Specialities
Everyday Situations
Work Related Challenges, Relationship Issues, Managing Change, Assertiveness, Empowerment, Expatriation, Communication Breakdown, Midlife Crisis.
By identifying some of the issues which might be troubling you, you can begin to build a more secure, comfortable way of life.
Some of the things I can help you to manage are:
Relationship issues
Relationships are a very meaningful part of our lives, and can bring us a great deal of happiness and fulfilment. Strong connections with our loved ones, friends and work colleagues allow us to be at our healthiest and most productive and, for many, these relationships offer an important source of advice, guidance, love and support.
Fulfilling and supportive relationships do not come automatically. These require good social skills and a great deal of time and energy to nurture and making them long lasting. When meaningful relationships break down, people can feel lonely, disappointed and unsure of what to do. In some cases our relationships may not be fulfilling our expectations, which can impact our happiness and life satisfaction. On the other hand, some people may crave close friendships and/or romantic relationships but find them very difficult to come by.
Whatever the relationship issue, there is help available in the form of relationship counselling. In this setting, a therapist will work with individuals in order to explore their needs and wants from their relationships, while offering support and advice to help them get these back on track.
Identity crisis
Identity could be defined as parts of an individual’s self composed by multiple roles which are associated to meanings, expectations and behaviors.
Throughout our life we assume some roles naturally, whilst others are imposed on us by circumstances as well as by the societal environment we live in.
As we grow up, mature and take upon ourselves more responsibilities, life presents us with challenges that require that we make ‘adjustments’ to those meanings and expectations. Usually, most of the changes occur gradually and therefore their impact is easy to internalize.
There are times, however, when these changes occur, or need to be made, more drastically than we would have expected or desired, challenging important aspects of who we are.
The natural tendency is to rebel, especially at the beginning of the process of finding our new sense of self as a mature person.
However, sometimes you may feel that you are stuck in the change and adaptation process, not being able to evolve. If this situation persists, it can often trigger emotional crises and internal conflicts that may lead to anxiety, depression or other psychological and, eventually, physical health problems.
Life Transitions
We all start experiencing changes from the very moment we are born. These may come at a slower or faster pace depending at what stage of development we are, and their impact on our life ranges from imperceptible to mild and, at times, to more significant. We refer to this constant succession of changes as ‘life transitions’.
Some changes may simply be gradual and/or take place as a result of our own desire to do so, like for example the relationships with parents, children, partners, friends or experiences at work, which in most cases we are able to control and eventually cope better with.
There are, of course, those unexpected situations that forces us into undesired transitions as a consequence of traumatic experiences such as a loss of a loved one, been let go from work, or suffering a serious accident. Among the most difficult, and long lasting transitions is aging, whose process is not only difficult to accept and cope with, but is also inevitable.
Specialities
Psychological Problems
Bereavement, Loss and Grief, Self-esteem, Confidence, Frustration, Stress Management, Physical, Emotional and Sexual Abuse.
By identifying some of the issues which might be troubling you, you can begin to build a more secure, comfortable way of life.
Some of the things I can help you to manage are:
Loss and grief
Grief is an intense feeling of sadness that can be triggered following any loss, most frequently associated with the death of a loved one such as a family member, a friend and even a pet. An individual’s own terminal illness, going through a divorce or an expatriation process are all events that can also cause grief.
The stages of mourning and grief are often defined as denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Although this inevitable process is experienced by all people at some stage in their lives, the order in which these occur do not necessary follow the proposed sequence (Elizabeth Kubler-Ross), and are experienced with varying degrees of intensity, depth and length depending on the type of loss as well in the way in which individuals are able to cope with their emotions.
Grieving is a personal process, and therefore there is no such thing as a ‘right’ way to experience it. Each individual will find his or her own road to recovery throughout which, of course, there will be ups and downs, but this is normal.
What is important in all this is that, no matter how much pain you feel, you will survive your loss.
Abuse
Physical, verbal, or emotional mistreatment can leave psychological wounds that are harder to heal than bodily injuries, and negative feelings may plague the survivor. All types of abuse are painful and can cause psychological distress. It is not uncommon for a victim of abuse to experience more than one type of abuse like physical, emotional and/or sexual. Abuse can occur within any type of relationship, be it familial, professional, or social, and it can also occur between strangers. Many forms of abuse are in fact abuses of power, in which a person repeatedly attempts to control or manipulate the behavior of another person. Emotional or psychological abuse can include a chronic pattern of criticism, coercion, humiliation, accusation, or threats to one’s physical safety. Childhood neglect is also a form of psychological abuse.
Abusers are usually needy and controlling. Since they often have experienced some sort of abuse themselves, they tend to replicate the same on others, acting out deeply rooted feelings of shame and inadequacy, and trying to pull other people down to their own level.
Cycles of abuse are often based on an intense need for love and affection, a terror of being abandoned, low self-esteem, isolation and drug or alcohol abuse. Uncontrollable anger, jealousy, the need for power and inability to respect other people’s boundaries are all common traits of abusers.
Abusive relationships are usually progressive, whereby the needs of one party escalate and those of the other disappear along with their self-esteem. While abuse in any form can have a negative impact on an individual’s life, significant emotional or psychological problems do not necessarily result from every case of abuse. The severity of psychological repercussions can vary depending on many factors, such as how well the victim was associated with the abuser and whether the abuse was recognized or dismissed by the friends and family of the abused.
As adults, survivors of abuse may experience difficulty maintaining healthy relationships and productivity at work. Survivors of abuse, who are at heightened risk for developing mental health issues like depression, are likely to encounter one or more psychological issues such as anxiety, anger, dissociation, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), self-destructive disorder and/or trust issues.
Therapy can help a you express and process difficult emotions associated with the abuse, develop self-compassion and self-care strategies for managing moments when you feel emotionally overwhelmed, and learn to trust again.
Self-esteem
People's esteem develops from the relationships and experiences that they have throughout their lives. It is something that develops and changes over time. Self-esteem is the opinion that individuals have about themselves. It is something that tends to vary depending on social and/or working environment conditions. We all experience moments of low self-esteem at some point in time, usually as a response to external events.
However, when low self-esteem becomes a long-term habit, it can negatively affect your relationships with others, seriously diminish your confidence and hinder your ability to assert yourself, thus creating increasing frustration and unhappiness.
Research has shown that low self-esteem arises from different form of abuse as well as from depression. Throughout the therapeutic journey you will be able to identify the aspects of your life that need to be modified.
As you discover the tools needed to do so, you will start building your self-belief and developing your inner strength.
Specialities
Clinical Problems
Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Phobias, Depression, Obsessions and Compulsions.
By identifying some of the issues which might be troubling you, you can begin to build a more secure, comfortable way of life.
Some of the things I can help you to manage are:
Depression
It is only so natural to have days when you feel down, sad and you would struggle to function as you would have normally done so before. If these feelings persist for weeks or months on end, then it may well be that you are experiencing a Depressive Disorder. This mood is generally accompanied by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, lack of energy and motivation.
Even small, daily routine tasks become very overwhelming, like getting out of bed, keeping focused, and relating to other people becomes an effort. Life in general starts shutting down. Depression is a mental illness that affects individuals' daily functioning, distorting the perception of what is around them. Everything that once was pleasurable suddenly loses its meaning.
Although reaching out for help may also be felt as yet another obstacle, it is highly recommended that you gather your strengths and contact a mental health professional. It may well be the case that what you are experiencing is of a somewhat circumstantial nature and therefore easier to resolve.
In case it is found that the underlying reasons of the depression are deeply rooted, the therapy would be longer, but soon enough you will start feeling stronger as you unearth, and work with, the issues.
Anxiety
Work, relationships and everyday life can sometimes present situations that make you feel stressed and/or worried. This is a natural reaction and, as it usually disappears after a few hours or days depending on the situation anxiety treatment malagaand how are you coping with it, it does not necessary call for seeking professional help. However, if symptoms such as (but not limited to) poor concentration, excessive worry, muscle tension, upset stomach, fear and confusion persist and become chronic, then anxiety becomes a disorder.
This state, in general, can create cognitive distortions to which there will be a physical and emotional response, creating a vicious cycle that can become not only very debilitating but also a hindrance to your ability to function well.
Because it can interfere with relationships, sleeping patterns, eating habits, work, school, and routine activities, anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy.
Therapy can significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with anxiety in a relatively short time, allowing you to resume regular activities and regain a sense of control. Although you may not be able to identify the cause of your anxiety, after attending a few therapy sessions, you will be able to pinpoint the source.
Throughout the therapeutic journey you will work on, and overcome, those deeper concerns.
Trauma (in general)
Trauma is a distressing event in which a person feels severely threatened emotionally, psychologically, or physically. Most people will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives, such as a car accident, abuse or neglect, the unexpected death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, or exposure to the violence of war.
With time people may recover from trauma, especially in those cases where there is a strong and committed support from family and friends. For others, however, the effects of trauma are lasting and cause people to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) long after the event has passed.
The essential psychological effect of trauma is a shattering of innocence. It creates a loss of faith that there is any safety, predictability, or meaning in the world, or any safe place in which to retreat. It involves utter disillusionment.
Because traumatic events often cannot be processed and integrated by the mind and body as other experiences are, the trauma then takes on a 'life of its own'. It, through its continuing effects, 'haunts' the survivor and prevents them from leading a normal life until the person receives help. Psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for recovery from the effects of trauma.
Psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for healing from the effects of trauma. Therapy or counselling can help you make sense of your experiences and feelings, to develop plans to stay safe, to learn healthy coping skills, and connect with other resources and support.
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