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GEMMA PATERSON

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Ellen Brady

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

Hello, my name is Gemma. I am a psychotherapist who has been practicing for over 20 years in NHS Mental Health Services, in various roles with both children and adults. My practice involves supporting adults with traumatic experiences, whether that be through bereavement, relationship difficulties including betrayal trauma, all forms of abuse or childhood neglect including emotional. Trauma can present itself through various behaviours and so I also effectively treat OCD, excessive worry, phobias, social anxiety, sleep disturbance, BDD, depression and panic disorder.
 
My therapeutic style is informed by approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).  IPT is one of the least known approaches and this is a longstanding NHS treatment for complex bereavement, difficulties in relationships (including disputes) and adjustments to significant life transitions for example, becoming a mother, experiencing a health disorder or becoming a carer.
 
My integrative style enables me to work with you to tailor each session around your needs and hopes for therapy. I have a warm, flexible and curious approach, which is calm and totally free of judgement.  I interweave my knowledge and experience of compassion focussed therapy throughout each therapy approach and session.
 
During our lives most of us face difficult times and situations where the usual strategies we use to cope or manage don’t work the way they once used to. We might seek therapy because we have a question or feel stuck in a familiar relationship pattern or feel distressed. You may feel a certain way and not know why. There is no right or wrong way to be, think or feel. It is all a starting point for therapy, so just come as you are, to a confidential place where you can feel heard.
 
If you are wanting to create a space to understand yourself more and create healing that goes deeper than coping, then please feel free to get in touch with me.

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • Diploma in CBT- Teeside University

  • Interpersonal psychotherapy cert

  • EMDR Parts 1- 4

  • EMDR Practitioner status

  • BSc Occupational Therapist

ACCREDITATION TO PROFESSIONAL BODIES

  • HCPC
  • BABCP

  • IPTUK

  • EMDR Association

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

  • Trauma focus-
  • Perinatal trauma and loss
  • Betrayal and institutional trauma in the workplace and within all relationships

  • Childhood sexual abuse

  • Childhood emotional and physical neglect

  • Complex grief disorder

  • Domestic violence

  • Adult psychological, emotional and sexual abuse

INVEST IN YOURSELF AND YOUR WELLBEING

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR THERAPISTS

We carry out rigorous checks and vet all our therapists before they join the team. They must meet with our high standards of professional specification which includes:

This means that the mental health professional you see will be qualified, experienced and competent.

We are a private mental health clinic and have a number of therapists with different specialities. Because of this, we can offer therapies to help with a wide range of mental health issues from Anxiety to PTSD and child psychology.

First, we carry out a triage step during a 15-minute free initial telephone consultation. Depending on the challenges you’re facing, we will then recommend a counsellor, CBT therapist or clinical psychologist.

We also have clinic locations throughout the North, so there is usually one not too far from you.

As a result, we can usually offer an appointment quickly and at a time and place convenient for you. But, above all, tailored to your needs.