As a Psychotherapist I have worked with clients that have experienced various issues and difficulties in the following areas
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Depression
Relationship Difficulties
Bereavement & Loss
Low self esteem
Childhood Trauma
Adoption Issues
Gay Sexuality
Sex & Sexuality
Symptom in the body
Sleep Difficulties
Work Difficulties
Anxiety
Anxiety can range from mild to severe. Mild Anxiety tends to be about a future event such as an exam or even a positive event like a wedding. There are two forms of chronic anxiety; general anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). A GAD sufferer may present a calm exterior but inside the opposite is occurring. They may be experiencing feelings of intense anxiety and foreboding. They often have a sense of impending disaster. Many people with GAD are perfectionists. They may experience a range of symptoms including; poor concentration, restlessness, indecisiveness, sleep difficulties, mental and physical fatigue and avoidance of situations in everyday life due to worrying about their ability to cope.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is unique from other forms of anxiety. The condition results in constant unwanted irrational and obsessive thoughts. These are accompanied by compulsive actions to satisfy the urges these thoughts are producing. The obsessive thoughts take up the person’s mental energy by causing extreme feelings of anxiety. Relief comes through compulsive actions such as cleaning, counting, repeating and checking.
Psychotherapy can be useful in working with these symptoms. The therapist may work in a Mindful way, offering suggestions and ways of reducing the anxiety, while also exploring its roots.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks are a common occurrence. They occur in every age group and equally in male and females. During a panic attack, you may have the sensation or feeling that you are in extreme danger. This sensation is brought on by a sudden surge of adrenaline into the bloodstream. This primal reflex is known as the fight or flight response. In reality there is no real danger present, yet the physical system is responding as if danger exists.
The symptoms of a panic attack include; intense fear or apprehension, a feeling that one is going to die, dizziness, hyperventilation, trembling, palpitations, breathing difficulties, sweating, chest pain, dry mouth, weakness, fear of losing control or going mad.
These are common after bereavement, an assault, a car crash, an operation, or rape and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Psychotherapy can create a safe place, in order to process these experiences. It can also provide some practical advice for managing these symptoms.
Depression.
It is estimated that about twenty per cent of us become clinically depressed at some point during our lives (Bates T 2011). The symptoms of depression include; low mood, fatigue, sleep difficulties, anxiety, weight loss/gain, loss of self-esteem, loss of drive, negative thinking, poor memory, reduced concentration, lack of enjoyment, suicidal thoughts.
The most striking characteristic of people prone to depression is their belief that there is something bad or unlovable about them. These feelings may come from early childhood when we were utterly dependent on the care and protection from our parents or carers. Due to many different circumstances such as financial strain, marital difficulties, maternal depression, unemployment alcoholism or addiction, parents may not have been emotionally available to their young children. This can leave us vulnerable to depression.
Psychotherapy addresses the underlying cause of depression. Sometimes it is necessary for hospitalization and to take anti-depressive medication if the condition is acute such as bipolar disorder. If this is the case then after leaving the hospital, psychotherapy can resource the person to regulate their life and avoid a re-admittance into hospital.
Counsellor & Psychotherapist
Counselling is of a shorter duration and focuses on recent difficulties such as coping with Bereavement, Job loss or the end of a relationship.
Psychotherapy looks at the root causes of the difficulties, and looks back into childhood and the patterns laid down from these early experiences. It is typically of a longer duration.
Both aim to bring about better coping skills and to gain a greater ability to live more fully.