Ruth Cowan
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
What I Offer
I am a UKCP registered psychotherapist with over 30 years experience. I offer relational integrative body psychotherapy. I draw inspiration from other models of working - using metaphor, image and dream work; Gestalt; elements of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; and psychodynamic psychotherapy. My approach includes focusing on breathing and being present and engaged with the process of what is happening between us in the room.
How Does It Work?
I have a passionate interest and belief that connecting feelings and sensations in the body can help us to become more grounded and alive. I will see you for 50 minutes once a week. It can take time to build up trust in our working relationship together. My aim is to create a safe, respectful and comfortable environment where you can feel heard and understood, so that we can explore in depth what is troubling you. I will encourage you to express all your thoughts and feelings in the knowledge that you will be treated with the respect and sensitivity you deserve.
My aim is to help you resolve past issues which impact on your life now. Touch may or may not be part of our work together, and this will be discussed at our initial meeting and reviewed regularly.
Benefits
Trauma or unhappy experiences in your life can impact on the body in a long lasting way - you may feel out of touch with how your body feels, or shameful or shy about your body - how it looks, or how it works - you may feel depressed, be ill or feel you have no control over what happens in your life. Feelings can get frozen in the body, so that parts, or all, of your body can feel numb. This is one of the ways the body protects itself to help you survive and therefore it was necessary at the time. However, after the danger has passed, and you are safe, it may be hard, without help, to bring back to life those frozen places. By giving these parts of the body a voice, a new aliveness and acceptance can be experienced which can help you to make more conscious choices in your life.
I believe the body has its own wisdom and with some respectful help, it will know when it feels safe and when it needs to protect, and what it needs and wants. I will help you to listen to your body so that you can learn its language and hear what it is saying to you.
What To Expect
At our initial meeting I would like to hear why you are choosing to come to psychotherapy now and what you would like to get from it. I will ask you questions about your history, i.e. your family, your relationships, and how you feel about yourself. This is a chance for you to meet me to see how I am. We will discuss together how to proceed forward and how best we can work together. I believe it is important for you to find the right person to work with, and only you will know that.
I strongly believe the relationship that is built up between client and psychotherapist is the essential ingredient for successful psychotherapy work.
Training, qualifications & experience
Chiron Centre for Body Psychotherapy Diploma - a UKCP accredited organisation
Minster Centre Supervision Diploma
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
poor body image; feeling disconnected from one's body
Therapies offered
Fees
£80.00 per session
Additional information
£80. There may be some concessionary places available - please enquire.
