Expertise and Specialization
Not all counselling services are the same. Some clients have tried several different counsellors without success before coming to Octopus Therapy. What makes my approach different is that it’s more personal: I see fewer clients each week than most therapists, and that means that I can focus my attention and energy on you and your situation because I am not watching the clock, still thinking about the last client or mentally preparing for the one coming next. My focus is solely on what we are doing at the time.
My Diploma and training means I can work safely and ethically with people aged 18 and over, and I enjoy working with clients to help them to overcome or come to terms with their difficulties. The list below shows some of the areas of work that clients work on more often, but this list doesn’t mean that you can’t raise other issues that you might want to bring up – let’s talk about what’s on your mind.
In addition to general counselling on life events, and working with clients on problems caused by anxiety and depression, I have taken further specialized training that enables me to work safely and effectively with clients in a range of issues. So that I can provide clients with the best service, and as part of my professional development I undertake regular refresher training and counselling courses to enhance my skills, and to keep my practice up to date.
Issues that I have specialized in include working with minority and marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ and Trans adults, and adults who who have been subject to physical, sexual or emotional abuse. People who have had these experiences typically feel high levels of trauma and distress, which can show in a variety of ways – such as anger & rage, anxiety and depression, or hearing voices and seeing images. I work with clients to help them to move past these experiences and to have a happier life.
Take a look below for more details on some topics in which I have specialized, and if you have any questions, or would like to talk further, give me a call. I’m sure we can work something out.
Anxiety & Depression
These are so common that almost everyone will know someone who has suffered with one or both of these common mental health problems.
Counselling can help to resolve them and let you get on with life.
Life Events
Loss, Bereavement & Life-changing illness, relationship, work, and financial uncertainly can result in feelings of Stress, along with Anxiety and Depression. All of these can have a negative effect on you and your family, your work and social lives, colleagues and friends.
Counselling can help to put things back in perspective, or give you space to say and think things that you wouldn’t say to your regular circle of friends and workmates.
Identities & Hidden Identities
Hidden lives – this means living in the shadows & hiding your true self because of social, religious or personal expectations and limits.
I offer LGBTQ+ affirmative counselling, I have lots of experience of working with issues of Sexuality & Sexual Identity, and am an advocate for trans positive counselling. The point of counselling is to allow you to be more You, inside or out, in ways that work with your personal circumstances.
My work often involves clients who are dealing with shame, or the stress of not revealing a medical diagnosis to family, friends, or work colleagues, and feeling the pressure or anxiety that holding those worries has brought.
Counselling can give you a way to put down that burden and get on with life in a more positive spirit.
Trauma & Crisis
Trauma tends to come in two forms – Big-T Trauma and little-t trauma. Both can have long-term effects, and both can be dealt with effectively in counselling.
Big-T Trauma can be an effect when a particular event has happened to you that’s left you with distressing thoughts, flashbacks, or other difficulties in daily life.
Little-t trauma occurs when something that should have happened didn’t – for example when children don’t get the support and affection that they need at a young age, or if their parents are not interested in them. The effects of this can cause difficulties in relationships and self image until you can put these experiences behind you. Counselling can help you do this.
And trauma doesn’t have to have happened years ago to leave its mark – a crisis can occur at any time and leave you feeling unable to cope, but counselling can help you through it, until you are ready to go on with your life.
Suicidal Thoughts
Having suicidal thoughts is not uncommon – for instance, suicide is the most common cause of death in men under 50 – but talking about your suicidal thoughts to a counsellor can be really helpful in finding your way back to your normal self.
Don’t join the statistics, talk to me.
Self Harm & Self Injury
Self Harm is most often a way to tolerate some other, otherwise unbearable, feelings. Whatever they are, we can work together and hopefully find a way forward so you don’t feel driven to continue.
In any event, talking to someone is a great first step in finding a way out of the cycle. Why not give me a call and we can look at what’s going on for you.
Abused Men & Abused Women
Abuse has been in the news a lot over the last few years, and although some victims have come forward in public, there have been many more attending for counselling in private.
The number of people being abused is much higher than you think – about 1 in 6 men, and 1 in 3 women – so don’t be put off seeking counselling for this issue because you might think that it’s a rare thing. Sadly, it’s all too common.
Anger & Rage
I often work with clients who have trouble with anger. This can be in relationships, or work, or life in general. I don’t do Anger Management courses, because I don’t find them effective in helping clients to overcome their anger and rage in the long term. My approach is to work out what’s causing the anger or rage – because these feelings arise as a result of something else – and when we resolve the underlying cause the anger and rage disappear. My approach is not to shame the client, or blame the client, but to help them to work out what is behind these feelings and leave the past behind.
Anger work is sometimes done outside the office, because there is something about being outdoors that feels less oppressive, or claustrophobic, or like you’re under a microscope. Men, working on Anger, tend to like Ecotherapy.
Hearing Voices & Seeing Images
Hearing voices, or seeing things that you know aren’t really there? These can come from experiences you might never have talked about with anyone before. Counselling can help to live with, or without, them. Talk to me.
Perfectionism & Never Feeling Good Enough
Perfectionism and never feeling good enough is more common than you think! It often begins in childhood as a feeling of shame about something, and in order to cope with this feeling clients develop a drive for perfectionism as a safety net, or shield. If the strain of trying to be perfect all the time is bothering you, why not give me a call.