Hello, my name is Siobhan (She/her) and I am a BACP accredited integrative therapist who works with adults and young people face to face. Having worked in counselling for over thirteen years I know that facing problems alone can be very daunting, confusing and exhausting at times.

It is for this reason that I primarily work from a person-centred approach where I prioritise the therapeutic relationship and appreciate it can take time to build a strong, trusting rapport with someone unfamiliar.

What to expect in our sessions?

I believe with empathy and understanding, people feel able to express their concerns and allow for opportunities within their lives for positive growth and fulfilment. I work with the aim of offering clients a safe, contained space, free from judgement to make links between differing times and events in their life.  This subsequently helps them to enhance their self-awareness and make positive change in their lives.

I am also trained in psychodynamic therapy and compassion-focused therapy where I often work with  attachments and exploring patterns in relationships.  This helps people see how positive feelings about themselves can be stimulated in the face of more complex emotions such as guilt and shame.

In terms of more solution focused work, I offer CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which looks at exploring the links between our thoughts, feelings, physiology and behaviour.  I offer this for a range of problems such as anxiety, depression and stress. I am also near completing a further two year training course in CBT for panic, OCD and trauma.

How long does this process take?

One’s need for therapy can vary greatly and by working integratively, it can differ depending on which approach we think best suits your needs from the outset –the assessment and formulation stage in the first couple of sessions.  It can also depend on what goals you have come to therapy with and your personal circumstances. I think it is important to regularly review every six sessions what has been explored and learnt to allow the therapy to maintain focus and have a general direction.  I work in an open-ended way –I have worked with some people for only a couple of weeks, some months and others years.  I like to make the reviews collaborative and endings are discussed openly and within good time before sessions finish. 

If you would like to seek psychotherapy in Bristol, our team can help. At Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy, we have a team of experienced therapists who are ready to offer support for a wide range of mental health issues, welcoming individuals into safe and non-judgemental spaces within which to begin their journey to recovery. For more information or to book an initial consultation, please email hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk. Alternatively, to speak to us directly, please contact 07751 271 709.