We are Aisha Staveley and Karen Butler. We have Diplomas in Counselling and Integrative Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy.

We are accredited members of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and registered practioners with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR).

We strictly adhere to the BACP Code of Ethics, and have appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

Our approach is a combination of “humanistic psychotherapy” and “integrative counselling” - the BACP definitions of which are:

Humanistic psychotherapy

Its techniques coming from the "personal growth movement" and encourages people to explore their feelings and take responsibility for their thoughts and actions. Emphasis is on self-development and achieving highest potential rather than dysfunctional behaviour. "Client-centred" or "non-directive" approach is often used and the therapy can be described as "holistic". The client's creative instincts may be used to explore and resolve personal issues.

Integrative counselling

Several distinct models of counselling and psychotherapy are used together in a converging way rather than in separate pieces.

We use a number of theoretical approaches to tailor an appropriate programme of therapy to suit each individual client.

Gestalt Therapy

The client gains self awareness by analysing behaviour and body language and giving expression to repressed feelings. Treatment often includes acting out scenarios and dream recall.

Transactional Analysis

This model is based on the belief that everyone has a child,adult, and parent- self within them and, within each social interaction, one self predominates. By recognising these roles, the client can choose which one to adopt and so change behaviour. The ''inner child'' work involves resolve issues troubling the client's adult life by getting in touch with s/he earliest life conditions and experiences. This therapy helps the adult identifying why s/he has a strong emotional reaction to someone or something.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

The clients are taught ways to change thoughts and expectations and relaxation techniques are used. It has been effective for stress-related ailments, phobias, obsessions, eating disorders and major depression.

Existential Counselling

Existential model involves making sense of life through a personal world view and includes a willingness to face one's life and life problems.

Counselling for men

Men benefit every bit as much as women by talking about their problems. Doing so is not a sign of weakness or failure, and whilst our own experience is unique, we all endure similar problems as we go through life.

Typical issues that men talk about in counselling are:

anxiety ~ alcohol dependency ~ bereavement ~ bullying ~ depression ~ drug addiction ~ family conflict ~ separation ~ divorce ~ panic attacks ~ traumatic events ~ loss of confidence ~ racism ~ intimate relationships ~ long-term illness ~ mid-life crisis ~ obsessions ~ suicidal feelings ~ violence ~ self-harm ~ sexual addiction ~ stress at work ~ sexual identity ~ retirement

Sometimes there is a clearly identifiable cause of our problems, e.g. divorce and illness; other times the cause is far less tangible, e.g. depression and anger; and sometimes we just feel life is getting us down and we don’t know why.

But, irrespective of the problem talking to a therapist gives you the opportunity to explain and explore every aspect of a problem confidentially with someone who is unconnected with your life and who is trained to listen and to support. The benefits include the sense of unburdening oneself, increasing self-awareness and understanding the underlying reasons, and finding solutions to your situation. The important point is that help is available.