My Background

To begin with it's important that you know something of my professional background. I am registered with the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapists (UKCP) I hold an M.A. in Existential Psychotherapy a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative counselling and a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I have twenty years experience counselling people with addictions in various settings including the NHS, private clinics, the voluntary sector and in private practice. Trained in both a humanistic psychotherapy and CBT, it is an integration of these approaches that form my approach to addiction counselling. I am generically trained but over the years I have developed a significant level of expertise in the field of addiction. I have successfully worked with people experiencing a broad range of addictive behavioural problems and am able to offer both short and long term therapy.

An Overview of My Approach

Of course drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, Cannabis, tranquillisers etc and alcohol are going to be the addictions that immediately come to mind for most, and it will be of no surprise that they are the most common when it comes to people looking for help with addiction related issues. However I also know from experience that plenty of people have their own private addiction that they either feel too embarrassed to admit to or they question whether it is even actually an addiction? So drug, alcohol or other, I am pleased to help you either via therapy or by giving advice and guidance.

As a therapist who is committed to delivering a genuine treatment for a specific client group (people experiencing addiction), clients can be assured of a confidential and professional counselling service. I understand the work to be a dynamic partnership in which client and therapist both have responsibilities. Participation from a client will require them to perform tasks and exercises which challenge and modify existing thinking patterns and emotions, thereby directly addressing addictive behaviour. Although these exercises are not rigorous they do require a willingness to participate and a commitment to persevere.

Finally

An obvious question may be "how long will I need counselling for?" This is unfortunately a question I am unable even to estimate until we have met and discussed your situation in some detail. What I can say is that it is not my practice to prolong counselling any longer than is absolutely necessary, but please consider; we are working with entrenched habits which require time, patience and commitment to change.