Find someone to talk to; keeping it all inside won’t help
Counselling and Psychotherapy are about understanding and disolving the patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour that you feel stuck in.
We explore and understand the repetitive behaviours that make you unhappy, and we work to shift them.
Here are some (by no means an exhaustive list) common behaviour patterns and experiences in life that can cause problems:
- Repetative conflict or dynamics between spouses, partners, friends or family members (for example one person is always passive while the other person feels angry with this),
- Frequently attracting the same kind of partner (for example someone who cannot commit),
- Overwork,
- Frequently needing reassurance,
- Intimacy avoidance
- Obsessive patterns (like checking email several times a day or safety checking) ,
- Having frequent situations of the same kind, at work, at home and in leisure (for example feeling bullied or ignored),
- Addiction or losing control to food, love, abuse, the internet, sex, or other substances or behaviours
- Frequent uncontrollable anger,
- Bouts of anxiety or paranoia,
- Frequent fears or visualisations of illness, death, or other negative outcomes.
Susan
Staying with my emotions, becoming more in touch with my strength has saved me.
Establishing trust
My first concern is to establish trust. Consequently, we work to understand what's happening for you. We then work on how to change it, and build your resources.
Service Provided and Therapeutic Approach
Counselling and psychotherapy in person, online or by telephone for individual adults.
I have trained in various approaches to psychotherapy and worked with many kinds of people. My psychotherapeutic approach is eclectic and flexible, and will be different for each client. However, my approach is hugely influenced by body centred psychotherapies like Hakomi, Sensory Awareness, and Somatic Experiencing.
Our work takes place online via Zoom, or in person in my private therapy room in Upper Knowle, BS4, South Bristol, near to the A37 Wells Road. This is a quiet, comfortable space, with plenty of free parking on the street.
Number of sessions
Counselling and psychotherapy work over a short and a long- term period. From the first session you will be introduced to valuable tools; a way to access your real, complete experience and to self regulate. You will also be encouraged to forgive yourself for being human, (which might be new).
The longer the therapy, the more you will receive support around being able to exercise your ability to use these tools. Like the use of a muscle that has not been exercised for a while, learning to implement new tools takes practice and exercise. Accessing the unconscious (which contains our reasons for our actions) is a tricky business that takes time and attention.
You, as a client, have the option to have sessions for as long or as little as you decide. It is true that counselling and psychotherapy are more effective with a longer commitment, particularly where the unwanted pattern of behaviour is long-term.
Short term psychotherapy
Day time weekly individual sessions may be available, or join my waiting list.
Initially, people often come to counselling for brief periods to discuss a current concern.
It is important that you feel safe with me. So all clients start with an initial consultation session of 50 minutes to an hour. Then, the next step is to make a weekly short commitment. This is flexible; usually 4 to 6 weeks. Towards the end of this, we review what you need. We then decide whether to continue, or to have a final session.
Longer term psychotherapy
It may have taken a lifetime to build your habits and behaviours. As a result, some things take longer to understand and change. You may already know that you are looking for longer term psychotherapy. So, my clients have the opportunity to stay for longer periods to work more deeply and thoroughly. Consequently, this is the most effective way to really make fundamental changes. It takes time to develop how you relate with people, and to improve your confidence, mood, and situation, more permanently.
Mark
I’m amazed at how I can be in such a different place now to where I was just a few weeks ago.
Open Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am - 2:45pm. Early Evening for groups |
| Wednesday | 10am - 5:15pm. |
| Thursday | 10am - 3:15pm. |
| Friday | 10am - 4:45pm |
| Saturdays & Sundays Closed | |
Fees
Fee for counselling and psychotherapy online, by telephone or in-person is £65 per hourly session.
Ethics
I am an accredited member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. As such I abide by and am answerable to their code of ethics, including Confidentiality.
See www.bacp.co.uk for more details.