Therapy And Coaching
I am so glad you’re here!
Whether this is the first time you’ve considered therapy, or you’ve experienced therapy before, you are so welcome here.
Recognising you want things to change, and reaching out is no small thing. It’s an act of great courage. Not because therapy is shameful, but because you are choosing a new way. A perhaps unknown, scary way. I know that, because I’ve been there too.
You don’t want to feel like this anymore. You’ve tried all sorts to stop these feelings. Maybe therapy already. Maybe positive thinking. Maybe numbing out with TV or booze. However, like weeds, your unwanted thoughts and feelings aren’t gone for long. And you’ve had enough.
First the ‘bad’ news
You can’t magic those feelings away. You know that already, because you’ve tried it and it hasn’t worked.
AND, what if:
…this is the start of something so much richer and fulfilling?
…you don’t need to battle with those feelings anymore?
…there are things you can do this very moment to make important shifts in your life?
Dawn’s kindness and how safe she made me feel enabled me to explore and work through some difficult, painful issues. I’d been going in circles for so long, talking to friends and family, but not moving on or changing anything. However, after just one session with Dawn I had a huge shift in perspective that resulted in me facing a situation and person that I’d been avoiding for a long time. Anxieties that had me rigid and frozen previously became manageable and I was able to make different choices which felt amazing. Life changing!
The word ‘journey’ is overused these days, and it’s the best way to describe our time together. Right now, you’re on the side of a ravine. It’s hostile country, and you’re doing everything you can just to survive. In the distance you can see where you want to be: it’s not perfection – there are still storms every now and then. But it’s a lot calmer. It’s a space to breathe and thrive.
And you can get there. The only thing is, you need to cross a bridge to do it. And bridges can feel vulnerable, can’t they? You have to leave your solid ground, and that’s scary – however nasty or shivery it is where you are right now. You have to step out onto this bridge that’s a bit wobbly, a bit creaky, and trust you’ll get to the other side.
When you commit to therapy you’ll have me with you on that bridge. We’ll work with whatever comes up. We’ll walk towards where you want and need to be, together.
Dr Dawn Johnson
We can work together on
Or anything else that doesn’t have a label, but is stopping you live as fully as you’d like to.
Perhaps you have a general feeling of being stuck in a way of being, or a situation. Maybe you have a sense something’s off, but you’re not sure what or why. Maybe you’d really like things to be different but don’t quite know how, or what your next move could be.
That’s all fine. You don’t have to know exactly what your struggle is, to know that you want things to be different.
Nothing Changes If
Nothing Changes
The approach I most often draw on (as a therapist, and in my own life) is called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT. And it is active: if you want change, you will need to do some work: we’ll be stepping out onto that bridge. Therapy isn’t just about having a safe space to understand what’s going on for you – though that’s important. It’s also about making some shifts in what you do. Even if they feel a bit uncomfortable (and they probably will, at least at first. And it’s worth it – think of what’s on the other side).
Together, we’ll look at where you’re feeling low, lost or stuck. And we’ll look at what matters to you, what a meaningful life feels like for you. And we’ll walk towards it. My commitment to you is that I’ll walk that walk. And your commitment to yourself is that you’ll walk it too.
This isn’t a race: there are no prizes for getting there fastest, or with the fanciest moves. It’s simply an opportunity to honour the courage you’ve already shown by being here and seeking support.
Therapy And Coaching FAQs
- Let’s have a chat! Book in for a free 20 minute consultation so you can decide if we’re a good fit.
- I will send you some paperwork to sign and return and then we will find a time to meet via Zoom. Therapy sessions are £120 for 50 mins.
- After the first session you’re in control – you’re not tied in for a specific number of sessions.
No. You are in charge of how long we work together. Each session we’ll deal with what’s showing up in that moment. You don’t need to worry about what you bring, or how you’re feeling. Whatever is present, is present, and it’s what we’ll work with.
Yes! Quite often, therapists will say they work with issues like grief, trauma, depression etc. And I say that too, because I do work with those things! But, many of my clients don’t really know what’s going on for them. They just know how they’re experiencing life isn’t how they want to be. They want something to change, but they’re not sure what, or how. And if that’s you, I want you to know you are very, very welcome. To show up exactly as you are. Don’t worry about what you’ll say. You are enough.
I recognise that your first session might feel daunting, whether it’s your first therapy session ever, or your first with me. And I appreciate and applaud your courage in showing up. We’ll spend much of the first session learning, together, about ‘where you’re at’ and what you’re bringing. It might be that you don’t feel you have the words to articulate it clearly. And that’s all fine. The important thing is simply that you show up for yourself.
That’s a huge question and I’m going to share my simplest answer. ACT is a scientifically robust psychological model that helps you do more of the things that matter to you, while holding with kindness all of the gremlins that tell you to stop. It’s a myth that we can stop feeling bad or uncomfortable 100% of the time. ACT helps us to accept that, and live life with more meaning and purpose anyway.
If you’re a practitioner looking for a primer, I recommend Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions (50 FAQs in Counselling and Psychotherapy) by myself and Richard Bennett. If you’re interested in a very readable self-help guide, The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris is an international bestseller.
I’m not being flippant when I say ACT is for everyone. It’s an approach that taps into what we care about, and works with, rather than against our human wiring. That said, ACT requires some doing. It’s not just about understanding yourself, it’s about actually doing things differently. I’m here to provide a safe place to explore what needs to be done differently, and practice. However to get the most out of our time together you’ll need to take some committed action between sessions. If that feels really uncomfortable right now, it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re not a good fit: and we will be working on doing more of the uncomfortable things!
Therapy sessions are £120 per 50 minute session. Invoices are sent at the end of the month and are payable via BACS within 7 days.
For therapy and supervision sessions, cancellation within 24 hours will be charged at the full rate.
For training sessions, two week’s notice is required, otherwise full charge will apply.
Ready to take the next step?
Great! I’d love to hear from you. Just get in touch to book a free, 20 minute consultation.
