Elevate Therapy2
What to Expect
We understand that coming for therapy or coaching can be a rather daunting prospect. From meeting a new person, going to a new place, and sharing things which are difficult or that you have perhaps been keeping to yourself for a long time. It is indeed a brave step to take, and we congratulate you for being at the stage of looking at this information and contemplating getting the support you need and deserve. To assist in the next steps we have provided some information about what to expect from therapy, and some testimonials from satisfied clients below this to demonstrate the difference engaging with us could make to your life.
Assessment
We customise the way we work to suit each client, and as such conduct an in-depth assessment which lasts a minimum of 2 sessions (for some, this could be longer).
What’s involved in Therapy
Therapy isn’t just about sitting and talking for 50 minutes a week. It is often a very active process which can involve trying new things, completing exercises or reading up on things in between sessions. It can be very helpful, to make the most out of therapy, for you to spend some time prior to each session, thinking about what you want to focus on.
Home exercises are extremely important, as they are a significant part of your treatment. Most of the work you do in therapy is about the changes you make, and how this translates into your life, not just about the short amount of time talking in session. Not completing home exercises can result in slowing down your progress in therapy. Don’t worry about getting these exercises ‘perfect’ as they are simply set for your benefit and not being judged. It is important to try your best with these exercises, and if you are unsure then it can always be a talking point for your next session.
What to Expect from Therapy:
The beginning stage of therapy is more of an information gathering phase, which then allows us to move onto treatment. Please rest assured that this phase does not last for very long, and usually within a few sessions we have started considering your goals for therapy and agreed a way of working towards them.
Therapy works as a collaborative process where your practitioner can be considered your guide or facilitator. They will assist in helping you to understand your difficulties more, support in evaluating what you want to achieve with therapy, and help to motivate you to take steps which will create the desired changes in your life. Their job is to empower you to make positive changes needed in your life, not necessarily to ‘fix’ things.
Ending Therapy:
The beginning stage of therapy is more of an information gathering phase, which then allows us to move onto treatment. Please rest assured that this phase does not last for very long, and usually within a few sessions we have started considering your goals for therapy and agreed a way of working towards them.
Therapy works as a collaborative process where your practitioner can be considered your guide or facilitator. They will assist in helping you to understand your difficulties more, support in evaluating what you want to achieve with therapy, and help to motivate you to take steps which will create the desired changes in your life. Their job is to empower you to make positive changes needed in your life, not necessarily to ‘fix’ things.
Testimonials
Heather
Psychotherapy
When I first started having sessions with Clare, I was at a low point in my life. I didn’t have much going for me, and the symptoms I was experiencing were making it very difficult to carry on with my everyday life. I felt worthless and did not know what to do or where to turn. Through my sessions with Clare, I was able to rebuild my self-esteem, make sense of some traumatic events, and realise that I had more to bring to this world than I originally thought. Clare always saw the best in me, and treated me as an individual rather than a list of symptoms. This meant so much when I was going through some really dark times, and enabled me to gradually become open to trusting people again. I feel as though I have put back together the pieces of myself, and become a stronger, kinder, more self-aware person in the process. I now believe that I can cope with whatever life throws at me, and have built a resilience that I didn’t know I had. I am more aware of the things that I can do to help my mental health, and am better at reaching out to friends or family. I am so truly grateful to Clare for her support, pragmatism, optimism and sense of humour. I feel incredibly lucky that I received such excellent support at a time when I really needed it. Thank you, Clare.
Jacob and Keri
Marriage counselling
After having 3 children, and the pressure that this can put on couples, my wife and I found ourselves some distance apart, unable to agree on even minor issues, not wanting to be with each other, and blaming each other for the hole in which we found ourselves. Although we didn’t want to admit it, we knew that if we didn’t get some external mediation, we were on course for an expensive divorce, in which no one was going to win, especially not the kids. We therefore owed it to ourselves, and our kids, to try. Thankfully, having worked with Clare previously, and with her counselling skills, she led us through key tasks and discussions, over a period of 3 or 4 months, in order to rebuild what we had before, whilst ensuring that we had the tools necessary to deal with any future relapse. In coming through this, we have come to realise that there was a reason we got together in the first place; we each have different valuable strengths, we both still love each other, and we are most definitely stronger together, than apart. Without Clare’s help, I’m not sure that our marriage would have survived. We’re now back on track, with the skills necessary to get us through future challenges.
Paul
Performance Coaching
Whilst starting a new business, I identified a need for a Performance Coach, in order to ensure that I was always operating with the correct mindset, fully focused on the objectives of each day, and able to deal with all forms of negative thoughts and behaviours.
Financial markets have a nasty habit of taking advantage of those that are not in the right place mentally, so Clare’s knowledge and support is on call when needed.
We usually meet twice a month, and we tend to focus on the psychological issues that are related to improving performance, resilience and attaining long term goals.
I really believe in the value of Performance Coaching, and how transferable, what we learn is to everyday life. In starting a new business, and being serious about what I wanted to achieve, I needed access to professional who was able to assist with Performance Coaching. For me, Clare is the person who keeps me working at optimal levels, maintains my resilience, and keeps me free from negative thoughts and behaviours.
Chris
Therapy
After 46 years of work and family life, without any mental health issues, a series of family, personal and business events, which individually should not have had any impact, just broke me and I could no longer cope. Quite frankly, I didn’t want to be here anymore.
Luckily, I had the sense to seek out professional help, and together with Clare and her extensive experience, we managed to identify what had crushed me, we put events into perspective, we worked on coping strategies (including CBT, self-compassion, etc), and we identified relapse prevention strategies. It took a few months, but I was back, enthusiastic, happy, with a new outlook on life, a better husband to my wife, and a better father to my young children, whilst being able to accept what had happened to me.
It’s been 3 years now, with no relapses, however I firmly believe that starting the sessions with Clare was a big part of the healing process; This was because I had taken a big step myself – speaking to a professional- and I just felt from day one that Clare would be able to get me there. It had been the toughest months of my entire life, and I needed help to get me out of a desperate depression. Thankfully, Clare was on hand to help me through it. It’s been 3 years now, without any relapse, however Clare is always there to help. I can’t thank her enough.