Claudine Swinton-Lee

Hi there - I have been in full time private practice for 15 years and hope that I make sessions useful, interesting - and enjoyable where possible. Although therapy is not 'magic' and requires commitment and dedication, I am happy to say that clients who finish their therapy with me leave with a new bank of self-knowledge, clarification of issues and lifelong tools all acquired through their attendance and, most importantly, repetitive cycles of unhappy experience broken.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy P.G Diploma - INTAPSY Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Certificate) Hypnosis (Certificate) MBACP (Certificate Of Proficiency) Registrant Of National Counselling Society Full Professional Indemnity Insurance I adhere to BACP ethical guidelines (audited 2021) and receive ongoing monthly supervision.

I am very familiar and have met with a number of clients over the years experiencing issues around; Anxiety Anger Depression Self-Loathing Low esteem OCD Phobias Difficult relationships with parents/siblings Romantic/Attachment/Sexuality issues Demotivation/Procrastination Medically Unexplained Symptoms Workplace Relationships Insomnia

In our first session, we will clarify what your expectations and goals are. An initial consultation allows us an introduction which will enable you to decide whether or not you would like to continue working with me. We will speak about what the catalyst has been in making an appointment and, as you explain, I will also describe to you in what ways therapy may help you, personally, resolve certain problems, the obstacles that may stand in our way of achieving this sometimes (how part of my job is to make this as less difficult as possible) and how through your 'free association' (talking in an environment without being judged) we will discover certain beliefs and thoughts that up until now may have remained 'unknown' yet which have had a 'dynamic' and negative effect on life (i.e psychodynamic understanding) Through your narrative, that is to say material based on factual word from yourself within our sessions, I will offer explanations and interpretations which are coincidental with realisations being made from week to week, and which bring clarity and understanding to what previously may have appeared confusing and inescapable. Through application of what is being experienced and made sense of in therapy, therefore, we will see certain changes occur. We call this process 'working through' Seeing life and oneself in new ways will bring, it is hoped, empowerment, confidence and, ultimately, skills to remain calm and happy - even in the more (and inevitable) challenging times presented by life. Psychotherapy rests on the premise that 'bottled up' feelings are the basis to the formation of 'symptoms'/issues experienced - everything from 'feeling stuck'. angry, sad, and 'low' to ocd, phobias, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and so on. It is in the 'making conscious' bit of therapy, without judgement, that restorative work can be accomplished, and how we see problems eventually diminish and disappear. In short, it is the 'freeing' (the verbalisation) of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, that whilst not articulated and resolved finds expression in 'symptoms' and difficulties. Hard won at times perhaps but an incredible and worthwhile undertaking. I hope that provides a little bit of an idea as to what to expect. Please do call or mail if you would like any further explanation on above.