about psychotherapy & emdr
the spaces approach
What kind of therapy do we offer?
What kind of therapy do we offer?
Extensive experience and research has resulted in the development of the six core principles of SPACEStherapy. All SPACEStherapy Associates subscribe to these principles. They are embedded across all of our therapeutic work:
Safety: In order to effectively work with trauma and distress it is imperative that therapy feels safe, even when it
Extensive experience and research has resulted in the development of the six core principles of SPACEStherapy. All SPACEStherapy Associates subscribe to these principles. They are embedded across all of our therapeutic work:
Safety: In order to effectively work with trauma and distress it is imperative that therapy feels safe, even when it is challenging. We understand that it can take time to feel comfortable in therapy, and believe that taking this time to get to know each other is an important and valuable investment in the overall therapeutic process.
Pacing: A good trauma therapist understands the importance of pacing. We do not want to dive head first into difficult material, as this can be overwhelming and may result in something called re-traumatisation, which can be quite distressing and can make things feel worse. Instead, we work with you to pace the work in a way that feels manageable.
Attunement: As therapists and counsellors, attuning to the emotions and experiences of our clients at any given time is imperative. However, we are also aware that there will be times when we do not get this quite right, as you are the expert on your life and experiences, not us. We will always work hard and take the time to meet you where you are at so we have the best possible understanding of you and your situation, and see this as an important aspect of building a good therapeutic relationship.
Collaboration: As highly trained and experienced Psychotherapists and Counsellors, our work is informed by a great deal of knowledge, skills and understanding. However you, the client, are the expert on you. Let's put our expertise together, and work in collaboration to meet your goals for therapy.
Empowerment: Client empowerment is a key tenet of good psychotherapy and counselling. We are very aware that, as psychotherapists and counsellors, clients put a lot of trust into us, our work, and the therapeutic process. We are also conscious that many of our clients have experienced abuses of power. We are committed to not recreating any such dynamics, and constantly remain conscious of our ethical and moral responsibilties and duties towards our clients.
Social Support: Trauma-informed services and support recognise the importance of good social support in moving towards healing. We integrate this ethos as a vital aspect of our work.
We understand that most people come to therapy to feel better right now. For some people this means exploring the past and the pathways that have brought them to where they are. For others, this means working very much in the present or towards future-oriented goals. We will discuss this together, both in an initial assessment and in our ongoing sessions, to ensure that therapy continues on track and works for you.
What kind of therapy do we offer?
What kind of therapy do we offer?
What kind of therapy do we offer?
SPACEStherapy offers therapy that works directly with traumatic experiences, and some of our therapists are qualified in EMDR. But we also understand that for many clients, 'going into' past traumas is not helpful or necessary.
We are experienced in working in a trauma-informed way, which means that we work with an awareness of potential
SPACEStherapy offers therapy that works directly with traumatic experiences, and some of our therapists are qualified in EMDR. But we also understand that for many clients, 'going into' past traumas is not helpful or necessary.
We are experienced in working in a trauma-informed way, which means that we work with an awareness of potential or actual trauma in a client's past, but understand that this does not necessarily need to be the focus of your therapy.
If we do agree to work together on past trauma, therapists prioritise safety, pacing, and the development of a good therapeutic relationship, as we understand that these factors need to be in place in order to be able to start processing the past and looking to the future. There will be no expectation or pressure to talk about difficult experiences during your clinicial assessment.
Working integratively means combining ways of working from different theoretical approaches and schools of thought in order to best meet a client’s changing needs, as client and therapist progress together through therapy. We offer short and long term therapy, and can either work towards specific goals and objectives, in a more open and exploratory way, or through a combination of both approaches.
Contact info@spacestherapy.co.uk to arrange an initial assessment session.
EMDR
What kind of therapy do we offer?
EMDR
EMDR is recognised by the NICE guidelines (National Institute of Clinical Excellence, UK) and the (WHO) World Health Organisation as an intervention for psychological trauma, although since its inception EMDR has been shown to be successful in treating a wider spectrum of psychological distress including, but not limited to, depression, a
EMDR is recognised by the NICE guidelines (National Institute of Clinical Excellence, UK) and the (WHO) World Health Organisation as an intervention for psychological trauma, although since its inception EMDR has been shown to be successful in treating a wider spectrum of psychological distress including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, behavioural difficulties, and relationship issues.
EMDR works on the premise that by focusing on a distressing experience, memory or emotion while making bilateral movements (BLS) across the body either in the form of eye movements, tapping, kinaesthetic or audio stimulation, the emotional intensity of the memory reduces, resulting in a feeling that the experience has been processed and is less ‘live’. Clients who have experienced EMDR tend to report that their emotions are less intense, that distressing memories feel ‘less raw’, ‘further away’, or ‘fuzzy’, and that the impact of distress on their daily lives is reduced.
Note that the provision of EMDR is subject to additional assessment. This is to ascertain suitability, and ensure that EMDR is an appropriate and 'best-fit' intervention to incorporate into your therapy.