Calm Minds Counselling and Psychotherapy Services
Nourish Your mind, Nourish Your Life.
1.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress is caused by any demand placed on our mind or body. Any event, person or scenario can trigger it. If left unchecked, stress can have a corrosive effect and impact both our mental and physical health. Together, we can identify and work through troubling stressors in your life whilst equipping you with strategies to overcome and manage these allowing you to build your resilience to future stress.
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, fear or unease. It can be a learned response to stress or it can be present on its own without any obvious corresponding event.
Whilst we all need a little stress or anxiety as a motivating force, both can cause significant distress if left unacknowledged and cause unpleasant symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, digestive issues, trouble sleeping, irritability, muscle stiffness and pain. Working in a practical, integrative way, I can guide you through and move you forward to empower you with techniques and learn to manage your anxiety .
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2.
Depression
Depression can leave us feeling depleted, exhausted and stuck with no hope in sight. Tasks we previously found easy can feel increasingly difficult to accomplish and motivation for anything may be low. We may stop finding any joy in life or things we previously enjoyed have lost their appeal. Depression can have an effect on our jobs, relationships and friendships as we may feel the need to isolate ourselves. It can also be present in the absence of any particular circumstances and can be chronic. Depression can cause a range of psychological and physical symptoms such as persistent low mood, changes in appetite and weight, decreased energy or fatigue, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in hobbies and activities, agitation.
Together we can identify any emotional issues in your life, work out how these may affect mood and identify strategies for emotional regulation and rediscover the joy in life.
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3.
Grief, Loss and Chronic Illness.
Struggling with the loss of a loved one can be a lonely time as we all grieve in different ways. This may be more isolating and confusing if we had a had a difficult relationship with that person and we may feel conflicted and confused. Rest assured you are not alone and understanding and working through this kind of complex grief can feel comforting and liberating.
Of course loss is not just the loss of a person. We may grieve for our health after a chronic health diagnosis, the way we envisaged our lives to be. We may acutely feel the loss of our identity when going through other life changing events such as retirement or divorce or redundancy and all of these may bring up difficult emotions. Having worked within the NHS with life limiting and life changing conditions, I am experienced in supporting people through some of the most difficult times in their lives.
4.
Autism
Neuroversity brings many strengths as well as challenges. The challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming and can lead to autistic shutdowns or meltdowns depending on whether you internalise or externalise distress. Add to this sensory issues such as sound, touch or hearing in our increasingly noisy and crowded environments and the world can seem confusing and unfriendly at times. You may be facing challenges with social cues, navigating relationships and friendships, communicating clearly and assertively, difficulty in having needs met, lack of understanding from those close to you, over empathising and therefore preferring not to feel any strong emotions, anxiety, stress and/or depression along with feeling stuck. Your nervous system might be so dysregulated that you find yourself reacting in ways that you would like to change.
I have personal as well as professional experience with Autism and so whatever you are going through, I will be able to help you make sense of it and clear the way towards a more content way of being.
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Fees and Contact
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Email: stahirtherapy@gmail.com
Fees: Free initial 20 minute phone/face to face consultation
1 hour session = £70
My Approach
In sessions, I will first and foremost allow you time and space to feel comfortable and unload whatever is troubling you. I will then work in an integrative way tailored to your needs and will go at a pace that suits you. I am trained in and draw upon a variety of modalities, including Psychodynamic, Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), CBT, DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) and Solution Focused Therapy, always with the aim of helping you gain control and power over your life to allow you to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
I do not insist on a weekly commitment as I understand time and cost can both be a barrier to accessing psychological support. We can therefore arrange on a week by week basis what suits you, be it weekly, fortnightly, monthly or ad hoc. I also offer one off single sessions if this suits you.
If you wish, we can start with a free 20 minute initial consultation, either over the phone, via google meet or face to face.
About Saida
I will always make sure you feel comfortable, supported and listened to and I can offer a calm and steady presence.
I am a fully registered member of the BACP and as well as my Counselling and Psychotherapy qualification, I have an MSc in Psychology which has allowed me to further understand human behaviour and keep up to date with current research. I have worked in mental health for over 10 years in the NHS as well as privately and as an advisor in mental health charities.
During your time with me, I will encourage and support you towards empowering yourself and growing your autonomy in handling any emotional stressors, challenging emotions and difficult relationships. Together, we will begin to identify any behaviours, beliefs or assumptions you hold which may not be helpful to you and causing you distress, allowing you to have the relationship you want with yourself and others