Therapy for Addiction

​Addiction refers to a difficulty in controlling certain repetitive behaviours to the extent that they have harmful consequences. They are the result of powerful compulsions to use and do certain things excessively, often out of a need to escape from upsetting emotions or situations.

These compulsions can trigger a self-perpetuating process, which can cause pain and suffering not only for those with the problem, but for their loved ones too.

Addictions can develop from what may be seen as fairly innocent, or at least common social habits.

Drinking alcohol, gambling, eating, having sex and using the internet can all turn from what is considered a common activity, to a darker, more destructive compulsion.

Addictions may come from the way these activities and habits make people feel, both emotionally and physically.

They can be pleasurable - a form of escapism for someone who perhaps is going through a difficult time. But this moment of pleasure can trigger a powerful need to continue the habit or activity, over and over, in order to feel that way again. 

Therapy for Anger Management

Is anger the first thing you feel in response to far too many situations? Losing your temper at the tiniest provocation? Are angry feelings beginning to take over your life?

Whether you’ve suddenly noticed that anger is your default position or whether you’ve had it pointed out by well-meaning family and friends, you may begin to wonder how to take stock, begin to understand why you’re so angry, and work to take control of those overwhelming rages. 

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While rational anger affects us all at some point, it often stays within a healthy range of expression. Irrational anger and rage can sometimes erupt and spill out in inappropriate and destructive ways. The after-effects of intense and uncontrolled anger can affect you both physically and psychologically.

Anger that goes unchecked can run riot with your wellbeing. Physically, anger can cause all sorts of heart and digestive problems, as the risks from high blood pressure storm your system. 

Therapy for Anxiety & PTSD

We use the word Anxiety when describing a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, this can be mild or severe.

Everyone has feeling of anxiety at certain points in their life, for example you may feel worried and anxious about an exam, starting a new job or health check. At times like these anxiety is a perfectly normal experience, 

However some people find it difficult to control these worries. Their feelings of anxiety are stronger and continual and impact the usual functioning of their daily lives.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after being involved in (or witnessing) something traumatic. The condition was first seen in war veterans and has been given various names, such as shell shock etc.

Therapy for Children & Adolescents

Child and adolescent counselling helps children or young people explore any concerns that may be causing problems in their social, emotional or cognitive development. The therapeutic process gives them the opportunity to express difficult or confused feelings in a safe environment with clear boundaries.

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Play is a natural medium of communication for children and the use of play and creative techniques facilitates the free expressions of feelings and emotions and helps children build resilience and raise their self-esteem. The relationship with the counsellor is non-directive allowing the child freedom to express him/herself physically, verbally or creatively.

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Therapy for teenagers and young people can support individuals with developing their awareness to deal with social situations, relationships both personally and professionally including peer pressure and family, education, sexual health issues.

Therapy for Couples & Relationships

Relationships are a very meaningful part of our lives and can bring us a great deal of happiness and fulfilment. Strong connections with our loved ones, friends and work colleagues allow us to be at our healthiest and most productive, and for many, these relationships offer an important source of advice, guidance, love and support.

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However, fulfilling and supportive relationships don’t come automatically. They require good social skills and a great deal of work, time and energy to stay strong and go the distance. Sometimes our most meaningful connections break down, for whatever reason, leaving us feeling lonely, disappointed and unsure of ourselves.

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In some cases, our relationships may not be meeting our expectations, which can, in turn, impact our happiness and life satisfaction. Relationships can be very one-sided and if the two people are not seen as equals, problems can occur. 

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Whatever the relationship issue, there is help available. Relationship therapy is one option - whether as a couple or an individual - you can talk about your concerns and your needs, and explore what you want from your relationships. By speaking to a professional, you can learn more about yourself while also receiving the support and guidance you may need to get back on track.

Therapy for Depression

Living with depression can be incredibly difficult, for both those suffering and those around them. 

Depression is more than simply feeling low or fed up for a few days. Most people go through periods of feeling down, the difference is when you are depressed you may persistently feel like this for weeks, even months on end. 

We can describe depression by how serious it is:

• mild depression – has some impact on your daily life 

• moderate depression – has a significant impact on your daily life 

• severe depression – makes it almost impossible to get through daily life; a few people with severe depression may have psychotic symptoms

Often depression is not seen for the deep and severe health condition that it is, it is a real illness and should be treated as such. With the right treatment and support, most people with depression can make a good recovery.

Therapy for Eating Disorders & Body Dysmorphia

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect people emotionally, physically and socially. They centre on a person's relationship with food, eating and themselves. In the UK, it is estimated that more than 700,000 people are affected by an eating disorder.

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While young women (aged 12 to 20) are more likely to develop an eating disorder, anyone can develop one, regardless of age or gender. There is no one reason why a person will develop a problem with eating; there could be a range of factors involved, including genetic, social, environmental, psychological and biological.

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Other eating disorders can also include behaviours such as the compulsion to exercise excessively, a negative or distorted body image, as well as obsessive thoughts, habits and behaviours around food

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While eating disorders are serious and can be fatal, they are treatable and people can make a full recovery. The journey may be long, but it is possible to get help. Here we'll look at the different types of eating disorders and how counselling can help.

Therapy for Family Issues

Whatever the family configuration, be it within a traditional nuclear family or step-parenting or co-parenting or being a parent as part of a blended family. Modern domestic setups can be very complicated and can have many unique challenges and problems.

Therapy for family issues and relationships and parenting challenges can help give you a perspective on the situation and address any issues that have arisen or that you anticipate might arise in the future.

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Therapy for family issues, relationships and the challenges of parenting is a space where you can come, on your own, and discuss openly and confidentially the scenarios you are experiencing at home and how you feel about them.

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It can help to relieve the symptoms that you are experiencing, to gain insight and understanding into your family relationship issues. You can examine thoughts and behaviours and work through confusing and painful times either in the present or in the past. The impact your family and children may have on you and the range of emotions you feel can be addressed, can be challenged, changed and resolved.

Therapy for Illness & Health

Many of us are touched by serious illness or health problems at some time in our lives, whether we have been diagnosed ourselves or know of someone who has been. Regardless of whether it’s yourself, a family member or a friend, a medical, illness or health diagnosis can bring difficult and painful feelings. Shock, grief, and fear are just some of the emotions you may deal with.

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Illness can be classified as acute, chronic, and/or terminal diseases. Acute illnesses often appear suddenly and last a short time. Chronic Illnesses are conditions that last a long time and often require ongoing medical care. Terminal Illnesses have no cure and will likely cause death within several months or years.

Counselling may be offered to the patient during or after their cancer treatment, but it can sometimes be beneficial for family members and loved ones, too. Talking to a counsellor experienced in cancer issues can ease the sense of isolation you may feel and help you find ways to face the challenges ahead.

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• Finding ways to look beyond your condition and not be defined by it

• Adopting a proactive attitude to promote self-awareness and self-management

• Learning how to be more attuned to your body, and how to manage the physical aspects of your condition

• Exploring how you communicate your needs and feelings

Therapy for Infertility & Miscarriage

Normally we believe that when the time comes for us to have a family we will be able to do so. Society maintains that this provides a sense of worth and fulfilment, unfortunately not all of us are able to do this and/or without difficulty.

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Infertility is a source of sadness and despair, we all hear stories of the emotional and social struggles of being unable to conceive.

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Feeling that your body is suddenly working against you can be a very painful realisation, and on top of this you may then also be expected to make extremely difficult decisions regarding your future. Should you try again? What are your options? Or is it time to start thinking of other ways to start a family?

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Miscarriage or the loss of pregnancy is more common than most people imagine, with as many as one in every four pregnancies ending this way. It is a significant and very painful loss for those who experience it. Some people are reluctant to talk about this upsetting experience. Some wish to put the setback behind them as quickly as possible, while others need to process the feelings more slowly. Talking about what has happened in a confidential and safe environment can help.

Therapy for Loss & Bereavement

If you have experienced the death of someone who was important to you, you may be finding it difficult to adjust to the changes happening in your life right now. Grief can shake everything up - your beliefs, your routines, and even your sense of normality.

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Bereavement is the time we spend adjusting to loss. There is no right or wrong way to feel during the bereavement period - everyone copes in their own way.

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Grief, although normal, can manifest in unexpected ways. Some people get angry, some people withdraw into themselves and some people become completely numb.

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Sometimes, grief can trigger mental health conditions, like depression.

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When you first experience loss, family and friends will rally round to support you. But as time passes there’s often the expectation to “move on” or “get over it”. Yet grief has no timetable. Your bereavement is unique and will last as long as it needs to.

Therapy for Low Self Esteem & Confidence

Self-confidence is about trusting your own judgement and feeling comfortable with your abilities and powers: it’s the means to realise your full potential and be the person you want to be. This trait allows you to feel secure in the world and encourages others to feel comfortable around you. Self-confidence is made up of a variety of factors, including how you present yourself physically to the world and how you relate to other people.

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Self-confidence can bring benefits to all areas of your life, but can vary from situation. You may be particularly confident at work, but lack social confidence; you might have a thriving romantic relationship, but lack confidence in your friendships. We all differ, but possessing self-confidence can particularly enhance relationships, career, social life and state of mind.

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Self-esteem is the way we perceive and value. This can be influenced by lots of different things, from our childhoods to life events. When we have low self-esteem we can see both ourselves and the world around us in a negative light. We may feel unhappy and find it more difficult to cope with challenges when they come up.

Over time low self-esteem can have a negative impact on our mental health. You may also find having certain mental health conditions impacts your self-esteem. 

Therapy for OCD & Health Anxiety

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) involves intrusive and obsessional thoughts, often followed by compulsive urges. These obsessions can be overwhelming, and the only way a person can relieve these intrusive thoughts is to repeat an action until they are quelled.

There are several misleading stereotypes surrounding this condition, including the idea that sufferers are very neat and tidy.

In reality, OCD is a far more complex illness and can make day-to-day living very difficult for the affected person and those close to them. One of the biggest challenges for family and friends is understanding the illness. It is possible, however, for those with OCD to learn ways to better manage the condition.

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On this page we’ll explore the condition in more depth, including common OCD symptoms, what obsessions and compulsions are, and effective treatment options.

For the purposes of diagnosis, health anxiety can be split into two different disorders: somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and illness anxiety disorder (IAD) - formally known as hypochondriasis.

The difference between these conditions is subtle and, sometimes, both may be present. For this reason, health anxiety is a common term used to discuss a range of symptoms.

Therapy for Perinatal Issues

Pregnancy and childbirth can be an exciting time. But, it can also be a time of immense pressure. Many changes are happening to your body and the very nature of bringing life into the world places demands on you to adjust your life and lifestyle.

These factors cause a woman’s hormones to work intensely. Not only does this lead to a range of physical symptoms (including morning sickness), it can also lead to the amplification of certain emotions. It's not uncommon for women to feel more anxious and 'down' at this time. Some develop a mental health problem during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth - this is referred to as the ‘perinatal period’.

Examples of perinatal mental illness include antenatal depression, postnatal depression, anxiety, tokophobia (extreme fear of childbirth), perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), postpartum psychosis and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These illnesses can be mild, moderate or severe, requiring different kinds of care or treatment.

Therapy for Personality Disorders

We all have different ways of thinking, feeling and behaving and these are the parts that make us who we are, our personality. We don’t always react in the same way, as our thoughts, feelings and behaviours will often depend on the situation

Living with a personality disorder may mean your thoughts, feelings and behaviours are more difficult to understand and manage. This may mean your attitudes and actions are different from others. People may not understand this, which can leave you feeling low and insecure.

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Counselling for personality disorders will help you understand your thoughts and behaviours better. You will learn how to focus on your beliefs, understand how to control your emotions and learn how to manage symptoms. 

Therapy for Psychosexual Issues

Many of us experience sexual problems at some point during our life. If you are experiencing problems with sex, whether you are male or female, you may feel alone, embarrassed, ashamed, or even afraid. These are common things felt by people living with sexual dysfunctions. 

Feeling this way can lead to people waiting months or even years to seek help and support, as they are too uncomfortable to discuss their worries and experiences with others. Sex problems are common and can occur for any number of different reasons. In most cases, sexual problems can be linked to other challenges or difficulties you are facing within your life. 

For example, if you are feeling stressed and have a lot on your mind, you may not feel like having sex. This is typically a mild, short-term sexual problem that alleviates as your stress levels change. More complex or severe problems can have a deeper, long-term effect that could impact different areas of your life and relationships.

Sex is a complex force. It has biological, psychological and emotional components. Some sexual problems are purely physical, resulting from a disability, an illness or side effects from medication. Most sexual problems are psychological. They do not stem from physical or physiological problems within the body.

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Sexual problems might originate in negative messages that have been picked up about sex, previous experiences of sexual trauma or previous negative sexual encounters. Depression, stress and self-worth issues can also facilitate sexual dysfunction. Cultural, generational and religious factors often play a role in how a person experiences sex.

Sometimes people find it hard to discuss sex and discussing sexual problems can be even more difficult. Experienced therapists are used to these sensitive conversations and will quickly normalise any discussions about sex or sexual problems. Most clients are surprised how quickly they overcome any concerns about discussing sex once the initial anxiety has been alleviated.

Sex, itself, can be intimidating. Your partner may want to try sexual acts with which you do not feel comfortable. Or you may feel uncomfortable communicating your own sexual desires to your partner.

Therapy for Stress

Stress causes physical changes in the body designed to make you take on threats or difficulties. For example, you may notice that your heart pounds, your breath quickens, your muscles tense and you begin to sweat. We may refer to this as the ‘fight or flight’ response.

Once the threat or difficulty passes, these physical effects usually fade. If you’re constantly in a state of stress and your body remains in a state of high alert, your body may develop stress related signs and symptoms such as: 

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Have racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating

• Feeling irritable

• Feel constantly worried, anxious or scared

• Feel a lack of self-confidence

• Have trouble sleeping or feel tired all the time

• Avoid things or people you are having problems with

• Be eating more or less than usual

• Drink or smoke more than usual

Therapy for Sexuality & Gender Issues

Our sexuality and gender can form a big part of our identity and those who don’t fit society’s heteronormative ideal can come up against more challenges. Those who identify as LGBTQ+ may be gay, lesbian, bisexual, trangender/sexual, pansexual, intersex, asexual, queer, non-binary or questioning, may be seen as ‘different’, facing discrimination, bullying and a lack of understanding. 

Now considered gender and sexual diversities (GSD) which is a more inclusive term for the more traditionally used LGBTQ+) It encompasses a wider range of gender and sexual diversity identities including, but not restricted to, people who either engage in Kink/BDSM (bondage, dominance, discipline, submission, sadism and masochism) practices or lifestyle - irrespective of sexual orientation (Langdridge and Barker 2007) - as well as people who may identify anywhere across the gender spectrum and not simply intersex or transgender. 

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Gender and sexual diversities (GSD) are also opening up the debate on different possibilities in relationships such as asexuality (Rothblum and Brehony 1993) and celibacy or polyamory, swingers and other forms of consensual non-monogamy (Barker and Langdridge 2010).

If you are worried you may be experiencing sexuality issues, it’s important to speak up and seek help. 

Therapy for Trauma

Having a traumatic experience or witnessing extraordinarily stressful events can have a profound impact on our psychological and emotional well-being. If you’ve ever felt that your life or safety has been put at risk, it can shatter your sense of security and make you feel helpless.

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The important thing to remember is that there are many different causes of trauma. It’s not the circumstance or event in itself that signals trauma, but what your emotional experience was of the event. Not everyone will react to the same event in the same way - for example, some people would find falling from a height traumatic, while others choose to jump out of planes for fun. The more frightened or helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatised.

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Trauma affects people in different ways and, for some, the symptoms take weeks, months or even years to surface. Regardless of its source, an emotional trauma contains three common elements: it was unexpected, the person was unprepared, there was nothing the person could do to prevent it from happening.

Therapy for Work, Career & Redundancy

The smallest thing may cause you stress and, when a variety of factors build up, that is when it can have a negative effect on your well-being. Work and career moves, money and redundancy, are all considered common stressful situations. In small doses, these stressors can be managed, but when the pressure builds, it can be incredibly difficult to cope.

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We spend a lot of time at work; it supports society, gives structure and purpose to life, keeps the body and brain occupied and promotes a sense of satisfaction. When you enjoy your job, it can provide happiness and fulfilment. When work is causing you stress and unhappiness, however, it can take over your life.

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Many people will seek career help from a counsellor because they feel personal issues or problems at work are affecting their job satisfaction and performance. These may be may include: performance anxiety, anger management problems, bullying, low self-confidence, stress, strained relationships with colleagues/staff/boss and redundancy.

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These issues often make it difficult for people to feel comfortable in their job and can affect their ability to complete and manage work responsibilities such as giving presentations or taking part in team meetings.