it work?
Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapies have historically invested less heavily in research than some other therapies. Evidence has grown, including work such as the Tavistock TADS study and research by Abbass and colleagues.
About
Experience and training
I have worked in the NHS, third sector and private practice for over 20 years. My experience has covered roles as a psychotherapist in palliative care, bereavement care, primary care and specialist psychotherapy services treating mood disorders through to complex and enduring mental health conditions.
I trained at WPF Therapy in London, qualifying in 2005. I completed an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies from Roehampton University in 2009. I have further trained in Adult Bereavement with a postgraduate diploma from Middlesex University, and in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) at the Anna Freud Centre.
I have been a visiting lecturer on the Tavistock and Portman D58 Psychodynamic Psychotherapy training, and staff on the Lancaster University DClin Clinical Psychology Doctorate, providing professional reflective practice groups.
I have graduate degrees from Exeter and Cambridge universities. I am registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and with the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC).
I always suggest arranging some initial consultations to see whether we both feel we could work together.
I am supervised in my clinical work by a senior British psychoanalyst registered with BPAS / Institute of Psychoanalysis.
Fees & location
Practicalities
Sessions are weekly and last 50 minutes. My normal fee is £68 per session, payable monthly once ongoing therapy has been agreed.
Initial consultations
Consultation appointments are also £68. During initial consultations we can think together about your circumstances, what you might be able to afford, and whether psychotherapy is the right approach.
Supervision
Psychoanalytic supervision
I offer psychoanalytic supervision to mental health professionals, psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists. I supervise both within the NHS and to private practitioners.
Please get in touch if you are looking for supervision and would like to discuss this further.
Contact
Arrange an initial consultation
If you are interested in psychotherapy, please contact me. We can speak briefly by phone or email and arrange an initial consultation, during which we can think together about your difficulties and whether psychotherapy might be right for you.
07810 272076 Please leave a message
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