Mindset Matters
by Emma
My Mindset
I am deeply passionate about breaking down stigma, and barriers to people's engagement with their mental health.
We all have mental health. Rather than seeing it as something we naturally 'have' or 'don't have' or that we are either 'healthy' or 'ill'. For me, our mental health is based on how well-equipped we feel in tackling life's challenges. The more emotional and psychological resources we have in dealing with these challenges, the better we are able to handle distress and cultivate a sense of wellbeing and 'health'.
We are not born with these resources. We learn them based on what we experience throughout our life and the coping 'languages' we developed to get by. The sense of mental 'ill-health’ comes when what we are facing in life outweighs the resources we have to effectively cope with it.
Life is unpredictable which, unfortunately, means we can experience challenges and circumstances that leave us battling with ourselves and feeling disconnected from what matters to us. Often despite our best intentions, the strategies we use to try and help ourselves feel better can either be short-lived, unwholesome or are life-depleting in the long run, which adds more our sense of feeling stuck.
We now know that we can exercise and eat well to get physically healthy or to help prevent ill-health and there are so many options to help you do this such as, personal trainers, gym classes, and even apps.
Similarly, through advances in neuroscience, we are now becoming more aware that we can train our minds to experience more wellbeing and nurture our mental health. However, it can be hard to know where to start, there aren't exactly 'mind gyms' to go to.
This is where my philosophy of therapy and concept of personal growth and wellbeing sessions have evolved from.
I don’t DO therapy to you; rather, like a personal trainer for your mind and nervous system, I will guide and support you to develop the skills to cope effectively with distress and pro-actively attend to your mental health in order to enrich your well-being and mindset.
My Qualifications
UK Registered and Chartered Psychologist
I have a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and graduated in 2016. I have worked in community, educational, and NHS settings from which I have experience working with a wide range of mental health concerns such as, depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, eating disorders, low self-esteem, bereavement and PTSD.
I have training in various evidenced-based approaches to therapy including person-centred counselling, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Compassion-focussed therapy.
Okay, but what does all of that actually mean for you?
My knowledge of psychological concepts and training in different therapies enables me to personalise my approach to your concerns, goals, and circumstances whilst drawing on knowledge and practices based on scientific research and evidence.
In particular, my practice is informed by developments from neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and attachment theories, which I employ to help those I work with develop a rich understanding of themselves, what they are going through, and how to work with their experience to overcome difficulties and enrich their lives.