Our Modalities

Systemic Therapy

Systemic Therapy seeks to understand individuals in the context of their relationships and systems (for example a family). Systemic therapy holds that meaning is created in the social interactions that take place between people rather than the concept of a single external reality. Meaning is therefore constantly changing, as it depends on context. Difficulties are not seen to arise within individuals, but in the relationships, interactions and language that develops between them. It is a practical approach that does not seek to analyse or diagnose, it is rather that it is focused on addressing current relationship patterns that may be problematic. It gives clients the chance to examine the stories they live by, and co-create new narratives and new patterns of behaviour that enable growth and movement.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT is an approach that combines both cognitive and behavioural techniques to bring about change. It is based on the view that stressful states like anxiety and depression, are exaggerated and prolonged by a biased way of thinking about the self, others and the world. Thoughts can become distorted and unhelpful. This worsens how a person feels. They may then behave in a way that maintains their distress. The approach usually focuses on difficulties in the here and now. Once a therapeutic alliance has been formed, clients and therapists work together to identify and understand how their thoughts affect their feelings and behaviour. Therapy involves challenging maladaptive thoughts and beliefs using rational logic and evidence and trying new more functional behaviours to bring about change.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy is often considered an in-depth therapy that focuses on exploring the unconscious processes that affect the client’s personality and behaviour. The goal of psychodynamic therapy is insight: increasing awareness and gaining an understanding of the effects of the past on one’s present life. It attempts to address the root causes of emotional problems rather than deal with the symptoms only. Painful feelings and memories that were once too difficult to handle were pushed into the unconscious, leading to the development of defence and conflicts. The goal is to delve into the unconscious believed to hold the key to the problem, where conflicts can be explored and resolved.

Psychodynamic therapists use a wide range of techniques that can include free association, dream analysis, discussing past experiences, identifying recurring themes and patterns in the client’s life, and focusing on the client’s contradictory emotions and feelings.

Existential Therapy

The Existential approach is a philosophical one, concerned with the way human beings are in the world. It approaches the totality of the living situation and attempts to address how a client relates to the ‘givens’ of life. Clients are encouraged to take stock of their situation, recognizing their possibilities and limitations. Clients bring narrations, thoughts and feelings and the therapist offers the space where these can be seen, clarified and understood, gaining enough knowledge of the self and the world, to live authentically.

Existential therapy encourages openness to perception and experience and attempts to help clients find meaning in their lives and their struggles, to better shape their own life direction.

Therapists aim to help clients create an increasingly comfortable space inside and outside themselves, supporting them in claiming responsibility for their lives and coming to terms with past, present, and future crises.

Integrative Therapy

The term “integrative” has several meanings. It refers to the process of integrating the personality: taking disowned, unaware, or unresolved aspects of the self and making them part of a cohesive personality, reducing the use of defence mechanisms that inhibit flexibility in problem-solving and relating to people. It also refers to the integration of different therapeutic approaches together that may include psychodynamic, person-centred, behavioural, cognitive, family therapy, and gestalt therapy. Integrative psychotherapy synthesizes these theories together to form one comprehensive model for practice. Each provides a partial explanation of behaviour. Each is enhanced when selectively integrated with other aspects of the therapist’s approach.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is the name of the therapeutic version in which hypnosis is used. During a hypnotherapy session, people are guided through a process to induce a trance-like state to become deeply relaxed. This allows the client to focus on a problem in a deeper way. The therapist aims to help clients use their subconscious mind to clarify then change behavioural patterns or ways of thinking.

12-Step Facilitation Therapy

A twelve-step program is a set of principles outlining a course for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioural problems. Originally proposed by Alcoholics Anonymous, twelve-step methods have been adopted to address a wide range of substance abuse and dependency problems. Now a fellowship of millions that extends worldwide, employs twelve-step principles of recovery. Research has shown that the quality of recovery from all addictive and mental health disorders is enhanced by the many components of the 12-Step Programs, such as mutual support, honesty, accountability, acceptance, and spirituality. 12- Step therapy, adopting its main premise from AA, is based on the understanding that addiction is a disease and recovery involves admitting that one cannot control one’s addiction anymore, recognizing a higher power that guide and support, examining past errors and making amends for them, all leading to learning a new way of life and helping others who struggle with addictions.

Psychodrama Therapy

Psychodrama is an experiential form of therapy developed by Jacob Moreno, MD, using guided dramatic action to examine events,  This approach incorporates role-playing and group dynamics to help people gain greater perspective on emotional concerns, conflicts, or other areas of difficulty in a safe, trusted environment.

This therapy provides an opportunity to explore life situations from the perspectives of the present, past and future.

People seeking therapy may find psychodrama to be beneficial for the development of emotional well-being as well as cognitive and behavioural skills.

Art Therapy

Art therapy integrates psychotherapeutic techniques with the creative process to improve mental health and well-being.

The goal of art therapy is to utilise the creative process to help people explore self-expression and, in doing so, find new ways to gain personal insight and develop new coping skills.

Techniques used in art therapy can include drawing, painting, colouring, sculpting, or collage. As clients create art, they may analyse what they have made and how it makes them feel. Through exploring their art, people can look for themes and conflicts that may be affecting their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

No previous artistic ability or special talent is necessary to participate in our therapy, because the therapeutic process is not about the artistic end result of the work. It is rather based on looking for patterns and symbols in the artwork’s content which reflects a person’s inner world.

Dance & Movement Therapy

Dance & Movement Therapy (DMT) is a type of therapy that uses movement to support individuals’ emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration. It was founded on the idea that motion and emotion are interconnected. DMT is beneficial for both physical and mental health. It can be used with all populations; individuals, couples, families, or groups.

Skill is not a requirement to begin this therapy and learning steps is not what takes place within sessions. In this context, Movement improvisation/experimentation can bring about new ways of being. It promotes self-awareness, a safe space for expression, and helps improve body image. The creative expression of dance therapy can bolster communication skills and inspire dynamic relationships.