Self-Exploration: Discover A Deeper Meaning
As a qualified integrative Counsellor and Core Process Psychotherapist, I use a mindfulness-based therapeutic approach that enquires into your present moment experience, such as thoughts, feelings and body sensations. It is a gentle yet highly effective way to bring awareness to your unique personality process. Through this mindfulness, you can learn to explore yourself with curiosity and kindness, with a deepening understanding that leads to healing and greater self-acceptance.
Core Process is a long-established and highly regarded form of Psychotherapy that draws on Buddhist teachings and Western psychology, weaving them together into a practical and effective way of working. The relationship between me as the therapist and the client is integral to achieve this state of awareness.
Becoming more aware of the nature of our day-to-day experiences helps us to understand, befriend, and work with our challenges. It also encourages us to remember our sources of joy, laughter and happiness. This type of approach helps you develop practical skills for self-care that are invaluable long after the therapy has ended.
I offer online and in-person sessions and work with adults as a UKCP Psychotherapist and young people as a BACP Counsellor across a diverse range of difficulties around the Exeter, Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall areas.
Discover more about me here.
My approach
As a Core Process psychotherapist, my role is to provide space and a safe relationship to help you on your journey of self-discovery. We might examine your life and make new, meaningful choices for yourself at a point of transition. Or we could dive deeper into your core process to find understanding and spiritual direction.
My approach is to hold your process in a gentle, non-judgemental way - and also to provide a challenge so that you can focus on making changes during our time together in sessions.
I draw upon various therapeutic modalities, such as Core Process Psychotherapy, Person-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Buddhist psychology and Mindfulness.
Core Process Psychotherapy
Core Process Psychotherapy works towards the integration of your Mind, Body and Spirit, based on the therapist being attuned with Compassion, Loving Kindness, Equanimity and Joy. Its focus includes, without exception, 'all of you'; Core Process Psychotherapy gives equal emphasis to what is helpful, joyful and fortifying.
Because of its Buddhist roots, this psychotherapy is grounded in the knowledge that suffering exists and the belief in its ability to be alleviated. The practice of developing awareness allows us to acknowledge what is present without trying to 'fix' anything. When we can do that, our 'suffering' reduces, and we can learn new ways of being and responding to our life situations.
Another focus of the Core Process approach is 'Awareness'. The development of your awareness is joyful to be a part of and is facilitated by the ability of the therapist to be 'present' in an unconditional, empathetic and mindful way. The quality and commitment to presence that the therapist brings is the hinge on which the therapeutic process hangs. It prepares the ground for you to move into your process with the safety and assurance of being adequately held and to, in time, hold those qualities for yourself.
It is also a 'relational' therapy, which enables you, with the help of the therapeutic relationship, to seek and find your inner wisdom where you can explore yourself with greater objectivity, curiosity, and acceptance. In this state of awareness, you are likely to notice much more about yourself than you would in ordinary consciousness. My role as the therapist is to facilitate awareness that will allow you to discover what is needed for healing to take place.
Person-Centred
Person-centred therapy (PCT) sees human beings as having an innate tendency to develop towards their full potential. But this ability can become blocked or distorted by specific life experiences, particularly those experiences that affect our sense of who we are, our values and our beliefs. The foundations of the PCT relationship are empathy, respect and acceptance; these crucial elements combine to enable clients to develop their inner strength and wisdom.
During our sessions, you'll be encouraged to explore your difficulties, feelings, beliefs, behaviours, and worldviews to develop deeper self-awareness and achieve greater independence. This person-centred approach helps you reconnect with your inner values and sense of self-worth, enabling you to find your way to move forward and progress. The core purpose of person-centred therapy is to facilitate our ability to self-actualise - the belief that all of us will grow and fulfil our potential.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT works on how you think and behave and teaches you coping skills for dealing with different issues by identifying and restructuring negative behaviour patterns. Changing or re-conditioning our thoughts or behaviour can overcome specific problems.
CBT takes a more proactive approach to changing disordered or negative ways of thinking, where you can learn strategies to manage your mental health for the rest of your life.
The core idea behind CBT is that your thoughts and actions create your emotional states. These emotional states lead you to either feel stuck and do nothing or do things you regret.
CBT introduces new skills to unlearn old patterns that keep you stuck so you are better equipped to overcome challenging emotions and situations. CBT helps you understand why and how you react to challenges so you can revise your approach and respond more effectively.
Cognitive restructuring means recognising your self-defeating thoughts and beliefs and reframing them – it's a fundamental shift in perspective that helps you view and experience life objectively so you turn negative thoughts into more balanced and helpful ones. CBT improves problem-solving skills and widens your mindset, making you feel better about yourself daily.
Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy is a highly positive and practical therapeutic approach. You are encouraged to focus on your immediate thoughts, feelings and behaviour to understand better how they relate to others. It's a form of psychotherapy centred on increasing awareness, freedom, and self-direction with a clear understanding of your thoughts, emotions and behaviour. It's a form of therapy that focuses on the present moment rather than past experiences.
Gestalt therapy works on the idea that people are influenced by their present environment. Each individual works to achieve personal growth and balance. Gestalt therapy focuses on the use of empathy and unconditional acceptance. It helps you eliminate distress by learning to trust and accept what you feel. A greater holistic awareness and increased insight into how you feel, think and act is very liberating. It builds self-confidence and helps you to live life to your fullest potential.
Frequently asked questions
Sessions & fees
The usual contract is for six sessions at £360.00, and we review during this process to decide whether you want to work for a more extended period.
Sessions are weekly and cost £60.00 for 60 minutes. For younger people, sessions can be shorter and charged pro-rata. I accept payment via bank transfer or cheque.
I also offer a limited number of concessionary places, so please enquire about availability.
In-person sessions Monday and Tuesday by arrangement 11am-7.30pm.
In-person sessions Wednesday by arrangement 11am-7.30pm.
Please note if you have to cancel an appointment, I require 48 hours notice.
Get in touch
It is really important that you find the right therapist to work with. So initially, I take on clients for six sessions to enable us to see how it feels relationally.
Please get in touch via text on 07815 465378 or email me at info@sueblackburnpsychotherapyandcounselling.co.uk.
I will reply within 24 hours to arrange a convenient time to call back.
I offer a FREE initial 30-minute consultation either online if that's your preference, or face-to-face. It allows us to meet so that I can gain more background details and make an assessment of your needs.
©Sue Blackburn
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