Approach

Transactional Analysis

The philosophy ofTransactional Analysis or TA is that everyone is OK, everyone has the capacity to think and every decision can be changed. This philosophy underpins the therapeutic work and is very important for you as a client. You will be treated with respect and you won’t be judged because I see the value in who you are. We will use our thinking together to create a contract for the therapeutic work. You will have control over your own therapy, thus enabling you to feel that the changes you make in your life are your own. ​

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How is TA useful?

What we learn about ourselves, is drawn not only from our own thinking but also from what others say to us. So, who we are, can be significantly shaped by the world we grow up in. You and I will explore your development over your life, looking at the dynamics of the relationships you had as a child and how they impacted the person you've become. By doing this we can learn to appreciate the impact other people have had on the decisions and judgements you’ve made. This gives you the opportunity to consider, as an adult, whether you want to make any changes to decisions made in the past. 

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EMDR

Think of EMDR as the bridge between what your brain knows and how your body feels. Often, we intellectually know we are safe, but our body still reacts as if we are in danger. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured therapy that acts as a catalyst for the brain’s natural healing process. By using Bilateral Stimulation, such as guided eye movements or rhythmic taps, the technique mimics the processing state of REM sleep. This allows the brain to "re-file" traumatic memories so that the emotional sting or physical "charge" begins to fade, shifting your mindset from a state of distress to the calm realisation that you survived and are safe now.

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This approach is highly effective because it targets how memories are stored in the nervous system, without requiring you to describe every painful detail out loud. It is a holistic tool used to treat everything from PTSD and childhood trauma to anxiety, phobias, and deep-seated negative self-beliefs. By addressing physical sensations and intrusive thoughts simultaneously, the ultimate goal of EMDR is to help you reach a place where you can remember the past without being pulled back into it, finally clearing the mental blocks that keep you feeling "stuck."​

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What can you expect from the therapist?

In therapy sessions, it's normal for your therapist to listen carefully to what you say. I will also talk openly with you, sharing my own curiosity on what you bring to your sessions and at times I will gently challenge you. This is done in order to help develop your own self-awareness, allowing you to make new decisions about how you want to live your life and grow. 

 

How will you be protected?

It’s understandable that talking about very personal and intimate things in your life can leave you feeling very exposed. It’s therefore of the upmost importance to me that you are treated with respect and professionalism. I always works ethically and safely, not only to respect and protect your dignity and rights, but also to be compliant with the organisations Acorn Counselling Therapy are associated with.

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​​What will be the result of starting therapy?

Undertaking counselling and psychotherapy and exploring yourself and your life can be difficult. It’s possible that you will begin to find hidden parts of yourself that bring you the chance of living life in a much healthier and happier way. You will have the space and time, to work through and develop your understanding of yourself, beginning to feel more open and at ease with who you are.