services

counselling

Helpful for working through problems, conflicts, or decisions, especially at work, when facing life choices, or in relationships. Counselling is an approach which aims to build a collaborative relationship, identify strengths and values, and use these to find a path through the issue.

Counselling is often helpful for people faced with challenges that seem overwhelming or too complex. It is a chance to work things through in a calm and supportive space.

Counselling is usually short to medium term.

psychotherapy

We all suffer some form of mental distress in our lives. Sometimes this occurs after a specific event, such as a loss, and, in time, it passes.

But often we find that the distress seems too much, or it doesn't pass. We may realise we have lived with a troubling feeling, belief, anxiety or symptom for many years.

Psychotherapy explores the beliefs and experiences that underlie these problems. This can help us lead freer, more fulfilling lives, with ongoing improvement over time.

People often seek psychotherapy when struggling with:

anxiety, depression, or obsessive thoughts or behaviours
anger, rage, repetitive conflict, or avoidance of conflict
grief, loss, a sense of guilt
problems with sex, or questions concerning sexuality or gender
recovery from trauma and traumatic events
self critical, negative, or troubling thoughts
difficulty with strong emotions, or an lack of emotion
difficulty with self expression
failures, such as in relationships or career, that hold us back or seem to repeat over time

We practice psychotherapy in a manner influenced by psychoanalysis.

Psychotherapy is medium to long term.

couples therapy

"We are never so defenceless against suffering as when we love"
Sigmund Freud

Relationships can offer precious moments of love, intimacy and connection.

However, sometimes it can seem as if something is broken. Where we used to feel deeply known, we find that we cannot connect. Despite good intentions, communication doesn't work. Attempts to be heard can lead to conflict, emotional cut off, or explosive anger.

Sometimes these ruptures are all the more painful because of the love we have for the other.

Beyond this, some couples struggle with challenges such as infidelity, differences in sexual desire, problematic use of alcohol or pornography, threatening behaviour, trust issues, or the effect of mental health issues, ADHD, or autism on the relationship.

Couples therapy is a collaboration between you and your partner, guided by a therapist. Both partners have the chance to be heard, and to speak about what troubles them.

As much as possible, the therapist aims to draw out a fuller story; to help each partner speak and be understood at greater depth. This can lead to increased understanding, empathy, and better ways to be together.

Couples therapy is usually short to medium term, although some couples find ongoing check ins to be very helpful.

Contact

child psychotherapy

Child Psychotherapy is offered by our psychologist Claire Baxter.

It can help kids with problems at school, behavioural concerns, emotional regulation, fear of people, places and things, questions of gender and identity, and other childhood challenges.

It uses a combination of speaking, listening, therapeutic play, and art making to help children work through things they find difficult, frightening or confusing.

Claire works with children aged 6 to 12.