Family Therapist
Family Therapist
What is Family Therapy?
Systemic Psychotherapy, also known as a Family Therapy is a way of thinking about people, not only in their individual context, but also as people within the circles of their relationships with families, friends and work colleagues. So, as a Family Therapist, I work with people of all ages, from under 5’s upwards- both individually and in groups together.
The issues that clients bring to therapy are often in relationships with other people. Family Therapists think about what’s happening in the overall context of their relationships, and how behaviour patterns can be unhelpful and sometimes even maintain the problem. In my work with families, my aim is to develop together more understanding of what is going on leading to more creative relationships and contentment.
"You can't stop the waves,
but you can learn to surf"
Jon Kabat Zinn
Child and Adolescent
Children and Teenagers experience a wide range of feelings which can include stress, worry, anger, and sadness. These are normal and often pass quickly.
However, for some young people these feelings do not pass and can interfere with their lives both at home and at school.
These are some of the things that they may worry about:-
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Social media likes/looks and body image
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Exams and school work/bullying
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Fear of missing out
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Gender issues
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Loss of loved person/pet
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Divorce & Separation
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Relationships with step-family members
Worry, stress and sadness can be expressed by young people in different ways. Some of the symptoms that they show may include:
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Low mood, loss of enjoyment
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Becoming withdrawn from family & friends
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Anxiety or OCD
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Anger & Aggressive outbursts
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Fear & Phobias
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Sleep and eating disorders
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Self-harm, and suicidal thoughts
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Changes in behaviour at school
About Me
I started my working life as a hospital nurse, and then school nurse. I began to see many families and the concerns they had for their children. These are very understandable given the increasingly complex world in which we live. I saw how important a child's emotional well being is in order to be happy and thrive both at home and at school. I qualified as a Family Therapist at The Tavistock Clinic in London, and worked for many years in the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
I learned during these years that early childhood experience is often at the root of our present day issues though it may be long forgotten.
I qualified as an EMDR accredited practitioner in 2013 and am now an accredited Consultant and Supervisor for Children and Adolescents and Adults.