LGBTQ+ therapists in Hadley, England ENG, United Kingdom GB

We are all alike, we humans. I like to think we are a troika: we think, we feel, and we do things. When these three are in balance, that's good. When not, well, we literally feel imbalanced. The original meaning of 'troika' is a chariot pulled by three horses abreast. If one of the three is pulling harder than the others, you can imagine what the result will be. We have all experienced our feelings dominating what we think and what we do. We also know that heightened emotions stop us thinking clearly. And we all know what it is like for our feelings to define our behaviour. Letting our feelings, especially negative emotions, control our behaviour and our thinking, many therapists traditionally perceive these as flaws. And because they have common characteristics these regularities are put into categories of 'disorders' to be treated, rather than recognising issues like anxiety and low mood are feelings we all experience. Labels are often heuristics, as evidenced by the long-established tradition of therapists to formally focus on what is "wrong" and assume 'disorders' are dysfunctional states that can be 'cured'. Even a cursory glance at the history of psychology -- on which much of the therapy toolkits rely-- reveals the main focus was on the abnormal, the dysfunctional and deviations from normality. The term "Positive psychology" was attributed to Abraham Maslow in his 1954 book "Motivation and Personality" but the ethos of this was developed in earnest by Martin Seligman. While Psychology is older, Neuroscience is more recent. They are complementary, but currently seem to be on opposite sides of the mountain, boring tunnels to bring them closer together. Neuroscience is also helpful. But just as examining the flow of electrons in the circuitry of a laptop or smart phone doesn't help the observer to construct what the user is seeing or hearing, seeing which bits of the brain light up when stimulated inevitably has limitations. Part of the problem is that our brains never directly experience the world as it is: our brains are locked inside a cranial domain into which all neural inputs are filtered and interpreted. Science can help but some of the shortcomings can be addressed by philosophical considerations. And although the concept of 'philosophy' seems out of place, abstruse impenetrable discourse did little for its PR, the ancient Greeks regarded philosophy as medicine for the soul. One particular school of philosophy-Stoicism--underpins both Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and Aaron Beck's CBT, (cognitive behavioural therapy). But very few CBT therapists are aware of its conceptual foundations and the debt owed to Stoicism. Interestingly, both were long-lived: Albert Ellis had 93 trips around the sun and Aaron Beck reached the milestone of 100 years. Much of the anxiety and worries we experience have long been scrutinised by existential philosophers. But sadly, few of their writings are fun to read. Essentially, our existence is subject to a continuing cycle of conflicts. We all know life embodies happiness and unhappiness; success and failure; sadness and joy; conflicts can be hard to resolve. For example, at a rational level we know we are mortal and have a finite lifetime. We all die. Sometimes we die three times; once when the body stops functioning, again when we are buried or cremated; and finally when our name is mentioned for the very last time. But although death is a reality, we also have a very strong instinct to survive. We want to live. And that very powerful feeling inevitably conflicts with the rational knowledge of our immortality. Some religions have an answer to that existential conundrum, but we are concerned with the here and now. However, trying to 'understand' these 'disorders' can be counter-productive. Spending time focusing on the pain of the past keeps the pain very much in the present. Recalling past hurt generates the same feelings in the present as in the original episode. Most people who feel overly anxious, or fearful, or unfulfilled, or hurt, or deemed 'broken' simply want to feel better. Keeping focused on past hurt isn't the best way to feel better from now on. Too many therapists are trained in one particular tradition, and then spend their time looking for people to "fix". I understand there are over 300 different named therapies. Which seems to parallel the plethora of different religions and religious sects. (In passing, a nod of the head to those who helped me understand the meaning of 'plethora'. It means a lot). Not only are contemporary therapies perpetually tweaked and reinvented, most were developed in the Western world and focus mainly on the individual. However, many non-Western cultures see the individuals as an integral part of other social units, particularly the family and the workplace. My starting point is how you want to feel from now on. And what's the best way to help you get from where you are now to where you want to be? I'm unashamedly eclectic. I use a blend of the very latest findings from neuroscience and psychology (to inform us how the brain works); I use my background in anthropology and human evolution to help understand how a brain that evolved 200,000 years ago often finds it hard to function in the complexities of the modern world. As our conscious minds can only think one thought at a time (multitasking being a bit a myth), we can make good use of that. A good starting point is focusing on high points in our life; by recalling those we don't just bring great memories to mind, we also recreate those wonderful feelings we felt at that time. So, just as we do our best work when we are at the top of your game, focusing on positive rather than negative feelings from the past is a great place to begin work. Just ask yourself if you make your best decisions when you are feeling low or when you are elated: heightened emotions (positive or negative) can adversely affect our cognition. As you will know when you have been furiously angry. Or when you have been so buoyed up that you feel all but unstoppable. Most people aren't 'broken'. But we may feel like it. From time to time we may well feel side-lined or undermined, held back, stuck, drained, numb, or otherwise constrained by a mismatch between expectations/aspirations and how we feel. The logical brain doesn't always align with emotions and feelings. Maybe external circumstances brought about persistent low mood. Perhaps your self-esteem took a nose-dive, or maybe you just find it hard to cope, or don't feel you're in control anymore. Our thoughts often control us, and determine our feelings--and our behaviour often depends on how we feel. Our thoughts don't just control us in the moment--long term they often prevent us from becoming the best version of who we could/should be. Are your thoughts stopping you from being the best version of who you could be? Let's loop back to philosophy. And in particular a school of philosophy developed over 2,000 years ago. The ethos of Stoicism addresses a fundamental question: how can you get the most out of life no matter what your circumstances? One of the key foundational principles that helps us navigate that most profound question is very simple: some things are up to us, and some things are not. So where then should we focus our energies? On things we can control, and which are up to us. And not on things beyond our control. Obviously we cannot influence the weather. We can only react to it. And that is a major clue: we can control our reactions and how we behave. Maybe even our thinking. Perhaps.  

I am a registered Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Practitioner Psychologist, and am on the British Psychological Society Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS). I have been in Private Practice in Central London for nine years. Before spending ten years in full-time study and training in London universities and NHS Trusts to qualify as a psychologist, I spent a decade travelling, mainly around Asia, studying Eastern psychology and philosophy. Thus, I have a rich lens of psychological perspectives through which I understand and work with the mind. Psychoanalytic thinking underpins my approach to therapy, which is always tailored to suit the unique needs of each person. The therapeutic work then adapts as those needs change over time. You will find my approach to be naturally compassionate, and non-judgemental.  

I provide CBT, ACT, mindfulness, Compassion-Focussed Therapy and counselling for various mental health difficulties, tailored according to your needs. This may include therapy for depression, anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, OCD, trauma, PTSD, work-place conflict, stress/ burnout, anger problems, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, Post-Covid Syndrome (Long Covid) and Functional Neurological Disorders. I provide coaching for ADHD and addictions, and I provide Gottman Method Couples Therapy for relationship problems. I'm trained in tailoring therapy sessions for autistic clients.  

My name is Saffron. I am an accredited member of the BACP and have been practicing as a counsellor and psychotherapist for twenty years both within an agency setting as well as within my private practice, where I offer face to face, online, telephone and walk and talk appointments. I have worked with clients across the age range of 14 up to and past the retirement age. The service that I offer welcomes people from all backgrounds in a way which is non discriminatory and supportive. Counselling offers an opportunity to process personal challenges and difficulties within an environment that is supportive and confidential. At times this might include discussing painful and uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, emotions. You are not alone with this as many people experience these at different points of their lives. When this is happening it can be hard to remain in a positive and focused frame of mind. Sometimes people feel overwhelmed and feel unable to continue to cope in the way that they usually could with their life on a day to day basis. One of the ways that counselling can help is by providing a space to process personal, behavioural and relationship issues in a safe and confidential way with a qualified professional. My role is to support you with this process in a way that is non judgmental, free from criticism or giving advice as to what I believe is the right thing for you to do. By working together in this way I am there alongside you as you find your own answers in a way that is right for you as we are all individual and unique and what is right for one person may not feel right for someone else. Of course you don't have to tell me everything about yourself and your life if you are not comfortable with this however you may find it beneficial to be as open and honest as you are able to be.  

FREE INTRO - to see if we're a good fit. My main focus is working with ACAs - adults who were raised in an alcoholic / narcissistic family. The long-term goal is to uncover your True Self, develop a Loving Parent voice, heal the Wounded Child, & encourage the Healthy Child to shine. Together we identify the harsh beliefs you absorbed from your family, school & religion, and work on transforming them into positive do-able ‘rules’ to live by. EXP: “I know what I know”, “I have a right to my needs”, “”There’s no such thing as perfect”….. I also provide a safe place for you to experience painful or joyful emotions you weren't allowed to feel growing up. ACA Recovery work is about facing the reality of early damage, and working to overcome the after-effects. “Trying to flourish in an atmosphere of criticism is like trying to get sober in a bar.”