Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, despair or fear and is a normal response to a range of different situations. Constantly feeling anxious can affect your mental health and can be life-limiting. When you can’t remember when you last felt relaxed, it's time to have a chat with us.

Counselling can help you explore the cause of these feelings, understand them and suggest ways of dealing with situations. One of our counsellors can help you learn how to cope with anxiety.

Anxiety is one of our primeval instincts and stems from our ‘flight or fight’ response. This happens when our body feels it’s in danger. The fight or flight response is an automatic reaction, which we have little control over, our body releases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol into our bloodstream which, amongst other things, makes us more alert and increases our heart rate.

Usually, when the threat has gone, this triggers the body to emit a different set of hormones to help us relax. However, with an anxiety disorder, this tends not to happen. We habitually read fearful situations as if they are dangerous; we end up in a constant state of fight/flight/freeze.

“Part of our human response is problem-solving. We want to know what we need to do to stop the situation that’s making us anxious. But actually as a result, often our anxiety builds up even more”. People do react differently to different situations. For example, one person may get anxious because they think their teacher or boss has given them a funny look. But another person wouldn’t be bothered by it.

Talking to one of The Dorset Practice counsellors could help you understand what particular situations in your life are causing your anxiety.

People can often also become anxious about their anxieties, for example, the anxiety someone faces ahead of travelling on a train at rush hour because they know that being on the crowded train makes them feel anxious.

If any of these issues sound familiar or you would like to chat to someone about any worries or anxious feelings you are feeling please call us on:

01202 675661

Jane Zoega Read More

James Morris Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 022100

Anger is a natural emotion experienced by everyone, but when it becomes unmanageable, it can have detrimental effects on one’s well-being and relationships. Anger management provides individuals with the tools and strategies to understand, express and regulate their anger in healthier ways.

Counselling sessions typically begin with an assessment to identify triggers, patterns, and underlying issues contributing to anger. This process helps individuals gain insight into the root causes of their anger, which may include past trauma, unresolved conflicts, or ongoing stressors.
Anger management typically includes exploring constructive ways to diffuse anger, such as identifying triggers, and unhelpful thinking patterns; mindfulness and breathing exercises to help manage the fight/flight response.

Through counselling, individuals can learn to take control of their emotions and behaviours, leading to improved self-esteem, healthier relationships, and a greater sense of overall well-being. By addressing underlying issues, and learning adaptive coping strategies, individuals can navigate life’s challenges with resilience and emotional intelligence.
With the guidance and support of a skilled therapist, individuals can transform their relationship with anger and cultivate a more fulfilling and balanced life.

All counsellors are trained to work with anger.

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

The overwhelming pain of loss often feels insurmountable, and the journey toward acceptance is a gradual, often challenging process. Bereavement encompasses a spectrum of emotions, including anxiety, anger, withdrawal, guilt, and deep sadness. These emotions can disrupt sleep patterns, impair concentration, alter appetite and make day-to-day coping seem daunting.

Loss comes in many forms, whether it is the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or any significant change that disrupts our sense of normalcy. The absence of what once was can leave us feeling adrift, prompting a need for adjustment in both mind and body as we grapple with our new reality.

Seeking support through counselling can be instrumental in navigating the complexities of grief and loss. Trained counsellors provide a compassionate, nonjudgemental space to process emotions, explore coping strategies, and gradually move towards acceptance. By engaging in therapy, individuals can gain insights into their grief process, develop resilience, and find ways to integrate their loss into their lives in meaningful ways.

The path to healing is not linear; grief is a highly individual experience marked by ups and downs. With the right support, and in time, individuals can find strength in vulnerability, and rebuild lives, honouring the memory of what has been lost.

All our counsellors can help with bereavement & loss, but those with extra training include:

Kim Zepler Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

When children and adolescents face difficulties, they often struggle to find a supportive outlet to confide in and manage emotions. Counselling provides a confidential and non-judgemental space where young individuals can explore their challenges and feelings.

Young people seek counselling for a variety of reasons, reflecting the complex pressures they face in today’s society. These challenges may stem from issues at home, school or within the community, encompassing concerns such as addiction, excessive gaming, social media pressures, bullying, self-harm, relationship struggles, eating disorders and questions about sexuality.

Navigating these issues alone can feel overwhelming for young individuals.
Counselling can offer support and guidance, in a safe environment where they can learn to navigate difficult periods and emerge stronger.

Our counsellors who can help with children and young persons include:

Tammie Jones Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

Counselling serves as a vital resource in addressing and managing depression, a complex mental health condition characterised by a persistent feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and disinterest in previously enjoyable activities.
Depression can profoundly impact daily functioning, relationships and overall quality of life.

In counselling, individuals suffering from depression have the opportunity to explore the underlying causes and contributing factors of their condition in a safe and supportive environment. Trained counsellors offer empathy, validation, and evidence-based interventions to help clients navigate their emotional struggles and develop coping strategies.

Through therapeutic techniques, such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), mindfulness-based approaches, and interpersonal therapy, individuals can challenge negative thought patterns, learn effective problem-solving skills, and cultivate resilience. Moreover, counselling provides a platform for individuals to express and process their emotions, alleviating the burden of isolation and shame often associated with depression.

While counselling is not a panacea for depression, it can be a crucial component of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include medication, lifestyle changes, and social support networks. By engaging in counselling, individuals can gain insight, develop coping skills, and embark on a journey towards healing and recovery from depression.

All of our counsellors can help with feelings of low mood and depression.

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

An eating disorder is when you have an unhealthy attitude towards food which can take over your life. An eating disorder can involve starving yourself (Anorexia Nervosa), bingeing and purging in order to lose weight (Bulimia), and losing control of your eating leading to overeating and then feeling guilt and shame (Binge Eating Disorder).

Eating disorders generally require treatment as they can be quite complex mental health disorders and can be hard to recover from. talking therapy can be a helpful way of exploring your underlying issues that often go hand in hand with the eating disorder. In more serious cases a GP may need to get involved in order to refer on to a more specialist treatment programme.

Our counsellors who can help eating disorders include:

Jane Zoega Read More

James Morris Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy technique developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s to treat individuals suffering from trauma and other distressing experiences. EMDR is based on the idea that traumatic memories can become "stuck" in the brain, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and flashbacks. The therapy aims to help individuals process these memories and alleviate associated symptoms.

During an EMDR session, the therapist guides the client through a series of bilateral stimulations, which can involve following the therapist’s finger movements with their eyes, a lightbar may be used, or occasionally auditory tones or tapping sensations. This bilateral stimulation is believed to mimic the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, during which the processing of memories naturally occurs.

EMDR therapy involves eight phases, including history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure and re-evaluation. Through these phases, clients are encouraged to explore and reprocess traumatic memories, develop coping mechanisms, and integrate positive beliefs to replace negative ones associated with the trauma.

Research has shown that EMDR can be highly effective in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders. EMDR is considered a safe and evidence-based treatment option, offering hope and healing to individuals struggling with the aftermath of trauma. EMDR is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The therapists trained in EMDR are:

Jane Zoega Read More

Dr Sophia Chambers Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

Feeling confused about your sexuality, your gender, and feeling that you don't fit in can have lasting effects. Some people suffer bullying, discrimination and rejection by friends and family because of issues around sexuality and gender.

Talking therapies can offer a safe and nonjudgemental space where you can explore these issues whilst feeling supported. Mental health can affect each and every one of us, but for LGBTQ individuals mental stress and distress can feel all-encompassing and can have a devastating impact on health and well-being.

Our counsellors who can help with sexuality include:

Jane Zoega Read More

James Morris Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

MBCT-L Mindfulness Course (8 weeks)

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life is an 8-week course for all ages and stages of people wanting to live life with more presence and develop meaningful skills to navigate the ups and downs.

MBCT-L provides an experiential understanding of mindfulness meditation. The course helps you to build skilful self-awareness, providing guidance and support whilst you develop a range of regular practices. The content wonderfully blends the wisdom of ancient traditional contemplative techniques with modern Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) psychology exercises.

Over the 8 weeks (2 hrs p/w) we introduce a different way of living to support the many challenges in life including the onset of life-altering health conditions, pain management, anxiety and depression disorders, troubling recurrent patterns of thought and behaviour that create suffering, as well as ways to savour the joyful aspects of life and to flourish.

Our counsellors who can help with MBCT include:

Marisa Whitty Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

Osteopathy and sports massage are both valuable modalities in the realm of physical therapy and sports medicine, each offering unique approaches to enhancing athletic performance, preventing injuries and promoting overall well-being.

Osteopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on the interrelationship between the body's structure and its function. Osteopathic practitioners use manual techniques such as manipulation, stretching, and massage to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and restore balance within the musculoskeletal system. By addressing underlying dysfunctions and imbalances, osteopathy aims to optimize the body's natural ability to heal itself, thereby supporting athletes in reaching their full potential.

Sports massage on the other hand, is a specialized form of massage therapy tailored specifically to the needs of athletes and individuals engaged in regular physical activity. Sports massage techniques may include deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, stretching, and trigger point therapy. This modality focuses on enhancing circulation, reducing muscle tension and promoting faster recovery from training sessions or injuries. Sports massage can also help athletes prepare for upcoming events by improving flexibility, range of motion, and overall muscle function.

In combination, osteopathy and sports massage offer a comprehensive approach to sports therapy, addressing both structural and soft tissue issues to optimize athletic performance, prevent injuries, and support overall health and well-being. Integrating these modalities into a comprehensive treatment plan can help athletes achieve their goals and maintain peak physical condition.

Therapists trained in osteopathy are:

Mattia Venuti Read More

Rianne Lutchmaya Read More

Therapists trained in Sports Massage are:

Mattia Venuti Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

Our brains are hardwired to seek and form intimate attachment bonds with others. When these relationships are thriving, we experience profound happiness and fulfilment. However, when significant relationships encounter challenges, the toll can be both mental and physical, leading to suffering. We often get into patterns of behaviour that are a cause of conflict and unhappiness.

Couple therapy, such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), provides a valuable opportunity to gain insight into the dynamics at play between partners. Through EFT, couples can unravel these patterns and uncover the underlying emotions driving behaviours like criticism, raised voices, or emotional withdrawal.
By understanding and addressing these emotional needs and vulnerabilities, couples can cultivate a deeper understanding of each other and forge stronger connections. This process fosters a more fulfilling relationship and paves the way for a happier life together.

EFT offers a structured approach that focuses on creating secure attachment bonds, promoting healing, and fostering growth within the relationship. This can lead to a more fulfilling relationship, a better understanding of your partner, and ultimately a happier life together.

Counsellors who are trained to work with couples:

Jane Zoega Read More

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661

Single Session Therapy (SST) is a highly efficient method of delivering therapeutic support in a single session while recognizing that additional sessions may be necessary.

SST optimizes the use of limited time by focusing on immediate concerns and goals, allowing clients to gain insight and coping strategies in a single session. The approach emphasizes collaboration between counsellor and client, fostering a supportive environment where clients feel heard and empowered to take steps towards resolution.

Through structured assessment, exploration of strengths, and goal-setting, counsellors guide clients in identifying and addressing their challenges effectively within the session. SST aims to provide tangible support and tools that clients can implement immediately, while also laying the groundwork for potential follow-up sessions as needed.

By offering a streamlined and targeted approach to therapy, SST enables counsellors to provide timely and impactful support to clients, promoting positive outcomes and facilitating progress towards their therapeutic goals.

Most of our counsellors are able to offer SST.

The Dorset Practice,
Top Floor, 40-42 High Street, Old Town, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BT

Tel. 01202 675661