Methods of Work
Psychodynamic Counselling / Psychotherapy:
The psychodynamic model recognises that may of our actions and responses reflect the effects of our earliest experiences which affect our relationships and our perception of the present. Where the past provides a blueprint of behaviour for the present, our current behaviour may not be appropriate or satisfying. Psychodynamic approaches aim to bring information from the past, which may have been repressed, into consciousness, so that it can inform, but not drive, our authentic living in the present.

Based on work by the Freud, Jung, Adler, Winnicott, Klein and many others in the analytic tradition, psychodynamic counselling provides a secure and supportive relationship within which the client can explore and understand their conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings and eventually reach some kind of integration between past and present.

The therapeutic relationship, particularly the transference and counter transference between client and counsellor, is central to this work.
Systemic:
There are many variations in Systemic Therapy in which a patient’s symptoms are seen in the context of their wider family system and community network. For example an ‘acting out’ adolescent may be seen as expressing a protective or stabilising function for the family or drawing attention to a different part of the system which needs addressing. A client who is showing signs of depression may be helped by understanding the symptom as a regulatory function within their couple relationship. By recognising the patterns it is then possible to help the individual, couple or family think differently about their situation, locate and utilise their strengths towards their goals. This approach can thus be considered as being Person Centred in that it pays particular importance to the unique characteristics of each person.

Narrative therapy as described by Michael White and David Epston, aims, by identifying unique outcomes, to help people reconnect with personal stories of their lives, redefining their relationship with the ‘ problem’. Externalisation is an approach that can help to separate the person from the problem thus providing more opportunity to describe themselves from non- problem saturated viewpoints.

See http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/narrativetherapy.html
CBT or Cognitive Psychotherapy:
CBT is now a recognised and recommended treatment of choice for a variety of conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Cognitive Psychotherapy helps people think about how they create meanings about situations and events that happen in their lives and subsequently then create beliefs about themselves or others some of which might seem irrational or limiting or no longer appropriate.

When an event happens we have thoughts, feelings (emotions) which influence our behaviour and form responses to subsequent similar events. For change to happen it is necessary to understand how the three components of emotions, behaviours and thoughts interrelate.

A Cognitive Psychotherapist will gently guide a person to discover alternative meanings and possibilities. It’s not about trying to prove a patient wrong and the therapist right. Rather, patients come to see for themselves that there are alternatives. For example a person who has suffered a relationship break up can discover that yes, it’s sad but it does not mean they’re unlovable and going to be alone and miserable for ever (which is what it might feel like).

In Cognitive Psychotherapy the aim is to create the conditions where people can feel safe enough to test out their assumptions and fears and change their behaviour. An agoraphobic might believe that something terrible will happen if they go out of their house and so feel anxious. So to stop something bad happening they stay at home. This works to an extent but prevents the person from going out. Throughout this process of learning, exploring and testing, the client acquires coping strategies as well as improved skills of awareness, introspection and evaluation. This enables them to manage the process on their own in the future, reducing their reliance on the therapist and reducing the likelihood of experiencing a relapse.

I am currently training in advanced methods (MSc) of Cognitive Psychotherapy at Brighton University.
Solution Focused:
People generally want to find solutions to their problems. By focusing on what will be different when the solution is found and by exploring possibilities for change, people can learn that alternative pathways towards the solution exist and change can sometimes occur within a few sessions.
For further information see:

www.brieftherapy.org.uk
www.brief-therapy.org
Hypnosis:
Hypnosis has had a rich history as a treatment in itself and as an adjunct to psychotherapy. There is now a considerable amount of evidence that demonstrates the efficacy of hypnosis (or using imagination )for many medical and psychological conditions. It is generally accepted that there is an inextricable link between mind and body and the use of hypnosis has been supported as part of the treatment of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, pain relief, dermatological conditions, anxiety, asthma and many others.

Openness to experience, ability of absorption and positive expectations have been shown to be indicators of responsiveness to treatment. Imagination focused hypnosis has also seen a wide range of applications with children.

It will depend on assessment and your circumstances as to which approach will be best suited to your particular needs. An integrative model that combines aspects of  differing approaches may be most applicable.