Gemma Altoft Counselling and Psychotherapy

About

I am a fully qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist, accredited with BACP.
I am based in Rochdale.

I have several years experience working in the NHS as a counsellor with Adult men and women with varied experiences. I have experience working with a range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, low self esteem, abuse, sexual abuse, relational patterns, bereavement and loss, life transitions, childhood issues, identity problems.

I currently work as a Counsellor for depression ( NICE approved treatment for depression) at Turning Point Talking therapies in Wakefield.

I have also facilitated Mindfulness groups for the NHS and written and delivered groups at the Women’s Counselling and Therapy Service in Leeds.

It can be difficult to choose the right therapist and it is my belief that a good therapeutic relationship is an important part of the therapeutic process. I aim to collaborate with you to establish a transparent relationship where we can work together.

My approach to therapy is a warm accepting relational-integrative approach, drawing from humanistic, experiential and psycho-dynamic practice.
I aim to establish a non-judgemental supportive relationship with you, where together, we can explore your experience, providing both empathy and at times challenge on your journey to healing or self development.

Counselling and Psychotherapy can help individuals to unravel, experience and make sense of  and process deep rooted feelings, painful memories and experiences and unconscious patterns.

The experiences we have throughout our lives shape the way we see and relate to ourselves, other people and the world around us. Through counselling and Psychotherapy individuals can use the therapeutic relationship to explore and gain insight into how these experiences have impacted on how they relate to themselves, their emotions, other people and the world around them.  Through exploring these experiences in therapy, clients can process painful experiences, gain awareness and create change.

I will work with you from an existential-relational approach drawing from humanistic and psycho-dynamic practice, attachment theory, person centered and emotion focused therapy to help you understand and explore your unique experience of being a person existing in this world.

I will work with you in an experiential way to explore how your body-mind experiences discomfort, distress, this will include noticing and being with emotional responses within the body, making sense of emotional experiences through use of metaphor and exploration and exploring conflicting emotions or parts of self.

I strongly subscribe to the notion that talking about something is not enough, we need to explore embodied responses and experiences in order to heal and become whole.

I can currently offer short term and longer short term  Counselling and Psychotherapy and can work with you through both the joys and difficulties in your life to help you become a more healthy, integrated individual.

Problems I can help with include:

Childhood Problems
Abuse
Betrayal
Feeling worthless
Guilt
Unresolved feelings from difficult life events or relationships.
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma
Loss
Difficult life transitions
Identity Problems
Dissociation

Stress
Relationship difficulties
Self Esteem


If your problem is not listed I would be happy to discuss with you whether I may be able to help you.

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