Adults

Life is hard. Its often beautiful and exciting and fulfilling but it is also painful, lonely, devastating and incredibly difficult. To be human is to suffer.

We are not all born equal. We all start off with different temperaments and genes which can make certain aspects of life easier (fast long legs for running) and also certain aspects harder (a predisposition to be short sighted). Some of us have genes that make certain physical health difficulties (like cystic fibrosis), developmental difficulties (for example, autism or ADHD) or mental health difficulties (for example, psychosis) more likely.

Furthermore, we don’t all have the same chances or opportunities in childhood. Sadly, some children experience abuse, trauma, neglect or loss during their childhood and many more, experience feelings of rejection, criticism or hostility growing up. For some, negative experiences at school  or in adulthood lead to distress and pain. Most psychological theories state that there are links between our experiences in life and how we feel, think and behave in the present.

The World Health Organisation (2001) reported that at least one in four people experience emotional/mental health difficulties at some point in their lives. These difficulties can lead to significant distress and impact greatly on a person’s well being, their work, their relationships and their physical health. Seeking support to help reduce emotional distress or mental health difficulties will hopefully create a positive ripple effect and lead to overall improvements in quality of life.

Research and Clinical Evidence (for example, NICE guidelines) states that psychological therapy can be effective in not only reducing the symptoms of emotional/ mental health difficulties  but improving overall quality of life.

I can offer psychological assessment and therapeutic support (using an integrative approach, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)) for a wide range of difficulties, including:

  • Depression and low mood
  • Bereavement
  • Anxiety (about health difficulties, social situations and specific phobias)
  • Panic (including agoraphobia)
  • OCD
  • Unresolved issues from childhood
  • Symptoms of Trauma such as PTSD
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Emotional difficulties (perhaps defined as Personality Disorder)
  • Anger and aggression
  • Unusual experiences (such as those defined as Psychosis)
  • Low self-esteem and self-doubt