My approach infuses a powerful combination of cognitive behaviourial therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapies and biofeedback therapy.

 

How do I work?

Education is at the core of my therapy because I strongly believe that understanding is key in overcoming anxiety and depressive disorders.  I feel that today’s focus on conventional CBT to treat anxiety and depression hasn’t achieved the results it claims.  I adopt a more personal and less clinical approach in my work and have found that this works much better in practice.  At the very core of my approach is ‘acceptance’ and it is my job as a therapist to help my clients clearly see where their problems lie and show them how to adopt the correct mindset.  This often requires a lot of courage on their part and a drastic shift in attitude.  Recovery lies in the practice of letting go, surrendering and accepting!  Many people have influenced me in my practice methods including neuroscientist’s such as Joseph Ledoux, Antonio Damasio and Michael Gazzaniga.  Psychologists such as Jordan Peterson, Carl Jung and Adrian Wells and many other wonderful people in the fields of philosophy, spirituality, history, religion, stoicism, self-help, biochemistry, nutrition and many more areas.  I love learning and enriching what I already know.  I believe very strongly that knowledge is power!  One person in particular who was paramount in my own personal recovery was the late, great, Dr. Claire Weekes, who transformed the world of psychiatry and was one of the greatest influences on modern day psychotherapy.

 

Who was Dr. Claire Weekes?

Dr. Claire Weekes was an Australian physician who achieved world recognition for her ability to help people with anxiety and depressive disorders.  She was a pioneer in her field and was way ahead of her time.  She used the term sensitisation to explain the condition that the nervous system becomes whilst in the anxiety state.  ‘Acceptance based on understanding’ was at the core of her method and she was the first clinical therapist to adopt this method – she used the concepts facing, accepting, floating and letting time pass to help her patients de-sensitise their nervous system.  Dr. Claire Weekes gave understanding like very few therapists of her time, many of whom focused on psychoanalysis and psychiatry, and through radio transmission helped hundreds of thousands of people globally recover.

 

What are the differences between Dr. Claire Weekes’ approach and conventional CBT therapy?

CBT is very much an ACTIVE form of therapy.  You get involved with your thoughts, you redirect them, you plant alternate/balanced thoughts, you re-frame, etc.  Claire Weekes taught PASSIVE acceptance based on UNDERSTANDING.  CBT is in some ways at the core of Claire Weekes’ method in that a recognition of thoughts is regarded as the main area of focus both in the establishment and prolonging of the disorder.  However, Claire Weekes then believed that any active engagement in the thoughts should stop right there and that an attitude of ‘utter’ acceptance be applied in response to the thoughts – this is where the two methods differ.  The better the understanding given in therapy, then the more likelihood of the patient’s ability to ‘accept’ more willingly, and it is this acceptance that eventually enables recovery.

 

Knowledge is power, but without action it’s powerless!

In my opinion the reason many people struggle to make a lasting recovery is because they have not had their condition properly explained to them.  People need to a good understanding of how their disorder developed and how they unknowingly prolong the suffering, otherwise, it’s easy to become complacent and leave the door wide open for ‘its’ return.  I help people not only treat the symptoms of their illness but also the root cause.  Clearing away as much bewilderment as possible is the key to helping people completely recover from anxiety and depressive disorders.

 

How do I differ from other therapists?

  • My sessions are extremely informative and fully recapped via email.
  • My ability to help people is enhanced through my own personal experience of severe anxiety and depression and my success in overcoming it.
  • I include a ‘catch up’ telephone call inclusive of my sessions which I believe can be very helpful.  Sometimes a five minute pep talk can mean the difference between success and setback!
  • My private therapy is extremely good value for money.  I provide a deep level of understanding and guidance in a relatively short period of time.

 

What is expected from you?

  • As obvious as it sounds, it is expected that you really want to be free of your illness.  It amazes me how many people believe that they are unable to achieve recovery.
  • That you fully commit to the sessions and be as brave as you possibly can be.  Building courage is a big part of recovery!
  • That you adapt your lifestyle to the best of your abilities in order to make the necessary changes for recovery.

 

How long will my therapy last?

  • My style of therapy aims to be quicker than conventional therapies which often recommends a minimum of 10 sessions.  This is because I believe that most of the ‘hard-wiring’ comes from your own application and repetition.  Most people who first come to see me have a strong ‘voice of doubt/despair’ and a weak ‘voice of reason’.  How long that takes depends on how much effort is given on your part and I provide much encouragement with this.  I do not believe in prolonging therapy unnecessarily.
  • Since beginning therapy in 2014 my average number of sessions per client is just three, although, some are much longer and this is okay, everybody is unique.  Some of my clients like to check in from time to time, sometimes years later, often because of some big life event or because they feel they need a refresher.  I do not believe in prolonging therapy unnecessarily.