According the Mental Health foundation:

  • Each year 1 in 4 of us will be affected by a mental health problem.
  • 1 in 100 of us will have a severe mental health problem.
  • Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health disorders in Britain.
  • Suicide is currently the most common cause of death for men under the age of 35, with suicide rates for British men being 3 times as high as for women.

We understand that experiencing any degree of mental illness can impact our lives in many ways and have a negative affect on relationships, friendships, parenting, our ablility to work, and have a detrimental impact on physical health and ability to function. If left untreated, mental health conditions can worsen, making life increasingly difficult and unbearable.

Some people with mental health issues might have coping strategies that are harmful at present but may have been useful in the past. Counselling and psychotherapy can reduce the impact that mental health conditions have on your life. Through therapy, it is possible to safely examine your life and understand the underlying cause of of the condition. We can explore your coping strategies and whether they serve you well. If not, we can support you to reduce any harm, and find more appropriate coping mechanisms that will work for you in the here and now.  For some, being able to talk about their feelings in a safe space is invaluable.

Many people feel a sense of shame in relation to their mental health needs and find it difficult to ask for help. We understand that just by reading this page, you have taken a huge step. You might decide that this is not the right time for you, and that’s OK. However, it is natural to feel a sense of fear about taking the first steps to getting yourself the support you deserve. We would encourage you to get in touch and if it feels like face to face therapy might be too scary at first, we offer phone and online therapy. We want to make therapy as accessible to you as possible.

Between us, we have 25 years experience of working with people affected by mental health issues. You can contact us for a free half-hour chat to discuss whether you feel we are the right “fit” for you.

 

If you are an adult feeling suicidal or in distress at the moment, you can call the Samaritans on:

08457 909090

If you are under the age of 19 and feeling suicidal or in distress at the moment, you can call ChildLine on:

0800 1111