Rachel Meadows has a relaxed and informal approach to psychological therapy. She has experience working in mental health and the alcohol and other drugs field. In addition Rachel has training and experience working with clients who are struggling emotionally or who have experienced trauma at some point in their lives.
Rachel works in three main ways, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (tfCBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Mindfulness.
CBT increases the awareness of the impact that thoughts and actions can have on emotions and mood. Through understanding yourself better you can work on changing the way you think and react to issues in life as they present themselves. CBT is known to be very effective in treating anxiety, stress and depression.
tfCBT is effective in exploring and processing traumatic events. Assistance is given to problem solve ways to address avoidance and fears that may have resulted from the incidents. Strategies to overcome the negative thoughts, beliefs and lifestyle changes that the events may have had on your life and those around you.
EFT works by creating change through an awareness of emotions and how they are experienced in the body. There is an exploration of the source of maladaptive emotions with the aim of creating a healthier relationship with all emotional states. Research shows that this can be effective in treating depression, abuse, trauma and unresolved relationship issues.
Mindfulness comes from Eastern traditions and learning to practise it can become a liberating life skill. Mindfulness assists clients to live more ‘in the moment’, rather than be caught up with the stress of modern living. It is particularly helpful for people experiencing depression, anxiety and worry.
Counselling provides the opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings, actions and lifestyle in a safe, confidential setting. You can reflect on issues that are affecting your relationships or explore ways of living a fuller, more meaningful life with someone from outside of your family and social circle.
My passion for counselling comes from a desire to reduce suffering. Our experiences and learning in life sometimes bring us to a place where we feel overwhelmed or powerless. When we are ‘stuck’ in negative emotional states we can experience emotional pain as intense and debilitating as a physical injury.
Some things that occur in our lives we cannot change, but what we can change is how we react to what is going on around us. This is often a process through which we learn about ourselves and why we react the way that we do. It is my hope that through assisting my clients to gain a greater awareness and understanding of themselves they can become more compassionate towards themselves and more accepting of their emotional reactions. Through this process, suffering can be reduced regardless of the circumstance in life that they find themselves in.
