I am a qualified Integrative Psychotherapist in the UK with a Master's degree and 5 years of professional experience. What this means is that I use more than one Psychotherapeutic modality within my work.
I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared. I listen and respond with unconditional compassion and empathy. Clients describe me as kind, understanding, non-judgemental and very easy to talk to.
I help people with a range of challenges. I will support you to understand your difficulties, identify your strengths and help you to develop strategies and tools for managing and reducing your symptoms or resolving long-term issues, so that you can move forwards and experience a much-improved quality of life.
Examples of challenges I can help with include: -
Stress
Anxiety disorders and panic
Low mood or depression
Mood swings
Anger
Difficulties understanding and managing emotions
Trauma and abuse including childhood trauma
Coping with grief and loss
Relationship difficulties
Low motivation
Low self-esteem and confidence
Coping with significant life changes
School/college/university stress
Learning to make new behavioural decisions
The help I offer is bespoke to suit each person's unique experiences, needs and personal goals and I use and adapt a wide range of interventions and therapeutic resources, but I am flexible and will find creative ways to help you achieve your aims.
Support I offer includes: -
A safe space to talk and offload whatever is on your mind
Strategies for managing anxiety and reducing symptoms
Confidence building exercises.
Teaching coping strategies and problem-solving skills
Teach and develop good sleep hygiene routines and wellbeing routines
Stress management tools
Identifying, understanding and managing emotions through positive, healthy emotional regulation strategies using popular resources.
Understand and navigate the grieving process
Processing and moving forward from trauma
I integrate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Attachment Theory and the Person-Centred Approach. CBT helps us to work through our problems by understanding the connections between our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviours so that we can make changes. It helps us to break down and solve our problems so we can feel better. Attachment Theory helps us to understand the close relationships and emotional bond we build with our caregivers when infants. This understanding can help us to overcome the impact of negative childhood experiences and build healthy relationships and create new healthy bonds. The Person-Centred Approach is a form of non-judgemental talking therapy which allows us to discover solutions to our problems so we can fulfil our potential.
Reaching out for support takes courage so congratulations on taking your first steps.
I look forward to connecting with you.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Sleeping disorders, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Communication problems, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP #387332
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Barbara Coates. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I liked Barbara from the first therapy. After that we had 3 more, but I never cease to admire her. She knows how to listen, understand and ask the right questions. Answering these questions, I see my situation from the outside and analyze as a third person. This helps to distance myself and give a true assessment of the situation. I have been in therapy for more than 5 years, I have had different psychotherapists, and I can confidently say that Barbara is the best of them.
Written on Nov 19, 2024 after therapy with Barbara for 2 weeks on issues concerning addictions, and relationship issues