How I work..
The counselling room is a place for you to "say it as it is" and from that it brings new insight, self-awareness, resilience and the ability to move forward with your life.
As a Counsellor I work integratively, providing you with the time and space to explore what’s troubling you. The space is totally confidential, non-judgmental and supportive.
I use several approaches in my work, incorporating Person Centred Therapy (PCT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Transactional Analysis (TA), Psychodynamic, Existential approaches and EMDR.
EMDR is an acronym for 'Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing', it is an empowering psychological treatment method developed by an American clinical psychologist, Dr Francine Shapiro, in the 1980s. It can be described as a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.
YouTube Video Describing EMDR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKrfH43srg8
As a Counsellor my commitment is to really listen to you, value you, help and support you, providing you with a space to express your emotions in your own way at your own pace.
Many people experience emotional difficulties at some stage of their life. Taking time out to work through issues in a calm and non-judgemental space can be a liberating experience.
When we are having difficulties in our lives, our minds are busy. Being able to share how you feel about yourself is empowering, facilitating that change is a privilege.
As you begin to understand and acknowledge your feelings, you may be able to start changing patterns of behaviours which keep recurring in your life, causing difficulties for you. Exploring the past may be helpful, gradually, you may become more mindful or aware of the past, and how old behaviours are helping or hindering you in your life.
I work with clients at their pace throughout the counselling contract.
Retreats
One of the best kept secrets in Devon is a wonderful retreat centre called Mill House Retreat http://millhouseretreats.co.uk/ it is available for stays, days away from the "busyness" of life. I have the privilege of working in that wonderful space with clients requiring "time out" to refocus. Please email for details and at the same time have a look at Mill House Retreats website, it’s a magical place.
Guided Meditation and Mindfulness
I have trained in mindfulness for stress and relaxation. The research tells us, it enhances peace of mind, improves health and wellbeing. Improving our self-awareness helps us to accept things "as they are" without judgement.
Simple mindful techniques can be incorporated into everyday life, creating a sense of calm and balance.
Helpful articles for clients to read through
Recommended Resources:
1) Monitoring stress levels (www.bemindfulonline.com/test-your-stress) and self-criticism (http://www.self-compassion.net‘short self-compassion scale)
2) Positive logbook: http://www.mindful.org/a-simple-weekly-mindfulness-practice-keep-a-gratitude-journal/
3) Posture exercises: www.ted.com/talks/: Amy Cuddy ‘your body language shapes who you are’
4) Mindfulness presentation: www.ted.com/talks/: Andy Puddicombe ‘all it takes is 10 mindful minutes’
5) Mindfulness practises: www.youtube.com: Mark Williams ‘Mindfulness’ www.headspace.com: ‘Gym membership for the mind’
6) Self compassion practises: http://www.self-compassion.net/‘exercises’ Kristin Neff
7) Action for Happiness Ten Keys for Happiness: http://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/530511/ten_keys_guidebook.pdf
7) Increasing resilience at work: http://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/282795/doing_well_from_the_inside_out.pdf
8) A video on Trauma Informed Practice – how we can all make a difference: vimeo.com/274703693
9) Macmillan Cancer Support Booklets PDFS s-448-downloadable-pdf-files.aspx
Helpful Apps
I recommend for anxiety, stress, depression and mindfulness. All have meditations and some have sounds and bedtime stories and music to calm the mind.
#Headspace helps people to learn the skills of mindfulness and meditation. It can be used for a few minutes daily to help clear your mind. There is access to meditations on everything from stress and anxiety to sleep and focus.
#Calm provides people experiencing stress and anxiety with guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music.
#ACT Companion: The Happiness Trap helps people to be present, open and do what matters using simple, interactive exercises and tools. It contains goal-setting tools, self-compassion exercises and acceptance techniques.
#Mind Shift Mind Shift is a mental health app designed specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety. Mind Shift stresses the importance of changing how you think about anxiety rather than avoiding those difficult thoughts.
#Self Help for Anxiety Management allows users to create a 24-hour anxiety toolkit that allows you to track anxious thoughts and behaviour over time and learn 25 different self-help techniques.
You can also use SAM’s “Social Cloud” feature to confidentially connect with other users in an online community for additional support.
#Happify has a psychologist-approved mood-training program, which includes engaging games, activity suggestions, gratitude prompts and more to help support you with difficult negative thoughts.
#Smiling Mind is a way to practice daily meditation and mindfulness exercises during time of stress. It is a unique tool developed by Psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life.
#insighttimer is a fabulous APP with a range of wellbeing information including sleep, anxiety and stress. There are some great bedtime stories too, mediations and classes https://insighttimer.com
MORE Resources.
The Happy Pear links are below. I don’t know if you have heard of the Rich Roll Irish podcast champion, they have done a couple of episodes with him, and you might like the podcast generally as he does a lot of mindfulness related content.
https://www.instagram.com/thehappypear/
https://www.richroll.com/podcast/happy-pear-380/
The online diary and app are Penzu, it’s useful as you can use the app to quickly write down whatever you’re thinking wherever you are.
Collaborative Websites
www.livingmovement.com
Tai Chi Movements for life.
www.wisegoose.co.uk
An outstanding Coaching School based in the heart of Devon
As a Counsellor, Work with Police, Hospices, Charity, Charities and NHS staff. Military MoD personnel and family members.
Create the change you want.
Annie Ford Experienced Counsellor and Supervisor. Covering Devon, Mid-Devon, Cullompton, Pinhoe, Broadclyst, Honiton, Exeter, Whipton, Tiverton, Wellington, Taunton , Whimple, Whimple EX5 4PB and EX15 1FE and Somerset
Issues I work with includes Anxiety,Stress, Depression, Relationships, Rape, Mental Health Issues, PTSD, Trauma, Employment Issues and Counselling, HIV, AIDs, GUM, NHS, Bereavement Support, Grief, Grieving, Mindfulness, Counsellor, Counselling, Family Counselling, Group Counselling, Counselling debrief, Debrief Suicide, LGBT, HIV, AIDs, Cancer Counselling, Long Term Conditions, Menopause, Retreat day, Retreat days, Stress, Mindfulness, Counselling Agencies, EAP, Retreat in Devon, Mediation, Couples Counsellor, Couples Counselling, Relationship counselling, PTSD, Counselor, Therapist, Healing, Wellness, Wellbeing, Cancer, Cancer Support, parenting, University Counselling, College Counsellor, CBT, Psychodynamic, Calm Counselling office, charity, charities, supervision, supervisee , accreditation, selfcare, IVF, End of Life Care, Palliative Care, secondary breast cancer, spiritual, selfcare, strategies, overwhelm.
Counselling Directory profile : http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/annie-ford
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