ABOUT ME Edel Dewhurst CBT and ACT Therapist
"Learning to create a clearing gives us our life" - Tara Brach
Everyone is unique and what you bring to therapy will be very different to others. I take into account where you have come from in terms of your life experiences and how you have come to be as you are.
From this knowledge and understanding, we may identify patterns of thoughts and behaviours that you have carried with you through the years. Some of these can be unhelpful, in that they may have worked for you for a long time but have ceased doing so now.
Looking at the connections between past and present and learning to identify the links between our thoughts, behaviours and emotions can greatly influence change. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a collaborative approach.
The client is the expert on their own life and the therapist supports them by providing insight and structure to the process. We can see our problems more clearly and look at ways to make the changes we need in order to begin the journey to wellbeing.
Of course, change is not always the whole story. Having worked in a Neurology department for 8 years with people with epilepsy and other neurological disorders, I saw how acceptance can be as necessary as change especially when we have a long-term health condition or we experience loss in various ways. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based behavioural approach.
My own ACT journey began a long while ago having encountered a situation that I couldn’t change. Living in it felt awful. But I had to go through it and look at it clearly. From this place, I could access all sides.
Acceptance of the situation enabled change. This empowered me and I was able to use this experience to gain greater clarity and make choices based on who I wanted to be and what I wanted to stand for. Through ACT we feel enabled to pause, to identify our values and make choices that serve the life we want to live. It enhances our “psychological flexibility” by facing our experiences head-on.
My qualifications
- MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy
- BABCP Accred (2007)
- Diploma Integrative Counselling
- Breathworks Mindfulness Teacher training
- Meditation Teacher Training
- Couple Therapy Training
- Extensive training in ACT
- Training in Compassion Focused Therapy
- EMDR Trained (Parts 1- 4)
- Qualified CBT Supervisor
- 12 years NHS experience
- Specialist in Epilepsy
- Specialist in Functional Illness
MY EXPERIENCE
Everyone is unique
I have many years of experience working with Childhood sexual abuse and Trauma and Dissociation. I have experience with clients with Neurological conditions such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
Other problems I have worked with are: Various Anxiety disorders such as OCD, Health anxiety, Generalised anxiety, Social anxiety and Depression. I have also experience of working with people with Eating-disorders.
SUPERVISION
CBT and ACT Therapists
I am qualified as a CBT supervisor offering supervision to trainee and qualified CBT therapists. I also offer ACT supervision having specialist ACT supervision of supervision.
As a supervisor, I provide an encouraging and reflective environment using the SHAPE model of ACT supervision as a means of enhancing the therapist’s ACT skills.
