Psychological Therapies
Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society
HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist
CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CBT is based on the premise that it is not events themselves so much as the way we perceive them that trouble us. The roots of this philosophy go back to Epictetus (125 C.E.), “Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by their thoughts about these things.” CBT focuses on the here-and-now maintenance of problematic patterns, breaking them down to find elements that we change- our thoughts (cognitions) and our actions (behaviours).
NICE recommended treatment for anxiety, depression and obsessive disorders
CFT Compassion Focused Therapy
CFT is a more recent advancement in therapeutic modalities combining science from cognitive, evolutionary and developmental psychology. It offers practical tasks and exercises, along with attention to deeper patterns of relating and childhood attachment that disrupts the ability to self-regulate emotion. CFT is of particular benefit to clients who had long suffering in their childhoods and past experiences of traumatic shame.
EMDR Eye Movement Desenitisation and Reprocessing
EMDR was developed specifically as treatment for traumatic stress. It is based on observations that information processing stops during an overwhelming alarm reaction and remains jammed. The alarm reaction remains jammed on and the memory of the trauma remains fragmented - like shards of a mirror. Bi-lateral stimulation re-starts the natural flow of information processing allowing the brain to reconcile the disturbing trauma-related information.
NICE recommended treatment for post-traumatic stress
Outdoor Sessions & Ecotherapy
Working outdoors is becoming an increasingly popular way to do therapy. In the East of Scotland we are lucky to have such a range of natural landscapes on our doorstep, from beach, to forest, to hills and mountains. The landscape may provide a supporting backdrop for a therapeutic conversation or somehow enter the therapeutic process through giving us metaphors and images that inspire richer understanding. See more at www.earth-works.co.uk
What happens at an initial counselling psychology session?
In the first session Stephanie will gather an overview of your needs and situation, such as living and working arrangements, interests and values. She will give you all the time you need to explore the effects of the problem on your day to day living and get an initial sense of the scope of the issue. She may be able to recommend a particular evidence-based psychological intervention, or will design a bespoke intervention for you. Over the next session or few sessions Stephanie will work with you to develop a psychological formulation - an overview of the issue you wish to resolve that guides the course of therapy. This is a working document subject to revision as we make co-discoveries about how the problem operates and its’ origins. Psychologists use formulation too explain how the problem is maintained and therefore how to change it.
“I've been lucky to have found Stephanie. Her skill has been guiding me towards finding my own path and the techniques and methods have been invaluable. Her skill hasn't been simply telling me what to do, but helping me find solutions and answers for myself which is all the more lasting. Stephanie has been a true guide in life and absolutely remarkable in helping helping me on my path and finding a way through troubled times.” A.