Welcome
Finding the right person to help when you are struggling with your mental health can be a challenge, especially if you are not quite sure what you are looking for, what you are struggling with or why.
My name is Marie and welcome to my website. I am a clinical psychologist with over 25 years experience providing assessment, therapy and counselling. Whether you are struggling yourself or are worried about a loved one who is having difficulties with their mental health, please know you are not alone.
Whether I am the right person to support you on your recovery journey will depend on a range of factors and if you are still not sure after reading my information, then please do get in touch. A short telephone conversation would give you a better idea and even if I am not the right person then I might be able to suggest somebody else.
Psychological therapy, particularly for trauma, is not something to be entered into lightly and it is important you feel comfortable with your therapist. You have taken the first step.
Therapuetic help for
What You Can Expect
My approach to therapy is trauma informed and compassion focused. This means that, first and foremost, my aim is to create a safe space and to develop a trusting therapeutic relationship, so you feel able to speak openly to discuss difficult thoughts and feelings, without fear of being judged.
I am trained in two of the main therapies recommended for the treatment of PTSD (EMDR & CPT), but as an experienced psychologist I am also aware of the nuanced approach often needed in the treatment of trauma related difficulties. This means I am flexible in my approach, respectful of your unique experiences and needs, and work in collaboration with you throughout the recovery journey.
I work at your pace and there is a strong psycho-educational element to my style of working. This means that I share psychological explanations with you about what it means to be human and how our brains and body have evolved. I find that this understanding empowers people and helps to remove a sense of shame and blame that can sometimes hold people back from recovery.
You will not be asked to talk in detail about your traumatic experiences in the assessment or early stages of therapy. For some individuals, therapy can progress without ever needing to talk in detail about the trauma, but whether this approach is suitable for you will depend on your own individual circumstances and our formulation of your difficulties.
As a clinical psychologist working in private practice, I am not limited to one way of working and not tied to a set number of sessions. This means that an initial assessment and formulation will guide our work together and any therapy offered will be tailored to your individual needs.
Sometimes the assessment and formulation alone will be sufficient to help you move forward without any further therapeutic input. Sometimes the assessment and formulation will indicate the need for support from specialist or multidisciplinary NHS services and in such cases I would support you to seek a referral from you GP.
Areas of Expertise
As a clinical psychologist, I am trained in a broad range of theories and models, but my interest in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) guides my approach.
