Hi, I'm DeborahThanks for stopping by!
Everyday I get to meet people like you and help them become more confident in themselves, their relationships and their lives. I absolutely love what I do because it's as challenging as it is rewarding! I'm not the kind of therapist you see on TV who simply asks "...and how does that make you feel?" in a boring monotone voice or who wants to go over your entire life history session after session in excruciating detail. Yes, sometimes we will need to go backward in order to go forward, but the specific relevant events will become clear as we work together. I'm also not going to spend hours with checklists and questionnaires diagnosing you or slotting you into some "one size fits all" category (unless that's what's most helpful). All of my clients are individuals and every situation is unique. I know people who've spent years in therapy only to end up feeling as though they are completely broken by focusing too much on understanding what's "wrong" with them. Yes, understanding how you got here can be extremely helpful to make sense of things. But after 16+ years of experience, I've found that most clients come to me because they are looking for practical solutions that will help them in the here and now. I take a completely collaborative approach to therapy - we are a team and we're in this together. This is your life, not mine. I'm not going to pretend that I know better than you about what's best for you and your life, but I can help you to figure that out for yourself. I have the ability to get directly to the heart of an issue and will help you work through challenges with intelligence, compassion and sometimes even humour. Together we'll address unhelpful beliefs and behaviours that are keeping you stuck so that you can learn how to think, feel and act differently - live differently - more aligned with your hopes and dreams... putting the puzzle together one piece at a time. I have a great number of tools and strategies to help you do that, but ultimately it's about finding the right ones for you at this moment in time and then using them. For this reason, our sessions will typically include homework - some simple and easy, some more challenging and time consuming - but always tailored to you, and guided by your circumstances, strengths and goals. You are the captain of the ship! I also place an emphasis on a "whole-body approach", which means I will also ask about how you sleep, how you eat, and how you move - amongst other lifestyle factors, so we can reinforce our work together by incorporating manageable healthful changes to enhance your overall outcomes. I find that the best approach to lasting mental well-being usually includes healing your relationship with yourself. This involves giving yourself permission to take the steps you need to create a life that brings you joy and fulfilment. I make it a priority to help you discover which self-care methods work best for you and how you can incorporate those on a daily basis. If you feel like we might be a good fit, please get in touch and together we will get you to where you want to go. Best wishes, Deborah |
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Education & TrainingUniversity Qualifications:
Post University Qualifications
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Professional Accreditation
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"I feel so much better for my regular visits with Deborah. I feel much more relaxed. I was having emotional reactions to things associated with my husband’s daughter from a previous relationship and dealing with the split family situation. Logically I understood the situations but they made me feel very sad and unhappy. Through therapy with Deborah I have been able to understand why I was feeling that way and work to relieve the negative emotions by breaking down and better understanding similar and very early situations where these beliefs and emotions were first developed."
More testimonials...
I am so glad I went to see Deborah when I did. I was struggling through a relationship and had been doing so for a long time. I had lots of friends and family for support which helped but I needed something a little more to give me the strength to get out of it. Deborah has both the theoretical knowledge and practical experience, making her able to understand the situation from a clinical but also personal level - making the process more valuable and effective. I instantly felt comfortable and able to speak my mind and I felt I was not being judged or analysed, rather she was helping me draw my own conclusions and get things clear in my mind - that clarity allowed me to walk away from a destructive relationship, and I am so glad I did. I think had I not seen her, it would have taken much longer to finally get the clarity to leave. Each psychologist has a very different style and Deborah strikes the balance between exploring thoughts, being understanding, but also challenging destructive thinking and helping you see how you can help yourself. I have been back several times to Deborah and will continue to do so if life presents further challenges that I need that little bit more support on." ~ I.R., 24