About Therapy Camden aims to identify and apply the therapy or combination of therapies that most effectively assists each client and their specific circumstances. Irrespective of the therapeutic approach, we acknowledge the importance of the therapeutic relationship in reaching desired goals. This is fostered by working collaboratively with clients to explore new outcomes for problem situations.
About Therapy staff have training and experience in a variety of different approaches to therapy including:
Couple and Family Therapy
Systemic couple and family therapy values the role and influence of relationships in our lives. By including multiple family members in the therapeutic process new perspectives are recognised, the responsibility for problems is shared, blame for problems is minimised and the family or couple works together to develop new strategies and approaches to deal with problem situations. It is an effective method of working with couples and families presenting with a broad range of issues from relationship problems to serious behavioural problems, disability, family breakdown and separation, infidelity, psychological disorders and mental health issues.
Parents and carers have an important role in the way that children think, feel and act. Counselling for children and young people will always involve parents/carers/guardians. Services provided to children and young people can only be facilitated if consent from all parents/carers/guardians is obtained. On some occasions it may be appropriate for the child or young person to speak with the counsellor by themselves. The counsellor will discuss this with you, if deemed necessary.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an intensely practical and active form of therapy. CBT aims to help clients understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are closely connected and influence each other. CBT focuses on changing negative thoughts and feelings by changing beliefs and behaviours that perpetuate the negative thoughts and feelings. CBT is particularly helpful in treating a wide variety of conditions including anxiety and depression, irrespective of their genetic or learned origin.
Expressive Therapy
Experiential in nature, expressive therapy modalities (e.g. art therapy, sand-play and symbol work) aim to bridge the divide between our inner and outer worlds. By facilitating connection to our unconscious, expressive therapies support emotional healing and self development. Suitable for those who find verbal exchanges difficult and/or for those who work best in a visual, non-verbal mode.
Attachment Based Therapy
Attachment theory has been widely used in psychotherapy for over 50 years. It is based largely around understanding how we connect and relate to others. As humans are social creatures we are relationally based and seek connection and love, or seek to avoid loss and isolation. Our early years play a key role in shaping who we are and in teaching us how to relate to others. Modern neuroscience has given us a new framework for understanding the evidence base of attachment theories as we can now track connections between neuroscience, psychology, biochemistry and psychoanalysis to help better understand the development of our social brains and how we relate to others. Our social brain and emotional responses are established in the early years of life and is the part of the brain that tells us how to manage feelings in relation to others. It is also responsible for the development of our stress response, immune response and the shaping of neurotransmitters that inform our emotional and relational response.
How we learn to connect is critical in shaping our brains and future relationships and likewise early negative relational or attachment experiences such as abuse, abandonment, harsh, detached or self focussed parenting styles can have an impact on our sense of self worth, confidence, general wellbeing, how we deal with loss, frustration, parenting, intimacy and our relationships with others.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been in use since the mid 80’s and recently come into wider use conjunction with the growth in use and popularity of the concept of Mindfulness. Based originally on Buddhist ideology Mindfulness in psychology offers a powerful tool to assist in developing awareness and tuning in to the present moment, accepting what is, and letting go of what we can it change. Similarly, ACT is based upon assisting clients with the process of Acceptance of the things they are unable to change, noticing and observing what is happening around us and within ourselves without the struggle to change it, defusing painful thoughts, beliefs and memories by letting go and not trying to correct or change the thoughts. Commitment is the element of deciding to act positively and decisively with opened and curiosity in order to create a more enriched experience. ACT can be used for short and long term work with clients and has had proven effectiveness in treating a range of presenting issues across the lifespan.