Maggie Hargreaves

Online and phone available.  Integrative Psychotherapist(UKCP),postgrad diploma. Supervisor. Private practice 15 yrs. NHS 3 yrs (IAPT), private sector(Tuke, York) + vol sector. 9 yrs in statutory(crisis) mental health services.  Diploma in Supervision.

Counselling offers a safe, private and non-judgmental place where we can take the time, with support,  to understand how and where we are stuck in our lives, and find a way to live more happily. My therapy room is comfortable, private and relaxing.

Sometimes we know why we are struggling:-  a life changing event, a traumatic/abusive childhood, relationship breakdown, disabling anxiety/panic attacks, depression, dependence on alcohol/food, compulsive behaviour patterns, intrusive thoughts.

Sometimes we've been feeling generally down, lonely, dispirited, unmotivated over months or years, don't know why and can't seem to lift ourselves whatever we try. Sometimes a problem we thought we'd resolved might have come round to hit us for six again.

Many of us feel we must be independent and 'cope alone'. Some of us have grown up to believe it's 'weak' or 'pathetic' to need support. Some of us have never had support. Life can throw up some intolerable situations, however, that none of us would be able to cope with - it helps to find a space to share the load in case we spiral downwards.

Therapy with a qualified and experienced therapist can help you understand where and how you are stuck, and offer a safe and non-judgmental place to be while we find your way through at your own pace. As you become more aware, you start to find different perspectives on your situation and you begin to understand yourself and your own needs better.


Anxiety

Anxiety can be chronic, and manageable up to a point. But it can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming with strong physical sensations, when daily life feels like a battle against disabling panic, fear and despair. Life in the UK in 2023 is stressful, a 24 hour society, work pressure, family breakdown, financial difficulties, pandemic.

We are all faced with stress from time to time, it's a natural reaction to adverse events, but if it threatens to overwhelm us we need support and understanding, and cannot always find this amongst our friends and family.

With the support of a therapist you can start to understand your anxiety, what might underlie it, what your particular triggers might be, whether there are any unresolved issues. Then you can learn how to handle your anxiety and bring your life back to a place where you feel happier and more in control.

Depression

Depression doesn't have to be a life sentence. One of the most unpleasant features of depression is that it feels as though it might last for ever. Yes, it can be difficult to break through the fog and gloom, low motivation and hopelessness, but it is possible and it's more likely to happen if we have intelligent and sensitive support and encouragement.

Some symptoms of depression:-

Repetitively thinking about past events, regret at our own actions, resentment towards others, belief that nothing can be done ('there's no point'), low mood in the morning with brighter mood in the evening, feeling that no-one can or wants to really understand, low motivation, inability to express our feelings, lack of perspective.

OCD

We all need some sort of order in our lives, most people have some routines and rituals in their daily lives. They give continuity and a feeling of safety. If these routines become over rigid, however, (for various reasons) and we cannot manage without them, then they might start to control our behaviour and our lives. The extreme version of this is OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). The routine becomes everything, yet somehow is never enough to alleviate our underlying anxiety.

Therapy can help, by showing us how to understand our behaviour, how we became like this, and how to change. It can take time, and you'll need support and encouragement, but it works.

Ways of coping that don't work

When we have feelings we don't like, negative and unpleasant ones, we might start to look for escape and happiness somewhere else. We could move towards any of the following  - alcohol; drugs (prescribed and illegal); overeating; undereating; working excessive hours; overspending on credit cards ( 'retail therapy'!); gambling; overexercise; specific self-harm.  And others. These are all ways of coping. Any of these might feel like a solution to start with, and it might keep us going for a while, but these aren't healthy, and they can take over our lives.

Sexual abuse and complex trauma

I have long experience of working with clients who have survived childhood sexual abuse (this often comprises physical and emotional abuse, as well as neglect). Abuse (and the neglect that often co-occurs) in childhood can throw a long shadow over our adult lives, and this can be manageable for years, then suddenly become unbearable if triggered unexpectedly. Calm, consistent and empathic support can help us to get through.

I charge £50 per one hour session. I charge a reduced fee (£30) for the initial assessment session.

I charge £50 per hour for clinical supervision

Concessions: I offer discretionary reduced fee sessions for trainees and in recognition of individual circumstances.

I offer a limited number of evening sessions during the week

I have specialised experience working with those who have survived sexual abuse and complex trauma

I also have a particular interest in, and experience working with


         bereavement/loss/unresolved grief

         depression

         anxiety

         agoraphobia

         those who have had only patchy success with standard treatment (including medication)
         for long-term anxiety/depression, and are now considering talking therapy