Shirley Brocklehurst
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I work with adults who have long standing or deep rooted emotional difficulties which affect their ability to fully enjoy life. This may be a reaction to past trauma or bereavement, and can result in anxiety, depression, addiction and sometimes medically unexplained symptoms such as physical pain or discomfort.
I work somatically, which means accessing and enhancing the connection between mind and body. It is an aspect that’s often overlooked, but the body holds meaningful insights into our story and helps us to re-frame the way we look at things.
I use a range of modalities including embodied, somatic (body) experiential, person-centred, creative and humanistic approaches. I have a deep understanding of the embodied aspects of psyche and soma, but sessions are not necessarily solemn – there can be fun and laughter. Creativity and playfulness can help to explore difficult themes and bring insight.
Training, qualifications & experience
I graduated from Canterbury Christ Church University in 2013 with a Masters Degree in Dance Movement Psychotherapy.
Since I began my psychotherapy training in 2009 I have been involved with charity, community and public sector organisations. I have worked alongside groups and individuals from all walks of life, of all ages and with varying cognitive and physical abilities.
In 2012 I began working with clients experiencing the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia, and then continued this work in secure residential settings. Since then I’ve worked in schools, the NHS, local authority, further education and community organisations. I am currently a therapist and trainer with the Arts for the Blues collaboration with Edge Hill and Salford Universities.
As a therapist with decades of experience in movement and well-being, I have been offering private Psychotherapy and Dance Movement Psychotherapy since 2015, both one to one and group. In private practice I work mostly with bereavement, depression, anxiety and trauma particularly older adults with longstanding childhood trauma and the difficulties this presents in later life. Since 2019, I have expanded my private practice to working with people online.
My clients include people who are experiencing the affects of bereavement, depression, abuse, addiction and emotional difficulties, as well as conditions such as Dementia, Autism, Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar Disorder. I also work with clients seeking personal growth self-exploration or self-understanding
I am one of a team of therapists delivering and supporting research projects for Edge Hill University's Research in Arts and Wellbeing faculty. In this capacity I am currently involved with Arts for Blues - creative arts therapies for anxiety and depression- both as a therapist and as a trainer. Also for Edge Hill, I facilitated Dancing with Health - Dance Movement Psychotherapy for survivors of breast cancer - as well as DMP groups in primary schools. I have also worked with Queen Mary University in London as therapist on the NESS project - body oriented therapy for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. My community work includes freelancing for Age UK and Cheshire Dance, as well as delivering sessions for Parkinson's UK, and I am linked to the NHS Social Prescription Services for Nantwich & Rural.
Other organisations I have worked with include Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Mersey Care NHS Trust as well as the Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine at Queen Mary University, London.
Member organisations
ADMP UK is the professional organisation for the profession for Dance Movement Psychotherapy in the United Kingdom.
They aim to support the development of DMP in the UK and internationally; foster communication among Dance Movement Psychotherapists (DMPs); and promote the use of DMP throughout the United Kingdom and abroad.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
