Therapy faqs

Please feel free to leave any feedback for me or even suggestions for the FAQ’s pages. I will endeavour to feedback to any suggestions I receive.

Therapy

What is bibliotherapy?

Bibliotherapy is a method of helping yourself by reading specific articles, journals, books etc that have been written specifically to help you.  I have listed some helpful books and links on this site.

If I have sexual problems does that mean I am psychiatrically disturbed or have serious personality difficulties?

No, it does not!  Many people at some stage of their lives are troubled by sexual problems.  I have written more about sexual issues on my website.

What is Psychosexual Therapy?

Sex Therapy is a specialised therapy for individuals and couples who may be having problems with sexual issues. There is a programme of tasks which, if appropriate, you will be asked to do at home.  Initially it is recommended that you make an appointment to meet me and discuss the issues that are troubling you and I will then assess and suggest ways of helping you.

If I come alone initially and you think it would be beneficial for my partner to attend to, is this possible?

As I am a trained and qualified couple counsellor I am used to working with couples. However, if I see an individual for a period of time it can be very difficult for the partner to feel comfortable as we will have already built a rapport.  So I suggest that very early in the therapy, if it seems helpful, a partner is included.  Otherwise I will go on working with you and then, as a couple, you can seek out a couple counsellor to do some relationship work together.

The difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling and Psychotherapy are two words often used to describe the same thing, although some therapists would argue they are different.
Counselling usually concentrates on one aspect of a person’s life, bereavement, relationships or other specific events – it is often time limited.
Psychotherapy concentrates on exploring the past and helps you gain greater awareness. It is generally open ended and may encompass many aspects of a person’s life.
Psychotherapy is an in depth way of working with your therapist to explore your feelings and talk about the difficulties you are experiencing that affect your life.

Therapy offers you the opportunity to talk confidentially about anything you wish and it is a way of working through issues, clarifying thoughts and feelings and facilitating change. It helps you to look at things differently and gives you the chance to identify negative patterns of behaviour enabling you to find a more positive way of being.
I see the therapeutic process as an exploration and a journey leading to a better understanding and acceptance. It can help you make changes in your life, make sense of individual circumstances and support you during the process of change.
It enables you to:
• Explore options
• Make changes
• Build Self Esteem and Confidence
• Explore the impact of change, loss and grief.

In my psychotherapy practice I work with many issues some of which include:
• Transgender
• Gender, Sexuality
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Bereavement and Loss
• Phobias
• Low Self Esteem and Confidence
• Anger
• Relationships
I have experience of working with Pre and Post operative Transsexual clients
I run a private practice in Chesterfield, Derbyshire which enables me to work flexibly.
I offer both short and long term counselling to individuals and couples.
I work with a range of therapeutic tools, an integrative way of working, using cognitive behavioural therapy, person centred and psychodynamic models of counselling.

Is therapy ever physical?

No – At no point will there be any physical contact in your sessions.

Will I have to take my clothes off?

No – At no point will I ask you to remove any item of clothing.

Do you use Cognitive-behavioural therapy techniques?

Yes – Cognitive-behavioural therapy (or CBT) is an integral part of therapy. This combined with many other therapy techniques has proven to be very successful.

What techniques are used in behaviour therapy?

Techniques include systematic desensitization, particularly for the treatment of clients with irrational anxieties or fears, and aversive conditioning, which uses negative stimuli to end bad habits.