Dr Dane Duncan Mills

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS 

“Dane is by far the best therapist I've had the chance to work with. His multi-faceted approach at the intersection of the best practices in therapy is helping me make progress on topics I've hardly been able to address before. I feel confident about Dane's ability to help me navigate the challenging topics of my life and my ability to move to a better place with his assistance.  As a gay man, I often feel like therapy is somewhat aligned with my reality. Dane's affinity and experience working with the LGBT community has put him in a position to make me feel understood like never before. Although I could keep going on a while, the last thing I'll add is that Dane is very organised. Above and beyond his sessions' notes, he also provided me with a comprehensive document explaining his approach, practice and success stories, he sends me a detailed follow up email with any resources he's recommended I look into after the sessions and communicates very effectively when it comes to scheduling or confirming the upcoming session. I can't recommend him enough.”

"Dane’s constant curiosity, empathy, ability to listen carefully without judgement and acknowledge and encourage me have had a hugely positive impact in my life. He’s allowed every session to be guided by what I believe is important to discuss on the day - I feel like a participant rather than a patient. With the right support we can face challenges that otherwise seem overwhelming; my time with Dane has proved that. Dane’s helped me move from feeling scared and alone to empowered and able, recognising my own resilience and strength. The things I’ve learned through our conversations are helping me with my own challenges and to be a better support to others. I’m beyond thankful for the role Dane has played helping me reflect, learn and face difficult conversations with myself and others. Dane has my highest recommendation."

"I reached out to Dane via email to begin therapy sessions after realising my gender identity was not what I thought it had been for a long time in order to have some guidance in exploring more of my uncovered self. He was so approachable, made clear what the process would be up front, and speaking to him during the sessions feels very unforced and natural. He always brings the topic back to the focus that is set collaboratively at the beginning of the session to ensure that I gain what I need out of it, but doesn't hurry me along, which feels important when I need time to find my own words to express how I feel internally. Dane expresses active listening, is clearly interested in the words I choose for my experiences, and takes care to never make me feel othered rather than a whole, unique, interesting and worthwhile person deserving of respect, but also reflects back his unjudgemental observations clearly and in ways I can take them on board."

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🌟 About My Therapy Approach

I provide clear and jargon-free online therapy sessions as a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of NHS experience. My aim is to create a safe, welcoming space where you can address feelings of being stuck or uncertain while recognising and building on the strengths you already possess.

My approach is built on the belief that you are not defined by your challenges. I separate the person from the problem so that together we can create a clear and meaningful path forward. I value early and supportive intervention to help prevent issues from becoming more complex.

Your story is unique, and I invite you to share it in your own words. I do not rely on clinical buzzwords or labels. Instead, I listen with empathy and work collaboratively with you to ensure that your goals and values are at the centre of our sessions. I value your contribution and see our work together as a shared journey towards growth.

👤 Individual Therapy

In individual therapy, the relationship between therapist and client is paramount. I combine my expertise with your lived experience to illuminate what is most important to you. I use regular feedback to refine our work together, ensuring that every session is tailored to your needs and that you feel heard, respected and supported.

💑 Relationship Therapy

For couples or relationship work, I draw on a variety of methods, including techniques from Compassionate Communication, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Narrative and Systemic Family Therapy, with a thoughtful nod to Queer Theory and attachment-based insights. Here are some key principles that guide my work:

• 🔄 Multiple Perspectives: I understand that different people in a relationship may have different hopes and needs. I create a space where every perspective is valued.
• 🤝 Shared Values: Your relationship has its own unique set of values, and these remain central in our conversations.
• 🎯 Tailored Sessions: I adapt our work to ensure that issues such as desire, intimacy and personal boundaries are addressed in a way that feels safe and respectful for everyone involved.
• 🌟 Win-win Solutions: I help each person in the relationship identify their hopes and create solutions that support mutual well-being rather than focusing on individual needs alone.

➡️ Next Steps

I understand that taking the first step can feel daunting. To help, I offer an optional free 10-minute phone call so that we can hear each other's voice, make a connection, so you can vibe check if it is a fit for you. After this call, can send you my welcome pack with useful information and resources so you can make an informed decision. If I am not the right fit, I can recommend other trusted professionals. Please feel free to get in touch:

• ✉️ Ping me an Email: NarrativesOfUs@gmail.com

• 📲 Book A Free Intro Call: https://shorturl.at/q227I 

• 📞 Leave Me a Message: 020 3984 7939

Where talking to a Male is prefered / Despair / Couples counselling / Hopelessness / Family Issues / Low Self-confidence / Loss / Hardship Stuckness / Feeling Lost / Down / Stress / Worried / Cross / Feeling Sad / Living with Labels (such as "generalised anxiety disorder", "low self-esteem", "depression", "phobias", "OCD", "anxiety", "post traumatic stress", "phobia", "panic attacks").

Allied

Bisexual, Gay, Intersex, Lesbian, Non-Binary, Queer and Transgender Allied.

I offer a free 10 minute telephone conversation to sound out if our fit would feel right, so you can here each others voices and start a connection. Feel free to book this directly here: https://shorturl.at/q227I or email me on narrativesofus@gmail.com.

Sliding Scale Fees

I offer a fair sliding scale for my clients, which you get to choose on an honesty basis depending on if you feel your income is low, medium or high compared to your counterparts living in your area earning the same as you. A standard psychology session is typically 50 minutes. I offer concessions on the scale to those with a low income, students, key workers and unemployed clients.

Individual Sessions 

Sliding Scale: Starting from £120 to £150.

Couple or Family Sessions

Sliding Scale: Starting from £150 to £200.

What do people like about online video therapy?

Online therapy is no longer a second-best option, research proves it is evidence-based as effective, and is something different but not inferior to, face to face talking:

• Personalise your own space as needed, with your own soothing strategies: for everyone it’s different, maybe for you it’s blankets, candles, a plant, insense, cushions for a relaxing atmosphere… or maybe it’s a desk and whiteboard to build a working mindset.
• Take therapeutic support with you when travelling, moving home, or country.
• Avoid the added commute around work or the school run!
• It is a practical way to invite a friend or family member to the session - they can sit with you in the room, or drop in online with a shared screen. This might be to gain their out-of-the-box perspective or if you wish to share aspects of your story.
• Fury friends and whiskered family members are welcome here, in fact research shows stroking a cat or dog lowers stress levels, isolation and helps to provide emotional support and comfort.
• Bring a cup of tea or coffee just how you like it for the session. In many cultures, talking over a cup of tea helps to provide focus.

If some of the description examples below resonate with you, then Narratives of Us might be an awesome fit:

• I’m heartbroken. My partner and I are stuck in a rut. The spark is gone.
• Lockdown is making life like a pressure cooker.
• I’m in a dilemma… my heart says one thing but my culture says the opposite, what do I do?
• Something difficult to describe happened to me… it’s after my attention.
• I’ve been given a label but it seems far away from my unique experience. I mean… there’s anxiety, there’s anxiety and there’s anxiety, right?
• I get angsty, the world seems terrible and even unsafe… little things play on my mind.
• There’s a tidal wave of uncertainty out of the blue, and I want solid ground.
• I have the grey tickles of worry and stress… the black curtain of really low mood.
• I have reason to be really cross and in moments I feel like shouting really loudly.
• I’m beat. I feel beaten down on. I don’t have the energy.
• Someone really important to me is no longer in my life how they were.
• Even in a place of lots of people, loneliness is there.