THERAPY
In this section you will find information about the types of therapies I am qualified and experienced in providing, the difficulties I am experienced in helping with and the terms under which I work with clients.
Please feel free to call or email me to ask any further questions.
When seeking assistance from a therapist, it is wise to ensure the person is qualified to provide such assistance, and to choose someone with whom you feel comfortable and able to talk with freely.
APPOINTMENTS, AVAILABILITY AND COSTS
I am available on Tuesday to see private clients
For appointments beginning and ending between 09.00 – 17.00 I charge £110 for a 55 minute session
For appointments before 09.00 or ending after 17.00 my fee is £130
Payment is taken at the end of each session by cash or Bank Transfer
I will consider hardship and concessions with evidence of need.
Unlike traditional Psychoanalysis, it is not always necessary to have weekly appointments. Appointments can be scheduled fortnightly or with even longer gaps. This will depend on what you are seeking help for and I will discuss with you so you can make an informed decision.
Once we have met and agreed to work together, I will give an opinion on the number of sessions we are likely to need to meet for to see if that fits with what you are expecting. If you agree to go forward, I will then ensure I keep those agreed spaces free and available to you.
Should you be unable to keep an agreed appointment, the full fee remains payable. This is because it is probable I am refusing other people appointments in order to keep your space free.
We will review continuously together whether the sessions are being useful and in the rare event they are not, we can agree to terminate early, without completing the agreed course of treatment. If we terminate early no further fees are payable.
My professional memberships and registration ensures I work within a strict code of ethics and guidelines. You can view these under the About tab, or by clicking this link.
TYPES OF THERAPY
Below are the therapy approaches that I am qualified and experienced in and the types of difficulties they are shown to be effective with. However it is not like a menu at a restaurant, where if you order a particular dish you do not get access to the other dishes.
It is more of a mix and match approach of drawing on as many of the approaches as is necessary in order to provide a flexible therapeutic process that it can be tailored to fit with the difficulties the person; couple or family wish to address.
Systemic Psychotherapy
This is commonly thought of as the gold standard approach for working with couples and families. However it is also very effective as an approach for working with individuals who wish to attend therapy unaccompanied.
When I use the words couple and family I am not referring exclusively to heterosexual or biologically related relationships. Family is used to describe any group of people who care about each other and call themselves a family.
Systemic Psychotherapy takes a non- pathologising; non-judgemental stance to the difficulties people find themselves negotiating, respecting the importance of each person’s beliefs, culture; gender; age; sexuality and life experience.
I have training and experience of working with the full range of couple and family constellations, i.e., gay; lesbian; transgender; adoption; step-families.
Systemic Psychotherapy has been found to be useful across a wide range of situations
1. Where current behaviour patterns and emotional responses are linked to past history and experience.
2. When current life situations are untenable, i.e., abusive relationships; difficulties at work or socially; when experiencing relationship or family or parenting difficulties; where communication has broken down or is difficult.
3. When major life changes such as bereavement; divorce; relationship breakdown; becoming a parent; redundancy; retirement; children leaving home; amongst others, are not being negotiated successfully.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, (cognitions) and actions (behaviours) and feelings are interconnected, and that negative thoughts produce feelings that can trap you in a vicious cycle of repetitive behaviour. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy seeks to track how one’s thinking influences one’s feelings and behaviours and works with the client to change thoughts and behaviour.
In 2006 Nursing Times, commissioned me to write an article; Davies-Smith L. (2006) An introduction to providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Nursing Times Vol.102 (26) p28-30.
Couples Therapy for Depression
A newly developed approach specifically developed for working with couples where one partner is depressed. The therapy synthesises aspects of Systemic Psychotherapy; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Attachment theory and Communication training.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing - EMDR
Hypnotherapy
Is commonly used to help people break unwanted habits, such as smoking or nail biting. It is also a very useful aid for stress reduction and help with the management of anxiety. It can aid pain relief and pain control. Hypnotherapy can be used in conjunction with psychotherapy.
Mentalization
Mentalization is the ability to understand the mental state, of oneself or others, which leads to ‘behaviour’.
When you mentalize, you are trying to understand the motive behind the actions of others by understanding their mental states.
By trying to understand the other person’s mental state and its origin, you can better understand why people think or behave a certain way and be more attuned to your own emotions, thoughts, and needs.
Mentalization-Based Therapy will focus on your past and present relationships, working via the attachment system.
Enhancement of Mentalization ability improves communication, empathy, and understanding in interpersonal relationships.
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
This therapy developed in response to survivors of war who had witnessed or experienced multiple traumas, commonly leading to the development of symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The theory that underpins NET is based upon neuropsychological models of trauma and memory. NET synthesises Testimony Therapy (as developed by Lira and Weinstein in Chile) in combination with cognitive behavioural exposure techniques. Via this process, fragmentary memories are transformed into a coherent narrative, with the emotional charge reduced to bearable levels.
Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP)
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy created by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in California, United States in the 1970s. Their original theories and techniques were derived via their study of the well-known psychotherapist Virginia Satir, the hypnotherapist Milton Erickson, the anthropologist Gregory Bateson, and others whom they considered ‘charismatic superstars’ in their fields. They identified psychological, linguistic, and behavioural characteristics, that they said, contributed to the effectiveness of these individuals. My view is this is a useful intervention to have as part of a therapy / coaching package, but that it is not a stand-alone treatment model.