Vexatas Counselling

Vexatas is Latin for problem solving and that's what I aim to help you with.  To work together to explore and understand how and why you feeling the way you are and develop new coping mechanisms and strategies to implement to facilitate change in your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. 

I specialise in CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). which is an effective talking therapy that is proven to be highly beneficial for a wide range of emotional problems and behaviours including; depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, anger, addictive problems, relationship problems, eating disorders, mental illness, grief, self confidence, self-esteem, self worth, irrational fears, phobias, and can help with decision making when facing a major life change.

Numerous research studies indicate that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, CBT has demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of counselling or psychological therapy, or medications.

CBT is based on several core principles, including:

Psychological/emotional problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.

Psychological/emotional problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behaviour.

It's possible for people suffering from psychological/emotional problems to learn ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking patterns. These strategies might include:

• Learning to recognise your distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then to re-evaluate them in light of reality.
• Gaining a better understanding of the behaviour and motivation of yourself and others.
• Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
• Learning to develop a greater sense of confidence in your own abilities.
• CBT treatment also usually involves efforts to change behavioural patterns. These strategies might include:
• Facing your fears (when you are ready, in a safe and controlled way) instead of avoiding them.
• Confidence building to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.
• Learning to calm your mind and relax your body.
• CBT places an emphasis on helping you to learn to be your own therapist. Through exercises in the session as well as “homework” exercises outside of sessions, you are helped to develop coping skills, whereby you can learn to change you own thinking, problematic emotions, and behaviour.
• CBT works with what is going on in your current life, rather than what has led up to your difficulties or focusing on past events. A certain amount of information about your history is needed, but the focus is primarily on moving forward in time to develop more effective ways of coping with life.

All of this is undertaken in a warm, relaxed way and at your own pace.

There is free on road parking immediately outside the Therapy Centre, as well as a free car park directly opposite.

Face to face and online sessions are available, as are sessions for individuals, couples, children and young people.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

I began my working career nursing, then moved into the charity sector working for Women's Aid, the YMCA, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Healthcare Workers Foundation.

I became interested in counselling and providing emotional support whilst I was nursing and took the opportunity of further training whilst working for Women's Aid. I have over 20 years experience in providing counselling and therapy services, since qualifying in 1998.

I operate on weekdays from 11am through to last appointment at 8pm.