Dr Joe Armstrong - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy & Counselling Services

Profile

I am a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Counsellor with over 25 years experience of helping individuals and couples to overcome and cope better with a range of emotional, psychological, and life problems. My experience encompasses a variety of settings including the NHS, Voluntary and Private healthcare sectors. I have particular expertise in working with people who are troubled by anxiety, anger management issues, bereavement, depression, low self-esteem, relationship issues, stress, traumatic experiences, and work-related issues.

I work in a flexible and collaborative way, so I make sure there is time to discuss with each client their particular concerns and decide together what approach will best suit their needs. Many people find Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) very helpful because it enables them to become aware of and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns that are often associated with distressing emotions, problematic experiences and situations. It also provides people with a wealth of practical strategies to help get their life back on track.

For other people, a counselling approach that provides time to reflect on their life and relationships, the possibilities for change, and clarify how best to move forward is more useful.

I offer appointments in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, and in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, which is easily accessible from Alloa, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Kinross, Perth, Stirling and surrounding areas.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in Counselling - University of Abertay Dundee
• MSc in Counselling Studies - University of Abertay Dundee
• Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (Dist.) - University of Dundee
• RMN (Registered Mental Health Nurse) - East Surrey School of Nursing & Midwifery
• Certificate in Solution Focused Therapy - NIK Institute, Bremen, Germany.

My original training was in mental health nursing, and I have continued to maintain my professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which is the professional body for nursing in Britain. During my 10 year nursing career in the NHS I had the opportunity to work in both hospital and community-based mental health settings with people who were experiencing acute as well as severe and enduring mental health problems, and also people who had problems related to drug and alcohol use.

My experiences of working directly with a diverse range of people during this time reinforced to me the value of 'talking therapies' for emotional and psychological problems, and contributed to my decision to train as a psychotherapist and counsellor and to focus my career in this specialist area.

As well as my experience in the NHS, I have worked as a psychotherapist in a private hospital specialising in eating disorders. In addition, I worked for some 10 years in the Voluntary Sector in Scotland where I developed and managed a counselling service for people with mental health problems. Part of my role as a counselling service manager also involved recruiting and training volunteer counsellors to work within our service.

Since 2004 I have been a lecturer at the University of Abertay Dundee where I teach on postgraduate Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy courses. I am also actively involved in counselling research, and am particularly keen to ensure my own practice is informed by the latest research findings regarding how best to tailor therapy to each client's particular needs and concerns. Consequently, I know from research and experience how important it is to spend time building a good working relationship with my clients, clarifying their goals and expectations, and working in a flexible and collaborative way to ensure each client gets the most benefit from their therapy.

Areas of counselling I deal with

• Abortion
• Abuse
• Addiction(s)
• Affairs and Betrayals
• Anger Management
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Bullying
• Career Counselling
• Couples Counselling
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• Eating Disorders
• Emotional Abuse
• Generalised Anxiety
• Low Self-Confidence
• Low Self-Esteem
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Phobias
• Physical Abuse
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Postnatal Depression
• Relationship Issues
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Self Harm
• Separation and Divorce
• Sexual Abuse
• Stress
• Trauma
• Work Related Issues

Therapies Offered

• Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies
  - Behavioural Therapy
  - Cognitive Therapy
  - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Other Therapies
  - Integrative

Fees

£55 per session for individuals
£70 per session for couples

Fees are payable on a session by session basis.

Further Information

Professional Memberships
I am a member of the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by their codes of ethics and good practice guidelines.


Testimonials

"Thanks Joe for your patient and considered approach during our therapy sessions. I felt supported and secure during our sessions. I was anxious about opening up myself to another person as I had never done this with anybody before. I was also anxious about coming to "therapy", as I had never done this before and thought it was for other people. I wish I had come to you earlier. I felt as if a load was lifted off my back after our sessions and I had a much better understanding of my thinking process. I also appreciate the open approach you took that allowed accomodation of my spiritual and meditation practices. I can "see" things much clearer now." Company Director

" I cannot thank you enough for your help. I am more in control of my thoughts when faced with situations I would have previously found unmanageable. I have gained techniques and learned things about myself that I will never forget and will be able to use for the rest of my life."  Teacher

“I had always just thought what I thought and felt what I felt, but this had got me into trouble. Joe helped me to see that there might be other ways of understanding things. By putting what I have learned into practice I am developing a more positive, helpful and realistic outlook, and learning to be happier.” Sales Consultant
                                                                                    
"For years I was plagued by anxiety and worries that I battled with practically every day. With Joe's help I learned methods that enabled me to cope with my anxiety and how to stop myself sliding into an endless cycle of worry after worry. For the first time in a long time I'm enjoying my life again." Teacher

"I came to counselling because my marriage was breaking up... I had lost my confidence and wasn't sure who I was anymore. Counselling helped me to come to terms with some past hurts and put them behind me. I'm beginning to like myself again and am optimistic about the future." Nurse

• Supervision available

Member Organisation(s)

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