A Place To Be Heard and Understood
My counselling and psychotherapy in Richmond-upon-Thames, Mayfair, and online gives you a safe, confidential, strictly non-judgemental space to work through difficult thoughts and emotions in your own way. And I am here to help you along that journey, taking care to establish a bond of mutual trust with you from the outset. That relationship is so important: not only for ensuring you feel comfortable enough to express yourself, but also for learning how you relate to yourself and other people, how this impacts your overall wellbeing, and what specific kind of help you actually need.
I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Different clients need different kinds of help, which is why I am trained in a wide variety of therapeutic approaches. You can read about some of them below.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (or CBT) is all about changing the way you think, which in turn changes the way you feel. It rests on the idea that difficult emotions aren’t always caused by a traumatic event but rather how we think about our life experiences. Sometimes events can trigger feelings, thoughts and emotions that feel like an unstoppable runaway train, and CBT helps you get this process under control. We will look closely at negative thoughts and habits that feel uncontrollable and, over time, gradually replace these with healthier behaviour and more realistic beliefs about yourself and the wider world.
CBT is a very popular approach for many therapists. It is widely researched, evidence based, highly effective, and quick to work compared to other talking therapies.
Mindfulness
We often spend too much time regretting what has happened or worrying about what lies ahead, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and a whole host of other mental and physical issues. This is where Mindfulness can help. Its central aim is to bring your attention to the present moment and let go of unhelpful thoughts and feelings. My approach towards mindfulness with clients is based on the RAIN acronym:
Recognise thoughts as they arise
Allow them to be, without judgement
Investigate feelings and body sensations noting them as feelings and sensations
Nurture the self through active, intentional, compassionate care
It takes work, of course, but eventually you can move past the habit of endless dwelling on the past or future and feel more present to what’s happening in the here and now. This will naturally loosen the stranglehold of anxiety and other mental health issues.
Psychotherapy
If you are struggling with complex emotional difficulties, such as anxiety or depression, or simply don’t quite feel right but can’t pinpoint what it is, psychotherapy can help get to the source of the problem. In a supportive, non-judgemental environment, we will work together to understand where these feelings actually originate from and learn how certain past experiences led to beliefs about yourself and others that influence your mental health. Our goal is to help you understand why certain emotions come up and, in turn, allow you to manage them more effectively in the future.
For a detailed breakdown on how I help with certain issues as a counsellor and psychotherapist in Richmond-upon-Thames, Mayfair, and online, head over to my Areas I Help With page.
© Joanne Bell
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