Helen Bradshaw
CBT and EMDR psychotherapist (BABCP accredited) and Supervisor
Having initially qualified as a Social Worker in 1991 I found myself drawn to therapeutic roles working with adults and young people with a range of emotional and behavioural problems, both within the public and voluntary sector. With a strong belief in the human capacity for healing and change I subsequently enhanced my therapeutic knowledge and skills through further training. I currently divide my time between my private practice and working as a therapist within a University Counselling and Mental Health Team for students and staff.
I hold a Certificate in Supervision and have 18 years experience of providing supervision to both CBT Therapists and Counsellors / Mental Health Practitioners in both my current and previous roles. Being trained in Core Supervision Skills allows me a holistic approach to supervision which can be adapted to supporting different Therapeutic / Counselling modalities, suitable for those working within Private Practice and Organisations. A safe space to reflect on ones own practice, strenghts and learning needs is what allows us to be the practitioners we want to be whilst also looking after our own mental wellbeing.
I am accredited with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and I am a member of EMDR Association UK. As such I am bound by the BABCP Standards of Conduct and Performance (see here) and the EMDR Association UK Code of Conduct.
I regularly engage in ongoing CPD events adding to my knowledge and skills in other therapeutic modalities as well as furthering my CBT and EMDR professional development.
About me
I have over 30 years’ experience of working in social care and therapeutic services. Whilst my specific training and knowledge is an essential part of what I have to offer you, developing a safe and trusting relationship with you is I believe, a personal strength. I will care about our work together and my clients tell me my warmth and compassion are instrumental in facilitating their progress. I believe in a bespoke approach to therapy and can tailor our work together accordingly. For some this may mean working with strategies and techniques to adapt thinking styles and behaviour. For others it may be about processing past events, including where we hold distress / stuckness in our bodies and nervous systems, so we can live more freely. Working out together what approach /approaches will suit you best will guide our work.
Qualifications
BSc Sociology and Social Work
Certificate of Qualification in Social Work
Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (BABCP accredited)
Completed standard training in EMDR Therapy - member of EMDR Association UK
Trained in Core Supervision Skills
Enhanced DBS and GDPR compliant
Why choose me?
What I can help with
Some people have a clear idea what they want help with, whilst others just know something isn’t right and need time to identify a focus; I can help with this. Below are just some of the things I regularly help people with. Each can manifest in a myriad of ways, often affecting our enjoyment in life, sleep, motivation and relationships.
Trauma & PTSD:
Any events / environments / relationships that have caused acute and or chronic stress / distress
Childhood or adult PTSD, often with flashbacks, nightmares, negative thoughts and feelings / body sensations and avoidance of reminders
Childhood neglect and abuse
Complex PTSD
Depression :
Feeling low, sad, lack of enjoyment, having problems with sleep, appetite and motivation.
Low self esteem:
Having a generally negative overall opinion of oneself often combined with anxiety in a variety of situations and low mood
Anxiety
Generalised Anxiety – excessive worrying
Panic Attacks – having such a strong reaction you think something terrible will happen e.g. you might die or faint
Health Anxiety – worrying you have symptoms of serious illness / fear of death
OCD – obsessions and compulsions to neutralise worrying thoughts / prevent bad things from happening
Phobias – intense fear and avoidance of a specific thing or situation
Social / performance anxiety – fear of people judging you negatively in social situations
Perfectionism – wanting / needing to do things to a high standard
Exam stress
Body Dysmorphia - worrying a lot about a specific part of the body
Attachment and relationship difficulties
Patterns of unhealthy relationships
Other Emotional problems
For example managing anger, stress
I use CBT and EMDR aswell as drawing on other therapeutic modalities as required. Both are recognised within NICE guidelines with research to support their efficacy.
It is usual to be nervous at the beginning of therapy and I will do my best to put you at your ease and give you the support you need.
Our first session/s will be an opportunity for you to say what is causing you difficulty, what you would like to be different and any goals you would like to achieve. I will take some history, aswell as asking you about any other treatment or support you have had or are having now. This may take one or two sessions. At the end of this period we will agree on your goals for therapy and what approach to use. Until we have reached this understanding it is difficult to know how many sessions you may require but it typically ranges from four to sixteen, sometimes longer. This is always subject to discussion and tailored to suit your circumstances, with regular reviews to ensure you are happy with how therapy is progressing. At the end of the assessment period you decide if you would like to continue working with me. You will be under no obligation to continue and you can end therapy at any point
Your sessions will be for fifty minutes to one hour. Sometimes it is clinically useful to have longer, or shorter sessions and we can discuss this if relevant. Sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly.
How I work