Counselling & Life Coaching in London City
Maggie Morrow MSc Integrative Psychotherapy, BSc Psychology

Therapies I Offer

In this section, I give a fairly detailed description of the range of therapeutic approaches I use in my work. I work integratively, which means I take different aspects from each approach and blend them to suit your learning style. I always ask for feedback on the usefulness of my interventions from you. Through this method I discover what blend of therapeutic approaches you find most helpful. You will find this section interesting if you want to know a bit of technical detail and some theory behind therapy approaches.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT can be helpful for dealing with specific issues such as: anxiety, depression, phobias; or addressing a specific problem e.g. managing anxiety at work, managing a particular relationship more positively etc.

If you like to think about your problems in a structured manner and then develop skills and techniques to gain more control in managing and addressing your difficulties, this approach may suit you.

Sessions begin with identifying and clarifying your problem(s), then collaboratively agreeing "homework" tasks, which you then experiment with in order to identify the techniques that are most effective for you. (Tasks might include: writing diaries, experimenting with different behaviours and noting the outcomes, creating charts and using them to measure the effectiveness of different experiments etc.). For further information about CBT see the following links:

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See more on how CBT works

Solution Focussed Brief Therapy

This approach can feel quite energising because the focus is on identifying your existing strengths (which we can always uncover - even if you think you don't have any) and then building on these to address current problems.

If you like doing homework tasks, these can devised and used to find effective methods for addressing your problems.

If you don't like the idea of "structure homework tasks" this approach can still be effective. For further information about Solution Focused Brief Therapy see the following links:

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Gestalt Psychotherapy

This approach views you and therapist as equal partners in the psychotherapeutic relationship, and considers you as the expert on your experience whilst the therapist is expert in theories of understanding and working with psychological difficulties.

This view underpins all of my work. Gestalt experimental techniques can help shed new light on a particular problem and also uncover alternative ways to consider and respond to situations. This can lead to more satisfying outcomes. For further information on Gestalt Psychotherapy see the following links:

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See More About How Gestalt Psychotherapy Works

Developmental Psychotherapy and Neuropsychology

Research behind these theories helps us understand why we want or long for certain things in relationship, that we do not seem to be able to obtain. It sheds light on biological and physiological mechanisms which impact emotions and what we can do to alleviate, understand and soothe deep emotional pain.

Clients who want to do more in depth therapeutic work often find this approach illuminating. For further information on developmental psychotherapy and neuropsychology see the following link:

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Person Centred Psychotherapy

This approach takes the view that we are essentially good natured but that the vicissitudes of life may make us feel twisted inside. It recommends that the therapist adopt an attitude which includes respect, positive regard and being "real" in the therapeutic relationship. This view underpins all the work I undertake with clients. For further information on Person Centred Psychotherapy see the following link:

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Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

This approach emphasises understanding our past history and how it impacts our present being in the world. It can help us to understand how our view of the world as a child can be transferred into the present and trigger old feelings and behaviours that don't serve us well anymore. It can be useful for increasing an awareness of "triggers" that can set off problematic behaviour and very powerful or overwhelming feelings.

I tend to use other approaches (e.g. CBT, solution focussed, gestalt) to support you in identifying way to manage difficult "triggers" and the behaviour and emotions evoked by them. For further information on Psychodynamic Psychotherapy see the following links:

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Transactional Analysis

This approach provides some useful ways of helping us understand how we communicate with ourselves internally (i.e. what goes on in our heads) as we manage and relate to current and past relationships.

Developing an awareness of our inner dialogue, can help us to identify old strategies that may have been useful when they were formed but may not be useful or appropriate, in our current life.

Often these internal dialogues take place without us even realising how we speak to ourselves. Becoming aware of these dialogues, can enhance our capacity to identify what we might want to change in ourselves, in order to experience a more satisfying life. I use this approached throughout my work. For further information on Transactional Analysis see the following links:

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Existential Psychotherapy

This approach can help you appraise the world you live in now and identify what you can and cannot change. This includes exploring how to work with the limits of your environments, both past and present, in order to achieve the changes you want. I integrate this approach throughout all my work because many clients tell me they find it empowering and energising. For further information on Existential Psychotherapy see the following links:

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See More About How Existential Therapy Works