Veritas Counselling
Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield
I am a qualified Psychologist with Masters degrees in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology so my understanding of how CBT works covers everything from the theoretical background to its clinical applications. I am also APT qualified, regulated by the British Psychological Society and specialised in using online / remote therapy techniques even before the pandemic made these the new normal.
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What do you love most about your job?
The simple answer to that is that I enjoy helping people. My clients come to me at what is often the worse moments of their life and need some help to understand what they are experiencing and some guidance on how to improve things. People can find themselves on the wrong road in life for a wide variety of reasons and this is usually through no fault of theirs but with commitment and effort I can help them back onto a better road and, ideally, keep them there for the future.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I have worked in a variety of companies over the years and I decided that, as flexible working was a priority for me, that running my own business was the best approach. It does have its challenges (I miss having IT support!) but it means I can really focus on my clients rather than being distracted by office politics (or gossip!).
Why should our clients choose you?
I have a much deeper understanding of therapies such as CBT work as I have Masters degrees in both cognitive neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience all of which means I can be much more effective in using these techniques and can also explain them in greater detail if required. I have successfully treated dozens of clients using a highly tailored approach depending on their specific needs and aims and have a very high ratio of clients who go on to live happy and productive lives with no further support required (my usual joke at the final session is that I hope to never hear from them again!). More formally I am regulated by the British Psychological Society who have an extremely detailed approach to both ethics and client care which guides all of interactions with clients and am currently completing Level 4 CBT and DBT training with APT as part of my continung professional development.
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
I have been providing counselling and therapy to my clients remotely since I first began and I am very experienced at using a variety of technologies to help this process. I am just as happy talking face-to-face as I am on the phone or by video conference and I have been equally successful in helping my clients using all of these methods.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
I was already operating primarily as an online councellor / therapist so Covid-19 has not required any real changes to how I work.
Counselling / Therapy
My approach to counselling is rooted in my understanding of the human brain's cognitive processes and how these operate to help us construct our sense of self and how we perceive and process the world around us.
This approach can help if you are experiencing any of the following:
General or specific feelings of anxiety
Anger issues
Feelings of sadness or depression
Bereavement / Grief / Feelings of loss
Lack of confidence / self-belief
Feeling lost / confused over your life direction
Relationship issues
Terminal illness
Addictive tendencies, including social media
Sexual compulsion, including inappropriate use of the Internet
Feelings of isolation / failure linked to the use of social media
Gender issues, sexuality and intimacy.
Following our initial meeting, sessions would usually take place every week or every fortnight and can be either face-to-face, by Zoom / Skype / Facetime or by phone at your convenience. For counselling to be effective you must be prepared to commit to the process but the time it will take will depend on the individual and the issues they are facing.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is a short-term, targeted cognitive therapy methodology that takes a practical approach to problem-solving based on our understanding of human cognition. Its objective is to change the patterns of thinking and / or behaviour behind people’s issues and positively change the way they feel. It is used to help treat a wide range of issues, from sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, to addictive behaviour or anxiety and depression. CBT operates by working to change a person’s attitudes and behaviour by focusing on the ideas, beliefs and attitudes that a person holds and then relating these processes to how that person behaves. By doing this CBT introduces people to a set of principles that they can apply whenever they need to, ideally throughout their lifetime. Along with Masters degrees in cognitive science I also have a level 4 accreditation in CBT and associated therapies with the Association of Psychological Therapies.
Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of therapy that utilises a cognitive-behavioural approach by focusing on the psychosocial aspects of treatment. The theory behind the approach is that some people are more prone to react to specific emotional situations more intensely and unusually, particularly those found in changes at work, romantic, family and friend relationships. DBT theory suggests that these responses to such situations can increase far more quickly than usual and attain a higher level of emotional stimulation, therefore taking a more significant period of time to return to baseline arousal levels. DBT helps identify the thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions that make a person’s life harder and it then tries to emphasise an individual’s strengths and build on these so that they can begin to feel more positive about themselves and their life.
