Why therapy? |

People come to therapy for a whole host of reasons, here are some reasons that may have brought you here. This list however is by no means exhaustive:

Anger – Anger is a vital and hugely important emotion; it protects us, keeps us safe and allows us to warn off anything or anyone that is intruding on our boundaries. However, many of us struggle to safely express anger, either repressing it or becoming trapped in a toxic cycle of “blasting off” and then feeling so ashamed about it. This is often owing to limiting inherited beliefs about anger from family or society, that affirms to us that anger is a negative, shameful, “ugly” emotion. Repressed anger is the source of many debilitating effects on both the mind and body. Therefore, a large part of the work is reconnecting to your anger in a safe environment, gaining a greater under standing of it and the times it wasn’t allowed to be heard, encouraging it to be expressed, and ultimately releasing the repressed toxic energy.

Anxiety – anxiety is our bodies natural response to threat. However, when anxiety takes over our lives and becomes debilitating, it is our bodies way of letting us know something needs attention. Often anxiety stems from unprocessed experiences and trauma that have dysregulated our nervous system, haven’t healed and become chronically activated by seemingly unrelated events in our daily lives. Understanding the root cause and learning to regulate ourselves is an important part of the healing journey.

Depression – I work with depression as an adaption once necessary in order to cut off from the world that was overwhelming. When we experience situations that are consistently unsafe, we become flooded by our systems natural response to threat, which can become unmanageable and so our body shuts down as a way of coping. Our work together will help us to safely reconnect back to yourself in order to express and release the pain of previous experiences, whilst finding new ways of being able to safely feel and manage whatever emotions naturally come up throughout our lives going forward.

Relationships – relationships are one of the most important aspects in lur lives. We are social beings and need to be with other people; our DNA is made up of being in tribes in order to survive. It is through co-regulation and social connections that we learn to feel present, grounded and safe. However, relationships also hold the capacity for huge amounts of pain and trauma. If we have been wounded by another, or others, naturally relationships become a huge source of anxiety and turmoil. We may notice we are in cycles of toxic relationships that never feel fulfilling or rewarding, or relationships that we never feel safe in, largely owing to patterns we inherited from our earlier life. Therefore, through exploring and understanding these patterns and where they stem from, we can begin the work of healing the wounds, and learning to trust another human again. We can learn how to be in relationships that feel safe and enhance our happiness. We learn how we can depend on others without losing ourselves. We learn how to implement healthy boundaries whilst also allowing the flexibility for the real-life ups and downs of a working relationship. The work on the therapeutic relationship itself is a large part of this.

Addiction – “ask why the pain, not why the addiction”. Addiction can come in many forms, either by means which are societally abhorred or even ones that are societally accepted. A list that is by no means exhaustive is alcohol, drug use, gambling, sex, shopping, eating, exercise, working… All however have the same root cause; a means to escape the pain within that we have no other way of soothing. Again, I work with addiction as an adaption to experiencing pain that we had no other means to heal. Addiction is a cycle that gives us a short relief followed by periods of shame, which further enhances the pain. I will work with you to explore the reasons for the addiction, what it is it provides and then look to find ways to replace the addiction with ways to soothe that will enhance your wellbeing instead of further harm. Addiction is never a reason for shame or judgement.

Sexuality - Navigating sexuality can bring up complex emotions and experiences. Therapy provides a safe space to explore and understand your feelings, identity, and experiences, and to cultivate acceptance and empowerment.

Feeling lost - Feeling lost can be disorienting and overwhelming. Therapy offers support and guidance to help you explore and understand the root causes of this feeling, and to develop a sense of purpose and direction for the future.

Trauma - Trauma can have lasting effects on our emotional and mental well-being. In therapy, the focus is on processing and healing from traumatic experiences, finding resilience, and reclaiming a sense of safety and empowerment in life.

Self-Harm - Self-harm can be a way of coping with overwhelming emotions, but it often brings feelings of shame, isolation, and distress. Therapy provides a safe and supportive space to explore the underlying causes, develop healthier coping strategies, and work towards self-compassion and healing.

Suicide - Struggling with suicidal thoughts can feel isolating and overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Therapy offers a compassionate space to explore these feelings, understand their roots, and find hope, support, and ways to reconnect with life.