Helen Lowe
Registered Member MBACP
Contact information
- Phone number
- 07876 641924
Features
- Flexible hours available
- Wheelchair accessible office
- Concessionary rates
About me and my therapy practice
I work collaboratively with my clients to get to the root cause of their psychological distress and permanently relieve symptoms as efficiently as possible. My work is informed by my training in Psychodynamic Counselling and Intensive Short term Dynamic Psychotherapy. ISTDP is a highly effective emotion focussed therapy which aims to change maladaptive emotional processing and improve the physiological regulation of anxiety.
Psychological symptoms: anxiety, depression, phobias, self-harm and many more, result from emotional blockages and some of the unhelpful ways we experienced feelings such as love, guilt, anger, grief and pain during childhood and adolescence.
Outside these periods, disrupted or traumatic relationships and events at any time cause complex mixed feelings in human beings. If these are not processed (experienced) and supported, they cause symptoms of psychological distress and anxiety. This is often because the defence mechanisms we developed earlier in life now don't work so well and we need to find new, adaptive ones that enhance rather than harm our lives, learn to process emotional conflicts and regulate anxiety in a healthy way.
This is what ISTDP helps with and over forty published studies attest to this.
Qualifications and experience
Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling from The Counselling Foundation, St Albans (5 yrs total)
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (90hrs)
ISTDP Core training (3 yrs) - ISTDP London
ISTDP Advanced training - ongoing
Professional Memberships
BACP (reg'd)
IEDTA - International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association
Practice description
ISTDP therapists are more active in sessions, share their observations and form a collaborative partnership to help you achieve your goals and gain relief from symptoms or behaviours that no longer serve you and your relationships.I will notice with you, ways in which you block off feelings and deal with anxiety and emotional activation, within the context of the therapeutic relationship. I also work to encourage the breakthrough of feelings that have been avoided. This reduces anxiety, brings clarity and gives you more choices both in your personal and working life.
Sessions can be weekly, fortnightly or by arrangement. We can discuss this in the light of your symptoms, goals and what is a realistic timescale for this to be accomplished.
My first session
I conduct an initial extended assessment session to learn what you would like help with and for you to have an experience of how I work. We can then decide together how to proceed.
I offer a free brief phone call or Zoom to answer any initial questions prior to an initial assessment session.
What I can help with
Abuse, Addictions, Adoption, Anger management, Anxiety, Baby loss, Bereavement, Body/somatic therapy, Cancer, Child related issues, Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME, Coercive control, Depression, Disability, Eating disorders, Health related issues, Identity issues, Infertility, LGBTQ+ counselling, Loss, Menopause, Men's issues, Mood disorder, Narcissism, Obsessions, OCD, Pet bereavement, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy related issues, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Service veterans, Sex-related issues, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Spirituality, Stalking, Stress, Trauma, Women's issues, Work related issues
Types of therapy
Brief therapy, Emotionally focused therapy, Psychoanalytic, Psychodynamic
Clients I work with
Adults, Older adults, Trainees
How I deliver therapy
Long term sessions, Long-term face-to-face work, Online therapy, Short term sessions, Short-term face-to-face work, Time-limited
Languages spoken
English