Josie Geddes Counselling

Attachment Focused EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitisation & Reprocessing) integrates attachment theory and EMDR to heal relational trauma. It is a gentle and effective treatment for psychological distress following complex traumatic experiences, often experienced in childhood. 

It is a gentle intervention that focuses on building internal resources to increase our ability to access our window of tolerance initially. We then move on to processing traumatic thoughts, feelings and physiology to develop an adaptive understanding of the event thus reducing symptoms.

By accessing the traumatic memory and using eye movements or tapping ,the fragmented information moves into the thinking brain that is better able to make sense of the experience.

EMDR therapy uses a 3 pronged approach:

1.  Past events are explored to understand the roots of the current distress
2.  Current dysfunction is targeted to relieve symptoms and triggers
3. Future templates are developed to support adaptive responses to potential distressing situations

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It is a form of psychotherapy that puts change at the heart of treatment.Mood is understood as being fuelled by the way we think and behave. By talking about what you are finding difficult CBT can provide an opportunity to understand the problematic cycles you have become stuck in and identify how to interrupt them.By exploring negative thinking styles and unhelpful behaviours we can discover more helpful responses to the things you find challenging … Read more...

Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is a psychotherapy that focuses on thinking about thinking. It is an evidence based treatment for personality disorder.  MBT helps us to mentalize which is essential to improve mental health and social function.  We adopt a curious stance to wonder and explore difficulties. 

Mentalization is the ability to understand our own actions and those of others in terms of thoughts, feelings, wishes and desires. It can help improve misunderstandings by developing our ability to appreciate mind states that led to misapprehension which in turn reduces interpersonal difficulties and improves emotional regulation.

The knowledge and skills of mentalizing is passed on to the next generation. It is a transactional and intergenerational social process.

Psychodynamic counselling is a type of talking therapy that can give you a space to make sense of your interpersonal difficulties. Psychodynamic theory suggests that experiences of significant people in our childhood form how we see ourselves and others and continue to influence us throughout our lives. Therapy offers you an opportunity to explore some of these experiences and understand how they are impacting you and your relationships today.3 key areas are focused on to identify patterns in the ways you relate to others;1) Childhood experiences with parents or care givers, to identify where these patterns may have originated.2) Current relationships, such as friendships, partners and work colleagues to understand how these patterns may have manifested in the present.3) The relationship between you and the therapist is used to further understand how you relate to people and the feelings and … Read more...

Whether it be food, alcohol, shopping, sugar, drugs, gaming, cleaning, social media or porn we ALL engage in behaviours that help us to deal with the difficulties that life throws at us. However, when these behaviours become more problematic than helpful it might be time to find a new approach. Dopamine is a key chemical that plays an important role in understanding addiction.  Dopamine helps us feel pleasure and is part of the reward system, making us more likely to repeat behaviours that give us pleasure. Treatment includes thinking about problematic … Read more...