Individual Therapy
Hello, my name is Dr Anna Oldershaw and I am a clinical psychologist.
I have been working therapeutically for over 15 years within the NHS, private and voluntary sector. I have extensive experience in working with people with eating disorders, and with people with developmental trauma and post-traumatic stress. I am also experienced in working with neurodivergent clients (particularly autistic, ADHD and AuDHD clients) and offer a neuroinclusive therapeutic approach.
People often to come to me for therapy when they are struggling with difficulties, such as around eating, unresolved issues from the past, or find themselves in stuck patterns in their emotions, lives and relationships.
I specialise in Emotion Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy; however, I am trained in and draw on a number of therapeutic modalities, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders and for Trauma. I am also the co-developer of SPEAKS for anorexia which integrates Emotion Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy, alongside methods from other psychotherapeutic approaches.
This video explains a bit about how SPEAKS therapy works.
My therapeutic style is flexible and I seek to both ‘follow and guide’ my clients in their therapy journey, being responsive and adaptive to emerging needs. Work can move freely between a focus on practical strategies and problem-solving and on safely approaching the processing and healing of emotional difficulties and pain. I hope to assist clients to make meaning from the past, live more safely and productively in the present, and build hope for the future. I highly value the warm and empathic collaborative relationships I build with my clients based on respect and prizing of their individuality.
Free 30 minute telephone consultation
During this call we explore whether my approach feels a good fit for you
Initial Assessment
If you would like to continue with therapy, a bookable 50 minute appointment will be arranged to gain a deeper understanding of your current difficulties and hopes for therapy
Treatment plan
We will agree an initial number of sessions and initial focus for our work together
Therapy begins
We will meet regularly for 50 minutes at a time (usually once a week) and will continue to review the work and the sessions frequently to ensure it remains focused
Sometimes we need to spend a little bit of time with somebody to get a clearer sense of them and this can be important when deciding if I am the right therapist for you. I offer an initial complementary appointment lasting 30 minutes for you to meet me and ask questions, with no obligation or pressure to commit to therapy.
Complementary
Therapy will begin with an exploration of what is happening for you at the moment, what has brought you to therapy, and what you might be hoping to gain from therapy. This exploration usually takes a session or two. Therapy then continues with us working towards the change you desire, usually within weekly sessions.
£140 for 50 min therapy session
Clinical psychologists seek to reduce psychological distress and improve psychological health. Clinical psychologists in the UK are trained in the NHS for three years, leading to a doctorate qualification. The training requires competency to be demonstrated in a range of settings, meaning skills are acquired with people across the lifespan, with varying difficulties and using different psychological therapies. ‘Clinical Psychologist’ is a title protected in law and requires registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. By choosing to work with a clinical psychologist you can be assured that your therapist has extensive and in-depth training, and that their practice is professionally regulated.
I understand that taking that initial step into therapy can feel very daunting. I wish for you to feel relaxed, comfortable and well-informed when making this important decision.
Please browse this website for further details. You can learn more about me, my experience and the type of specialist therapy I offer on my About Me page.
Please do contact me whether you’re keen to find out more or even if you remain somewhat uncertain. The complementary initial consultation that I offer is an opportunity for you to get a better sense of me and my approach, and to give you the opportunity to directly ask any questions you have. This initial exploration is not charged and comes with no pressure or obligation to commit to therapy.
I have about 15 years of experience in the NHS working as a psychologist in adult and specialist services. This has afforded me the opportunity to work with a wide range of difficulties and build expertise in applying and adapting different therapy models to individuals.
I have extensive experience of working in the field of eating disorders, both clinically and as an academic. I have numerous publications and awards, most recently a clinical academic fellowship from the National Institute of Health Research (Department of Health) to develop and test a new psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa (SPEAKS), which an initial trial has found to be effective and acceptable. Please visit the About page for more information.
Emotion Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy are dynamic, experiential, evidence-based interventions. They are ‘dialogical self’ approaches, meaning that they both work from an understanding that we are all made up of many (sometimes conflicting) parts. Our internal conflicts are one of the reasons why we can sometimes feel that we take one step forward, and two steps back. Using these therapeutic approaches necessitates an understanding of the ‘whole person’, examining the underlying cause of difficulties, rather than just focusing on symptoms. In my view, this leads to more powerful, meaningful and longer lasting change.
With close colleagues, I have also developed a new psychotherapeutic approach integrating Emotion Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy (Emotion focused Schema Therapy, also known as SPEAKS), and applying this to the treatment of anorexia nervosa with promising initial outcomes.
Once we have had an initial consultation, if you would like to proceed with therapy we will book your first therapy session online or in person (at my clinic in Sevenoaks, Kent). We will agree an initial plan for therapy including the number of sessions that you might need.
The number of sessions somebody attends varies depending on their difficulties and what their goals for therapy are. With difficulties such as anxiety or depression, 10 sessions can be enough to feel an improvement. For difficulties that have been impacting you for a longer period of time, including those involving trauma or eating disorders, longer term work may be indicated.
The number of sessions will be continuously reviewed together. At the end of each therapy session I will seek feedback giving us each an opportunity to raise any issues. I will never extend or go beyond an agreed number of sessions without prior discussion and mutual agreement. Furthermore, you are free to end therapy at any time.
I will do my best to accommodate your sessions at a time that works best for you, subject to availability.
I offer both online and face to face appointments.
Online therapy. I have had extensive experience of providing online therapy since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Although working online can seem a little daunting, I have been delighted at the depth of the relationships that clients and I have built online. In my experience, the work is as meaningful as working face to face.
Face to face therapy. If you prefer, face to face appointments are available at Fern House, a purpose built therapy centre in Sevenoaks, Kent. All therapy rooms offer a comfortably furnished private space, and a dedicated waiting room is provided. A location map of Fern house is available on my contact page.
If you are unable to make your appointment, it is imperative that you let me know as soon as possible. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the planned appointment will still be charged.
All of my terms and conditions, including cancellation and privacy policies are available via links at the bottom of the page.
I am a registered provider with Bupa Health Insurance. Therapy can also be self-funded.
Emotion Speaks is the professional website of Dr Anna Oldershaw, clinical psychologist, Director of Emotion Focused Therapy Institute of England and co-developer of SPEAKS.
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