Jill Lopez: Psychotherapy & Counselling
Psychotherapy & Counselling
Below are some of the concerns that psychotherapy and counselling can help you address. In therapy sessions you will be able to work through your concerns and find ways to understand and manage your feelings and any negative thoughts you may be experiencing.
Anxiety
Anxiety is sometimes experienced as a general feeling of unease. Experiencing a certain level of anxiety is natural. It can be triggered, for example, by traumatic events, difficult social or workplace situations. Sometimes the feeling of anxiety can be overwhelming and out of proportion to the situation. It can interfere with your everyday life and relationships. You may find that you:
- have trouble sleeping
- avoid situations
- procrastinate
- feel short of breath, sick, dizzy
- are unable to concentrate
- are frequently in need of reassurance
- feel emotional and tearful
Bereavement / Loss
When a loved one dies it is normal to experience a range of emotions including sadness, loneliness, anger and anxiety. Everyone experiences loss differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel. It is important to allow yourself time to grieve. Working through your feelings in therapy can help you come to terms with your loss, normalise feelings and help create a new understanding of your complex and painful emotions. Feelings often associated with bereavement are:
- loneliness
- anger
- guilt
- sadness
- anxiety
- confusion
- fear
Anxiety
Anxiety is sometimes experienced as a general feeling of unease. Experiencing a certain level of anxiety is natural. It can be triggered, for example, by traumatic events, difficult social or workplace situations. Sometimes the feeling of anxiety can be overwhelming and out of proportion to the situation. It can interfere with your everyday life and relationships. You may find that you:
- have trouble sleeping
- avoid situations
- procrastinate
- feel short of breath, sick, dizzy
- are unable to concentrate
- are frequently in need of reassurance
- feel emotional and tearful
Bereavement / Loss
When a loved one dies it is normal to experience a range of emotions including sadness, loneliness, anger and anxiety. Everyone experiences loss differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel. It is important to allow yourself time to grieve. Working through your feelings in therapy can help you come to terms with your loss, normalise feelings and help create a new understanding of your complex and painful emotions. Feelings often associated with bereavement are:
- loneliness
- anger
- guilt
- sadness
- anxiety
- confusion
- fear
Depression
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It is a common condition which affects many people at some point in their lives but its intensity will be experienced in different ways. It can interfere with the way life is experienced and can often lead to feeling overwhelmed by life. Depression can be triggered by e.g. bereavement, separation and divorce, redundancy, illness. It can often be experienced in the following ways:
- low mood
- lack of motivation
- fatigue
- a decrease or increase in appetite
- feelings of worthlessness
- thoughts of self harm
- feelings of angr, frustration and worry
Low self-esteem
Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. The term self-esteem is used to describe a persons’ overall sense of self-worth or personal value. You may find that your self esteem is affected by experiencing bullying, prejudice or discrimination, losing your job, work related difficulties, relationship issues, ongoing stress. Boosting self-esteem and building confidence can be achieved in therapy through the exploration of the way you feel and the view you have of yourself and others.
As a consequence of low self-esteem you may feel:
- hopeless or worthless
- very critical of yourself
- depressed
- you lack the ability to compete tasks
- anxious
- sensitive to criticism
- the need to socially withdra
Depression
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It is a common condition which affects many people at some point in their lives but its intensity will be experienced in different ways. It can interfere with the way life is experienced and can often lead to feeling overwhelmed by life. Depression can be triggered by e.g. bereavement, separation and divorce, redundancy, illness. It can often be experienced in the following ways:
- low mood
- lack of motivation
- fatigue
- a decrease or increase in appetite
- feelings of worthlessness
- thoughts of self harm
- feelings of angr, frustration and worry
Low self-esteem
Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. The term self-esteem is used to describe a persons’ overall sense of self-worth or personal value. You may find that your self esteem is affected by experiencing bullying, prejudice or discrimination, losing your job, work related difficulties, relationship issues, ongoing stress. Boosting self-esteem and building confidence can be achieved in therapy through the exploration of the way you feel and the view you have of yourself and others.
As a consequence of low self-esteem you may feel:
- hopeless or worthless
- very critical of yourself
- depressed
- you lack the ability to compete tasks
- anxious
- sensitive to criticism
- the need to socially withdra
Panic Attacks
A panic attack is often a sudden episode of fear accompanied by severe physical reactions even when there is no real danger or obvious cause. It can develop very quickly. Often once experienced further attacks are feared, situations and experiences avoided and so a vicious cycle established.
Common symptoms associated with panic attacks are:
- raised heartbeat
- sweating
- feeling out of breath
- feel disconnected from your body or mind
- nausea
- chest pain
- fear of losing control
Relationship Issues
The way you relate to those around you can be improved by relationship therapy. Patterns which have become entrenched can be broken and new ways of relating developed. Relationships between friends, couples, families or colleagues can be considered in relationship counselling. Effective communication is key to healthy relationships but it is easy for thoughts to be left unspoken and unexplored leading to a breakdown in communication.
You may seek relationship therapy to explore issues such as:
- divorce and separation
- parenting conflict
- fertility issues
- friendship breakdown
- difficulty making friends
- workplace conflict
Panic Attacks
A panic attack is often a sudden episode of fear accompanied by severe physical reactions even when there is no real danger or obvious cause. It can develop very quickly. Often once experienced further attacks are feared, situations and experiences avoided and so a vicious cycle established.
Common symptoms associated with panic attacks are:
- raised heartbeat
- sweating
- feeling out of breath
- feel disconnected from your body or mind
- nausea
- chest pain
- fear of losing control
Relationship Issues
The way you relate to those around you can be improved by relationship therapy. Patterns which have become entrenched can be broken and new ways of relating developed. Relationships between friends, couples, families or colleagues can be considered in relationship counselling. Effective communication is key to healthy relationships but it is easy for thoughts to be left unspoken and unexplored leading to a breakdown in communication.
You may seek relationship therapy to explore issues such as:
- divorce and separation
- parenting conflict
- fertility issues
- friendship breakdown
- difficulty making friends
- workplace conflict
Stress
Stress can be both motivating and debilitating. It can help us rise to challenges in our daily lives whether at home, work or with family and friends. However, if it becomes too much and is experienced for too long it can affect us both physically and emotionally. It can lead to feelings of irritability, anxiety and low self esteem.
Symptoms which may be experienced as a consequence of increased and sustained levels of stress are:
- irritability
- headaches
- withdrawal from friends and family
- short temper
- difficulties with sleep
- ineffectiveness with tasks at home and work
- feelings of loneliness
- loss of interest in everyday events
Trauma
Emotional and psychological trauma is triggered by going through very stressful, frightening or distressing events. It can destabilise your sense of security. The trauma may have been caused by a one-off event or may be the result of sustained and relentless stress. Traumatic events can happen at any age and have a lasting effect on both your physical and mental health. You may find that you have difficulty with day to day aspects of your life such as trusting others, accepting change, maintaining friendships and making decisions.
Trauma may lead to feelings of :
- helplessness
- vulnerability
- poor concentration
- isolation and detachment
- poor sleep patterns
- nightmares/flashbacks
- intrusive thoughts
Stress
Stress can be both motivating and debilitating. It can help us rise to challenges in our daily lives whether at home, work or with family and friends. However, if it becomes too much and is experienced for too long it can affect us both physically and emotionally. It can lead to feelings of irritability, anxiety and low self esteem.
Symptoms which may be experienced as a consequence of increased and sustained levels of stress are:
- irritability
- headaches
- withdrawal from friends and family
- short temper
- difficulties with sleep
- ineffectiveness with tasks at home and work
- feelings of loneliness
- loss of interest in everyday events
Trauma
Emotional and psychological trauma is triggered by going through very stressful, frightening or distressing events. It can destabilise your sense of security. The trauma may have been caused by a one-off event or may be the result of sustained and relentless stress. Traumatic events can happen at any age and have a lasting effect on both your physical and mental health. You may find that you have difficulty with day to day aspects of your life such as trusting others, accepting change, maintaining friendships and making decisions.
Trauma may lead to feelings of :
- helplessness
- vulnerability
- poor concentration
- isolation and detachment
- poor sleep patterns
- nightmares/flashbacks
- intrusive thoughts