Welcome
My name is Patricia and I am an experienced Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist working in private practice from my home
in Wigan, Greater Manchester easily accessible with excellent public transport and motorway links.
I also work online so we can work together wherever you are based.
Specialism and areas of specific interest:
Survivors of Narcissistic and Borderline Personality Disorder relationships:
I work extensively with people either currently in or those surviving a relationship with a BPD/Narcissistic partner. I understand the trauma and confusion caused by these relationships and work with you to help you recover from the devastating effects of how you have been made to feel and to find yourself again.
Neurodiversity:
I have extensive experience working with neurodiverse clients; those on the autistic spectrum and with ADHD. I understand the challenges that you may face in a neurotypical world and can work with you to help find strategies that can help better navigate the world.
Actors and Performers
Many of my clients are professional actors and performers, both those still in training and those working in the industry. I understand the particular issues that actors deal with both in the nature of the work they undertake and in the profession as a whole. I have worked for a number of years within the profession with actors experiencing self doubt, depression and self limiting behaviours, that had prevented them from achieving their goals both personally and professionally.
I lived and worked in London for over 25 years before moving back home to the North West, working for many years in Social Care, with adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues, neurodiversity and with psychiatric patients.
I also volunteered for The Terrance Higgins Trust supporting people living with HIV and AIDS.
In my therapy practice I work with individuals and couples in both short and long term Counselling/Psychotherapy and individuals for Hypnotherapy, with the aim of enabling you to enhance your life and to live it more fully.
I do not use Hypnotherapy in sessions unless you have specifically requested it.
I am experienced in helping clients who have difficulties with, but not exclusively :
- Stress
- Anxiety attacks
- Anxiety
- PTSD/CPTSD
- Abuse
- Bereavement & Loss
- Redundancy
- Depression
- Relationships
- Gender identity
- Self-limiting/self-defeating behaviours
OCD
Imposter syndrome - Phobias
- Neurodiversity
If your area of concern is not mentioned, please telephone for a no obligation chat to discuss if it is something I will be able to help you with.
About Counselling & Psychotherapy
I am an integrative therapist which means I do not adhere to one approach but use a variety of modalities that best suit you, the client. Therapy is as individual as you are. It is a working relationship between client and therapist and I will help guide you through the barriers and difficulties that are preventing you from achieving your goals and living the life you want.
It can be short or long term and this does not need to be decided on at the start of therapy but it is important to understand that the greatest benefits are found with clients willing to commit to working together in regular sessions.
Some people find that simply having someone to talk to and tell their story is all they need, whilst others wish to explore deeper issues from their past that are impacting on their present and preventing them from moving forward. During our time together we will check in with each other as we go to see how you are feeling about our work together. You are at the centre of this and it will be your decision when you decide to end. However, it is important to be aware that therapy can be difficult at times and overcoming those difficulties allows for breakthroughs and growth. It can be tempting to retreat from therapy when the going gets tough but perseverance brings great rewards.
What is Psychotherapy as opposed to Counselling?
The two terms are really interchangeable but generally Psychotherapy is longer term work which explores past experiences that impact on your current way of being. I often get told by people that they have not found any benefit from counselling in the past. This is typically because they have had a short term therapy, often via the NHS which is only able to offer limited sessions. It takes time to build up rapport and trust with your therapist and in a short period it is not possible to explore and more importantly, work through deeper issues.
There is a misconception that talking therapies are simply the client telling their concerns to the therapist who listens empathetically. This of course is true but it is much more than that. Often clients think that because they are able to talk openly about difficult past events for example, that they are now "OK with it." Over a period of time, past experiences and in some cases, trauma may be explored with the therapist who uses their experience and knowledge to interpret issues and help the client to recognise how they may be impacting on current feelings and behaviours. This longer term work helps to shift these difficulties and allows the client to move forward so they no longer influence the present. It is important for me to assure you that you will lead the sessions and I will not explore any areas until you are ready.
What issues Can it Help?
The short answer is many and endless. Humans are complex beings and my experience has shown me that clients often come to therapy for one issue (the presenting issue) only for different ones to be revealed as our work together progresses. This is because, for example, if someone is coming due to feelings of stress and anxiety, other issues will often come to light when exploring the anxious feelings. This should be seen as positive growth and enlightenment. Therapy, particularly psychotherapy and longer term work, enables the development of greater self-awareness and allows the client to recognise how past experiences and relationships have informed their present.
What Benefits can be Expected?
Therapy can help you to really get to know yourself and also to recognise traits and behaviours in others that you have relationships with. It can help you understand why you are feeling the way you are and how people and events in your life affect you. It will help you to explore the relationships you had or are still having with parents/caregivers, partners, siblings, work colleagues and how they impact on you. Perhaps you feel put down by others, criticised, made to feel not good enough.
Therapy can help you build your confidence, self-esteem and resilience to negative people and life events.
Couples' Counselling
"You cannot see your reflection in boiling water"
Where there is anger and conflict in a relationship, couples can find themselves unable to see clearly and may become stuck in repetitive patterns that prevent them from resolving issues.
I work with couples in an impartial, non-judgmental way, helping you to work through issues and see things more clearly in order to find solutions to your own, unique situation.
Couples' therapy gives you a safe space to speak honestly about your feelings, having room to talk and be listened to. It can be very hard for partners to really hear and understand the other's point of view and this is where I can help.
One or both of you may have made the decision to end the relationship and even if this is mutually agreed, there may still be feelings of grief at the loss of it and even feelings of failure. These are all perfectly natural and part of my work with couples includes helping them to make peace with these feelings in order to find closure and to move forward into the future with optimism.
About Hypnotherapy
There are many myths associated with Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.
During Hypnotherapy, whilst you will be in a relaxed state, you will always be aware of yourself and your surroundings. You are in control and can never be made to do or say anything that you would not do normally when completely conscious. Some people even say they experience a heightened state of awareness, whilst still feeling deeply relaxed.
Hypnosis 'speaks to' the unconscious part of the mind. It can shift deeply held, negative beliefs a person has about themselves in order to change the conscious way they behave.
For example: Low self-esteem may be borne out of the way someone was parented. If you were criticised throughout your upbringing then, your unconscious will hold the belief you have about yourself, what you think is the truth about who you are. This is wrong.
Think about when you are walking or driving to a familiar place. How often have you found yourself at your destination and not realised how you got there, as if you were on 'autopilot' ? It happens to us all numerous times a day, like daydreaming. When driving, you don't think every time you change gear do you? These are examples of being in a hypnotic state, where our unconscious takes over. When we no longer have to think of every move we make, it 'drops into' our unconscious mind.
Hypnosis can work to change your unconscious and create a new way that you see yourself. The true you!
See What I offer and FAQs
Client Testimonials
"Patricia has helped me through some dark times. Firstly with hypnotherapy then with counselling. I cannot recommend her services highly enough. Thank you for helping me be me".
CB Wigan
